Peter Bjorn & John - Living Thing

Every artist inevitably lives in the shadows of their former work. It would be nice to think of every artist making a steady evolution; getting better, more complex, and skilled with each new piece of work, but this so rarely happens. That's why we have the phrase "sophomore slump" and that's what Living Thing exemplifies.
Peter Bjorn & John's first album is full of so many majestic high points that it seemed improbable that they'd be able to repeat its brilliance. However, Living Thing's highest points barely approach the lows of Writer's Block.
The ubiquitous whistle that burned itself into the public consciousness from 'Young Folks' is the rare piece of music that makes you feel as though you've heard it before the first time it seeps into your ears. It is the rare track that feels both familiar and new. Even after hearing it at the grocery store, while pumping gas, and backing up network television shows, it is a song that brings undimished pleasure with every spin.
To expect another 'Young Folks' would be foolish, but this...
Comparing the albums, it is easy to see that Writer's Block is the true living thing, while the new LP better suits its predecessor's title.
No one else seems to have noticed that the hook from the first single, 'Nothing to Worry About,' is a repetition of 'Amsterdam' from the last album. It sounded better the first time around and the kids' chorus that 'Nothing...' relies on for its drive is ineffective and confounding. After a disapointing first half, the listener hopes for a pickup, instead we get 'Lay it Down,' an uncharacteristically abrasive track that completely disagrees with the album's flow and rudely halts any forward momentum.
Credit the Swedish trio with at least making an effort to vary their sound. They back off from the sharply honed pop edges that carried Writer's Block and attempt some darker, more syrupy textures. Songs like 'The Feeling' approach breakout moments numerous time but are never allowed the space to grow, which ultimately proves to be the case for the entire album. By the end of Living Thing, it has faded into background noise and that is not what PB&J are about.