Gimme Some

iTunes Review

After the glorious atmospheric pop of Falling Out and Writer’s Block, Swedes Peter Bjorn and John confounded fans with a couple of releases that were edgy and experimental (Seaside Rock) and borne of darker, colder pop tones (Living Thing). But those were only the de rigeur detours budding artists sometimes feel compelled to take. Gimme Some is one of those records that speaks simply and truthfully to the core of an artist’s sound, and pleads a good case for staying the original course. From the gleeful proclamations — all spirited vocals, hooky chorus and buzzing guitars — of “Tomorrow Has to Wait,” it’s clear the ride ahead will be a rollercoaster pop thrill. There are fantastic nods to vintage sounds: the bubbly “Dig a Little Deeper” recalls Squeeze, and the breathy swagger of “Second Chance” feels like the Shins meets XTC. They infuse old genres like new wave (“Lies,” “Breaker Breaker”) and punk (“Black Book”) with a unique energy, and the gleaming tidal wave of closing track “I Know You Don’t Love Me” is a brilliant end.