Peter Bjorn and John – Darker Days

Peter Bjorn and John have gone some different directions (together) since breaking out of Sweden over a decade ago....
Peter Bjorn and John : Darker Days
7.6 INGRID
2018 

Peter Bjorn and John : Darker DaysPeter Bjorn and John have gone some different directions (together) since breaking out of Sweden over a decade ago, from the poorer indietronica Living Thing (QRO review) to the love-them-again Gimme Some (QRO review). Two years ago they returned from a long hiatus with Breakin’ Point (QRO review), taking Beatles to the modern dance club. Darker Days actually lightens up and relaxes, for a very sweet record.

After the sub-minute “Longer Nights (Intro)”, Darker brings the nice PB&J upbeat shine in “One for the Team”, and Darker is largely along those lines, including better indietronica in the following “Every Other Night” and Beatles-esque glow with “Living a Dream”. There’s even a tropical feel to “Dark Ages”, plus the wry blues of the tech bro 1% “Silicon Valley Blues” (though relaxed closer “Heaven and Hell” does go on too long at over eight-and-a-half minutes).

Despite the record’s title, Darker Days finds Peter Bjorn and John comfortably shining through.

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