Review: Peter Moren - The Last Tycoon

Posted on 6 June 2008 | No Comments

Filed Under: Album Reviews, Indie Rock

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As evidenced by previous posts the wife and I (and even our 2-1/2 year old daughter) really like Peter Bjorn and John’s 2006 album Writer’s Block (thanks Jacob) and find ourselves doing the “phone dance” and whistling along to the joyous “Young Folks” whenever the chance arises. And because of that, I’m sad to say that despite trying, I just can’t get into Peter Moren’s solo debut, The Last Tycoon.

I’m not really a huge fan of Swedish indie-pop, but there is something universally appealing about Writer’s Block; something that is almost completely absent from the meandering retro folk-pop of The Last Tycoon. Sure, Moren reaches for the shimmering heights that PB&J reach but he never quite gets there. Maybe he misses Björn Yttling’s inviting production but (even then) the songs just aren’t as catchy and don’t stand out like his work with PB&J.

I really do hate to keep comparing The Last Tycoon to Writer’s Block, but the disparities between the two records make it unavoidable. Where the latter is one of the best indie-pop records of the last few years, Peter Moren’s first solo album is pleasant enough but just ends up sounding a bit dull. #1&9

MP3 | Peter Moren – Reel Too Real The Last Tycoon
MP3 | Peter Moren – Social Competence The Last Tycoon