Peter Bjorn and John are the quintessential American Swedish band. In utilizing this oxymoron, I realize that there are assumptions to be made about what is "American" and "Swedish." Without stepping into a quicksand of stereotypes, I'll clarify briefly and concisely.
PB&J hail from Sweden, but they have never truly engaged in the saccharine pop of their indie brethren. Instead, they've been clearly influenced by baroque pop and new wave, which has provided album after album of indie rock with broad appeal for American audiences. Perhaps Sweden's best known indie band, PB&J continue to release innovative and eclectic music that is clearly designed for international export. They're far from sell-outs, though, and they deserve all of their well-earned respect.
Just like most of the Swedish artists this week, longevity comes natural to this trio. Recently the band released their fifth album, Gimme Some, to much critical acclaim. Despite struggling to achieve the success of ironically-titled LP, Writer's Block, PB&J show no signs of giving up just yet. Here are the recommendations:
Albums: Gimme Some (2011), Living Thing (2009), Writer's Block (2006), Falling Out (2005), Peter Bjorn and John (2002)
Tracks: Dig a Little Deeper, Second Chance, It Don't Move Me, Young Folks, Objects of My Affection, Let's Call It Off, Amsterdam
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