The View from North Terrace

thisispoptones:

Peter Bjorn and John - Second Chance

When they first came out with Young Folks there was a feeling of “one hit wonder” about this band.  Not anymore, they keep putting out catchy songs that make their way into the Pop Tones Top 40.  Last year, they did it with Nothing to Worry About.  This year its Second Chance.  Part of the appeal is that they make simple songs interesting with the arrangements.  Its not the same old drums bass and guitar.  There’s always something different like the whistling and choruses of children.  Would like to see them live someday.

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thisispoptones:

“You can wail you can holler you can blow what’s left in my right mind” sings “VV” (Alison Mosshart, a Yank) of The Kills in “The Future Starts Slow” from their release from last Spring Blood Pressures.  Her partner “Hotel” (Jamie Hince, a Brit) provides the killer guitar hook on this single which has moved in and made itself comfortable on the Pop Tones Top 40.

Since its just a guy and a girl, witless name-connectors associate them with the White Stripes but they’re much more for those who like PJ Harvey.  Sleigh Bells is also a better comparison because of their structure.  It doesn’t matter if there was 2 or 20 people on this song, its relentlessly cool.  It harkens to a theme started by Peter Bjorn and John this year about second best being just dandy if the best wasn’t so damned much better.

Julia and Alana Coble singing “Fishies” - crank your volume until the very end (it gets REALLY loud at the end)