Sunday Music Spotlight - Peter Björn and John

They’re from the same country, but Peter Björn and John ain’t ABBA. What are they? I think Noel Murray of The Onion AV Club said it best when he described them as quasi-retro folk-rockers. They seem retro, but they’re thoroughly modern. They’re folky, but they kind of rock. They’re in between a lot of things, but difficult to pin down into any one.

PB&J has been around for a while (since 1999), and released a few albums (three to be exact), but it was with their latest offering (Writer’s Block) they really honed in on their sound. Most of the tracks are a sparse mix of electronic and acoustic instruments with catchy melodies and strong hooks.

Here’s a couple samples:

Young Folks

This song is like mental velcro; I dare you to listen to it an not get the whistling part stuck in your head. Featuring Victoria Bergsman.

Lets Call It Off

I wish I knew how they got the lead guitar sound in this. It’s fantastic.