eMusic Review 0
On the solo debut by Peter Morén of Peter Bjorn and John, the Swedish singer-songwriter avoids most anything similar to his group's international calling card, “Young Folks” — no dance beats, no inescapable pop hooks and definitely no whistling. Instead he reveals his folk-rock side, baring lyrical roots in Bob Dylan and a vocal resemblance to John Lennon while favoring acoustic guitar sweetened by chamber strings, subtle keyboards, minimal percussion and the occasional singing saw.
It's a wintery album: You can feel Stockholm's chill in the silences between the notes and in Morén's naked arrangements. But there's a warmth and humor in the strongest songs that fits Morén's delicately rendered melodies. Escaping contrived conversation is a recurring theme on this resolutely introverted set: Album opener “Reel Too Real” depicts the singer as a student escaping the tyranny of bullying classmates who “win because they're dull,” while in “Social Competence,” he cuts to the chase: “I don't want to talk to you,” he sings as the song's Simon & Garfunkel-worthy Spanish guitar riff, piano and handclaps give way to the album's fullest and most vibrant chorus. It's here — when the music's at its most fluent — that the singer's reticence… read more »
