Writer's Block

Peter Bjorn And John

Erschienen am 01.01.06 bei Universal Music AB
Künstler: Peter Bjorn And John
Genre: Pop

Verfügbar in

16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo

Musik-Streaming

Hören Sie dieses Album mit unseren Apps in hoher Audio-Qualität

Testen Sie Qobuz kostenlos und hören Sie sich das Album an

Hören Sie dieses Album im Rahmen Ihres Streaming-Abonnements mit den Qobuz-Apps

Abonnement abschließen

Hören Sie dieses Album im Rahmen Ihres Streaming-Abonnements mit den Qobuz-Apps

Download

Kaufen Sie dieses Album und laden Sie es in verschiedenen Formaten herunter, je nach Ihren Bedürfnissen.

Peter Bjorn and John's third album deserves every bit of attention and hype it's received, from large media outlets right down to the lowliest blog. It's a major work of post-everything indie rock that has enough hooks, production genius, and emotional strength to make other rock acts (indie or otherwise) sound like they are just wasting everyone's time. The group's previous two albums were excellent power pop records with an excess of brains and style, whereas Writer's Block scales back the guitars in favor of subtler arrangements that deliver just as much power sonically and ups the stakes in every other way. Every song has that kind of stripped-down, well-thought-out, whatever-works production style that brings the music fully to life. Check the steel drums on "Let's Call It Off," the shh-shh-shh percussion on "The Chills," or the majestic tubular bells of "Roll the Credits" for Spectorian shoegaze production magic. Or look at the infectious single "Young Folks" for the key to why the record sounds so right. Here they added the whistling as a marker for a future instrument but realized the offhanded whistle was just what the song needed. These are the decisions that make for greatness. Sure, the songs would have worked fine with just guitar-bass-drums backing, but the arrangements are like huge hooks that catch you and won't let go. The band also isn't content to stick to a formula. From the reverberating New Order sound of "Up Against the Wall," the small-group balladry of "Poor Cow," and the dynamic indie rock hum of "Objects of My Affection" to the austere synth pop of "Amsterdam," each song has a unique feel that adds up to an album that works as a whole as well as a collection of great songs.
While the sound of Writer's Block is varied, the lyrical content is pretty black-and-white, focusing on the highs and (mostly) lows of romance. On the high side there's the giddy us-against-the-world "Young Folks," which is as nice a love ballad as you'll hear anywhere. Victoria Bergsman and Peter Moren's duet is enough to warm the heart of even the grumpiest romance snob. The lilting "Paris 2004," which features the perfectly sweet line "while I'm sleeping you paint a ring on my finger with your black marker pen," is also heartbreakingly romantic. The lows are as low as the highs are high. You have lovers about to break up ("Let's Call It Off," "Up Against the Wall," and "Roll the Credits"), guys feeling wistful as hell ("The Chills"), and absolutely desolate heartache ("Objects of My Affection"). Without the love songs, this would have been a very bleak listen; as it is, the balance is just right. It's pretty rare for a band to get better after being together as long as PB&J. Usually they peter out quickly and start releasing retreads or desperate attempts to make a statement or keep a record deal. Writer's Block is the work of a band at the absolute peak of its writing and performing skill. It's hard to imagine Peter Bjorn and John getting better than this. Hopefully they will, but if not, they'll always have this album to call their masterpiece.

© Tim Sendra /TiVo

Weitere Informationen

Writer's Block

Peter Bjorn And John

Sie hören derzeit Ausschnitte der Musik.

Hören Sie mehr als 100 Millionen Titel mit unseren Streaming-Abonnements

Hören Sie diese Playlist und mehr als 100 Millionen Tracks mit unseren Streaming-Abonnements

Ab 12,49€/Monat

Writer's Block