Categories : Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
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Rating: 2.5 / 5 Reviewer: Michelle Kennedy |
Remember in 2006 when everywhere you went people were whistling the impossibly catchy riff to Peter Bjorn and John’s first big hit ‘Young Folks’? Well, it’s unlikely that will happen in 2011. With the relative silence in the years in between – save 2009′s forgettable Living Thing – and the seemingly quiet release of Gimme Some it appears as if the whistling novelty of PB&J has simply worn off.
There are interesting moments on Gimme Some, interesting songs, and a second or two where you might say to yourself “this is the one!” but each of those moments ends in a mild disappointment of trite lyrics or recycled beats or simply ripping off past work. It’s difficult not to wonder if it’s an intentional ironic po-mo comment that the opening drum riff on ‘Dig A Little Deeper’ (a song essentially about digger deeper in one’s art practice) opens with a near perfect copy of the opening drum riff from ‘Young Folks’. There are some excellent, shimmering and bright pop songs on Gimme Some: ‘Eyes’ and ‘I Know You Don’t Love Me’ are the standouts on the album but pale in comparison to some of the sillier moments like, ‘Tomorrow Has to Wait’ and ‘Second Chance.’
When held up for comparison against the exceptionally perky and exceptionally great Writer’s Block, Gimme Some feels destined for the shelf in 180-gram vinyl.
