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In the five years since their last album Gimme Some, the three members of Peter Bjorn and John were very busy. They started a record label, Ingrid, built their own studio, produced other artists, and each worked on solo projects. When they decided to get back together to make their seventh album, Breakin' Point, they turned to outside producers to help them get a slick modern pop sound. By calling in Patrik Berger, Paul Epworth, Greg Kurstin, and Emile Haynie, they availed themselves of the services of guys who had worked with artists as huge as Kanye West and Adele, as awesome as Robyn, and as far afield from their sound as Linkin Park. Not surprisingly, the album has a studio sheen unlike any PB and J album to date, with ornately smoothed-out arrangements made for pop radio. It's quite a different approach for the trio, and it doesn't do them any favors. The songs blend into each other without registering, and Breakin' Point has none of the drama and energy of their best work; there's no "Young Folks" here, no sparse ballads to tear at heartstrings, no jumped-up power pop to raise pulses. They made the choice to make a "pop" album and it has no pop at all. There's a definite lack of dynamics within the songs, and from song to song, which is truly a shame because apart from Spoon there are few bands of their stature who use space and volume to such great effect. Surprisingly, the use of a range of producers didn't lead to any variety between songs. Either Peter Bjorn and John made sure to mix it all to sound basically the same, or the producers all use the same techniques, which is a sad comment on the state of pop in 2016. Without any sharp hooks or interesting productions, the album just rolls along like 40 minutes of innocuous modern alternative radio with no high points to speak of, nothing to make the album seem like anything more than a calculated career move. There are a couple of low points worth mentioning; the whistling on the title track is a sad reminder of "Young Folks," and "Pretty Dumb, Pretty Lame" has some truly cheesy, Sugar Ray-ish production, which is sort of ironic since it's one of the tracks the trio handled themselves. That being said, it's not entirely free of charms; Peter's voice is as nimble and expressive as ever, and a couple songs (like the new wave-y "In This Town") have nice enough hooks. The minuses overwhelm the pluses, however, and the rampant mediocrity takes care of the rest. Breakin' Point is well titled since it may likely be the point where many PB and J fans who have stuck with the band over the years will find themselves walking away. At the very least, they'll give this album a hard pass and revisit one of their other albums, one where they made great pop music without pandering to someone's idea of what pop should sound like.
© Tim Sendra /TiVo
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Paul Epworth, Writer, Synthesizer - Lasse Marten, Mixer, Engineer - Bjorn Yttling, Writer - John Eriksson, Writer - Henrik Jonsson, Masters of Audio, Masterer - Peter Moren, Writer - Peter Bjorn and John, MainArtist - Hans Stenlund, Engineer - Thom Monahan, Engineer - John Eriksson, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble - Adam Durbridge, Assistant - Riley McIntyre, Engineer - Joe Hartwell Jones, Engineer
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2016 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
Pontus Winnberg, Engineer, Writer - Lasse Marten, Mixer, Engineer - Bjorn Yttling, Writer - John Eriksson, Writer - Henrik Jonsson, Masters of Audio, Masterer - Peter Moren, Writer - Peter Bjorn and John, MainArtist - Hans Stenlund, Engineer - John Eriksson, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble - Rut Winnberg, Vocals
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2016 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
Pontus Winnberg, Engineer, Violin, Writer - Lasse Marten, Mixer, Engineer - Bjorn Yttling, Writer - John Eriksson, Writer - Henrik Jonsson, Masters of Audio, Masterer - Peter Moren, Writer - Peter Bjorn and John, MainArtist - Thom Monahan, Engineer - John Eriksson, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble - Gustav Lindelöf, Engineer
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2016 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
Patrik Berger, Engineer, Writer - Greg Kurstin, Engineer, Instruments - Lasse Marten, Mixer, Engineer - Bjorn Yttling, Writer - John Eriksson, Writer - Henrik Jonsson, Masters of Audio, Masterer - Peter Moren, Writer - Peter Bjorn and John, MainArtist - Hans Stenlund, Engineer - John Eriksson, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble - Greg Kustin, Writer - alex pasco, Engineer - Julian Burg, Engineer - Martin Stilling, Assistant
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2016 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
Emile Haynie, Engineer, Writer, Instruments - Lasse Marten, Mixer, Engineer - Bjorn Yttling, Writer - John Eriksson, Writer - Henrik Jonsson, Masters of Audio, Masterer - Peter Moren, Writer - Peter Bjorn and John, MainArtist - Hans Stenlund, Engineer - Thom Monahan, Engineer - John Eriksson, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2016 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
