At the beginning of the month, Peter Bjorn and John pulled the trigger on their boldest artistic statement since embedding a makeshift guitar solo in a Strokes single—the Swedish indie trio rolled out a three-in-one video for their forthcoming Darker Days LP’s first three singles. The PB&J special introduced their audience to the record’s dark tone, as well as its focus on each member’s individual ideas as opposed to the groupthink that launched such singles as “Objects of My Affection” and “Second Chance” to international acclaim—not to mention solidifying “Young Folks” as our generation’s most whistled song.
As the fourth sample from Darker Days, “Wrapped Around the Axle” is the brainchild of the classic combo’s B: Björn Yttling. “Axle” is an upbeat-yet-lyrically-somber affair, detailing the complications of a platonic break-up. “The song is about some friends of mine and their separation,” Yttling explains. “They wanted to make it work—that’s what I imagine at least—but the more they tried, the more they were dragged deeper into something much worse. Sometimes an honorable walk-over is the only alternative. Or, as Klas Östergren said, “I’m leaving the table, I’m out of the game.”
Darker Days arrives 10/19 via INGRID. Their US tour kicks off Nov. 29.
11.29 | Brighton Music Hall | Boston, MA
11.30 | Rough Trade | Brooklyn, NY
12.01 | Bowery Ballroom | New York, NY
12.02 | Rock & Roll Hotel | Washington, DC
12.04 | Velvet Underground | Toronto, ON
12.05 | Lincoln Hall | Chicago, IL
12.07 | Marty’s on Newport | Sana Ana, CA
12.08 | Teragram | Los Angeles, CA
12.09 | Independent | San Francisco, CA
