1. Complete style 180, where the band reinvents their sound. Generally this occurs during the second or third album. Rarely are bands able to pull this off without sounding like they’re trying to hard, probably because they’re attempting to experiment with a genre they’re typically not as familiar with. One of the few examples of this working was Panic! at the Disco’s sophomore album “Pretty Odd” (although the first single from their new album, “The Ballad of Mona Lisa” sounds like an unreleased track from 2005’s “A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out”).
2. The second is the band sticking only to what they know. Although this seems like it would be a foolproof hit method, it often results in a collection of sounds that are redundant and mediocre at best. However, it’s arguably the best system for bands with extraordinarily unique sounds, definitely a contributing factor to the success of Vampire Weekend’s “Contra”.
January 2011’s Peter, Bjorn & John album “Gimme Some” is a refreshing example of the latter trend. The swedish trio’s third album, “Writer’s Block” put them on the map with their indie pop anthem, Young Folks. Five years and three albums later, we’re reminded why everyone with access to an alternative radio station went around whistling PB&J. Tracks like Black Book, Second Chance, and (Don’t Let Them) Cool Off maintain the quintessential indie pop sound that PB&J have seemed to perfect with darker undertones than they’ve previously released. The upbeat sounds reminiscent of past PB&J are still found, however, with ironically pessimistically named tracks like Lies, Dig a Little Deeper and Down Like Me. One of my favorite features of this group is the diverse talent of all three members, who add vocals as well as a myriad of instruments throughout the album. I haven’t been able to differentiate between Peter, Bjorn and John’s voices, but one day aspire to reach that level of expertise.
Similar Recommendations:
Fun, Phoenix, Matt & Kim