Patrik Berger, Engineer, Writer - Paul Epworth, Writer, Synthesizer - Lasse Marten, Mixer, Engineer - Bjorn Yttling, Writer - John Eriksson, Writer - Matt Wiggins, Engineer - Henrik Jonsson, Masters of Audio, Masterer - Peter Moren, Writer - Peter Ågren, Writer - Peter Bjorn and John, MainArtist - Hans Stenlund, Engineer - Thom Monahan, Engineer - John Eriksson, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble - Riley McIntyre, Engineer - Joe Hartwell Jones, Engineer - Gustav Lindelöf, Engineer
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2016 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
Paul Epworth, Writer - Lasse Marten, Mixer, Engineer - Bjorn Yttling, Writer - John Eriksson, Writer - Matt Wiggins, Engineer - Henrik Jonsson, Masters of Audio, Masterer - Peter Moren, Writer - Peter Bjorn and John, MainArtist - Conor O'Brien, Vocals - Hans Stenlund, Engineer - Thom Monahan, Engineer - John Eriksson, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble - Adam Durbridge, Assistant - Riley McIntyre, Engineer - Joe Hartwell Jones, Engineer
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2016 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
Patrik Berger, Engineer, Guitar, Writer - Lasse Marten, Mixer - Bjorn Yttling, Writer - John Eriksson, Writer - Henrik Jonsson, Masters of Audio, Masterer - Peter Moren, Writer - Peter Bjorn and John, MainArtist - John Eriksson, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble - Martin Stilling, Assistant
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2016 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
Paul Epworth, Writer, Synthesizer - Lasse Marten, Mixer, Engineer - Bjorn Yttling, Writer - John Eriksson, Writer - Henrik Jonsson, Masters of Audio, Masterer - Peter Moren, Writer - Peter Bjorn and John, MainArtist - Hans Stenlund, Engineer - Thom Monahan, Engineer - John Eriksson, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble - Riley McIntyre, Engineer - Joe Hartwell Jones, Engineer
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2016 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
Greg Kurstin, Engineer, Writer - Lasse Marten, Mixer - Bjorn Yttling, Writer - John Eriksson, Writer - Henrik Jonsson, Masters of Audio, Masterer - Peter Moren, Writer - Peter Bjorn and John, MainArtist - Hans Stenlund, Engineer - Thom Monahan, Engineer - John Eriksson, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble - alex pasco, Engineer - Julian Burg, Engineer - Riley McIntyre, Engineer
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2016 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
Paul Epworth, Synthesizer - Lasse Marten, Mixer, Engineer - Bjorn Yttling, Writer - John Eriksson, Writer - Henrik Jonsson, Masters of Audio, Masterer - Peter Moren, Writer - Peter Bjorn and John, MainArtist - Hans Stenlund, Engineer - Thom Monahan, Engineer - John Eriksson, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble - Gustav Lindelöf, Engineer
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2016 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
Lasse Marten, Mixer, Engineer - Bjorn Yttling, Writer - John Eriksson, Writer - Janne Hansson, Engineer - Henrik Jonsson, Masters of Audio, Masterer - Peter Moren, Writer - Peter Bjorn and John, MainArtist - Hans Stenlund, Engineer - Thom Monahan, Engineer - John Eriksson, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble - Gustav Lindelöf, Engineer
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2016 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
Patrik Berger, Engineer - Paul Epworth, Synthesizer - Lasse Marten, Mixer, Engineer - Matt Wiggins, Engineer - Henrik Jonsson, Masters of Audio, Masterer - Peter Bjorn and John, MainArtist - Hans Stenlund, Engineer - Thom Monahan, Engineer - John Eriksson, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble - Riley McIntyre, Engineer - Joe Hartwell Jones, Engineer - Gustav Lindelöf, Engineer
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
Patrik Berger, Engineer - Paul Epworth, Synthesizer - Lasse Marten, Mixer, Engineer - Matt Wiggins, Engineer - Henrik Jonsson, Masters of Audio, Masterer - Peter Bjorn and John, MainArtist - Hans Stenlund, Engineer - Thom Monahan, Engineer - John Eriksson, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble - Riley McIntyre, Engineer - Joe Hartwell Jones, Engineer - Gustav Lindelöf, Engineer
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
Patrik Berger, Engineer - Paul Epworth, Synthesizer - Lasse Marten, Mixer, Engineer - Matt Wiggins, Engineer - Henrik Jonsson, Masters of Audio, Masterer - Peter Bjorn and John, MainArtist - Hans Stenlund, Engineer - Thom Monahan, Engineer - John Eriksson, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble - Riley McIntyre, Engineer - Joe Hartwell Jones, Engineer - Gustav Lindelöf, Engineer
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
DISC 2
Patrik Berger, Engineer - Paul Epworth, Synthesizer - Lasse Marten, Mixer, Engineer - Matt Wiggins, Engineer - Henrik Jonsson, Masters of Audio, Masterer - Peter Bjorn and John, MainArtist - Hans Stenlund, Engineer - Thom Monahan, Engineer - John Eriksson, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble - Riley McIntyre, Engineer - Joe Hartwell Jones, Engineer - Gustav Lindelöf, Engineer
