Peter, Bjorn And John - 'Falling Out' (Wichita) Released 05/03/07

Released for the first time in the U.K. on the back of the joys of 'Writers Block', Peter, Bjorn And John's second album 'Falling Out' hails back to 2004. The eponymous predecessor revealed their many influences but lacked on the songwritings prowess and found the organ to be the lynchpin instrument, 'Falling Out' exercises the songwriting muscle with a central theme built around falling out - with others / your beau/ yourself / beliefs, with some songs about falling in, cutting more of a songs and guitars album.

'Far Away, By My Side' has a 60's Monkees pop-sensation feel with a creaky vocoder and do do doo's on a tight riffing 3-minute pop song - "...we don't have to be so clever babe...", and 'Big Black Coffin' maintains the Monkees c.php with a chipper tune "...and when I close my eyes/ I still see this face...". 'Money' has a 60's dancehall sound with Peter sharing a male / female duet but isn't either here nor there, and 'Does It Matter Now' with its drums and riffs seems a mere jam session. 'It Beats Me Everytime' is altogether ballsier with Peter belting out the words like a wired Elvis Costello - "...What am I supposed to do when I don't care/ it beats me everytime..." set to a Peter Hookey gutsy bass. 

'Start Making Sense' features a fresh Peter and Bjorn duet with melodious riffs and chimes from zither and glock and 'Teen Love' has all the hormonal exuberance with the throes of new love - "...I feel I'm falling in love with you...". 'All Those Expectations' has a wheezing harmonica to close a mediocre track bringing a Byrdsy feel all too late, but the standout 'Tailormade' is cut from a different cloth with 60's inflections and a richness in production with violin accompaniment and a roving harmonica - "...well I hate to be a downer/ but this happens to be the truth...". '(I Just Wanna) See It Through' rocks with a Buzzcocks punk-pop gusto - "...Get back where you belong, at university..." the put-down to the fuckwits and 'The Traps My Trip' burns with ferocious intensity of expression and energy.

'Falling Out' brings the lineage of Peter, Bjorn and John to date with a polished studio production where the eponymous predecessor was a home-recording, giving greater insight into their live sound. There's a cohesive feel of a band developing their singular talents and explorations together which takes the band towards new wave influences from the 80's as well as contemporaries like The Shins and The Hives. In two words - worth checking!