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
Patrik Berger, Engineer, Writer - Greg Kurstin, Engineer, Instruments - Lasse Marten, Mixer, Engineer - Bjorn Yttling, Writer - John Eriksson, Writer - Henrik Jonsson, Masters of Audio, Masterer - Peter Moren, Writer - Peter Bjorn and John, MainArtist - Hans Stenlund, Engineer - John Eriksson, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble - Greg Kustin, Writer - alex pasco, Engineer - Julian Burg, Engineer - Martin Stilling, Assistant
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
Greg Kurstin, Engineer, Writer - Lasse Marten, Mixer - Bjorn Yttling, Writer - John Eriksson, Writer - Henrik Jonsson, Masters of Audio, Masterer - Peter Moren, Writer - Peter Bjorn and John, MainArtist - Hans Stenlund, Engineer - Thom Monahan, Engineer - John Eriksson, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble - alex pasco, Engineer - Julian Burg, Engineer - Riley McIntyre, Engineer
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
Patrik Berger, Engineer, Writer - Paul Epworth, Writer, Synthesizer - Lasse Marten, Mixer, Engineer - Bjorn Yttling, Writer - John Eriksson, Writer - Matt Wiggins, Engineer - Henrik Jonsson, Masters of Audio, Masterer - Peter Moren, Writer - Peter Ågren, Writer - Peter Bjorn and John, MainArtist - Hans Stenlund, Engineer - Thom Monahan, Engineer - John Eriksson, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble - Riley McIntyre, Engineer - Joe Hartwell Jones, Engineer - Gustav Lindelöf, Engineer
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
Emile Haynie, Engineer, Writer, Instruments - Lasse Marten, Mixer, Engineer - Bjorn Yttling, Writer - John Eriksson, Writer - Henrik Jonsson, Masters of Audio, Masterer - Peter Moren, Writer - Peter Bjorn and John, MainArtist - Hans Stenlund, Engineer - Thom Monahan, Engineer - John Eriksson, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling, Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
Album review
In the five years since their last album Gimme Some, the three members of Peter Bjorn and John were very busy. They started a record label, Ingrid, built their own studio, produced other artists, and each worked on solo projects. When they decided to get back together to make their seventh album, Breakin' Point, they turned to outside producers to help them get a slick modern pop sound. By calling in Patrik Berger, Paul Epworth, Greg Kurstin, and Emile Haynie, they availed themselves of the services of guys who had worked with artists as huge as Kanye West and Adele, as awesome as Robyn, and as far afield from their sound as Linkin Park. Not surprisingly, the album has a studio sheen unlike any PB and J album to date, with ornately smoothed-out arrangements made for pop radio. It's quite a different approach for the trio, and it doesn't do them any favors. The songs blend into each other without registering, and Breakin' Point has none of the drama and energy of their best work; there's no "Young Folks" here, no sparse ballads to tear at heartstrings, no jumped-up power pop to raise pulses. They made the choice to make a "pop" album and it has no pop at all. There's a definite lack of dynamics within the songs, and from song to song, which is truly a shame because apart from Spoon there are few bands of their stature who use space and volume to such great effect. Surprisingly, the use of a range of producers didn't lead to any variety between songs. Either Peter Bjorn and John made sure to mix it all to sound basically the same, or the producers all use the same techniques, which is a sad comment on the state of pop in 2016. Without any sharp hooks or interesting productions, the album just rolls along like 40 minutes of innocuous modern alternative radio with no high points to speak of, nothing to make the album seem like anything more than a calculated career move. There are a couple of low points worth mentioning; the whistling on the title track is a sad reminder of "Young Folks," and "Pretty Dumb, Pretty Lame" has some truly cheesy, Sugar Ray-ish production, which is sort of ironic since it's one of the tracks the trio handled themselves. That being said, it's not entirely free of charms; Peter's voice is as nimble and expressive as ever, and a couple songs (like the new wave-y "In This Town") have nice enough hooks. The minuses overwhelm the pluses, however, and the rampant mediocrity takes care of the rest. Breakin' Point is well titled since it may likely be the point where many PB and J fans who have stuck with the band over the years will find themselves walking away. At the very least, they'll give this album a hard pass and revisit one of their other albums, one where they made great pop music without pandering to someone's idea of what pop should sound like.
© Tim Sendra /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 20 track(s)
- Total length: 01:09:38
- Main artists: Peter Bjorn And John
- Label: WM Sweden
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB ℗ 2017 PBJ Musik AB under exclusive license to Warner Music Sweden AB
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