YouTube hit single unlocks band's "Writer's Block"

By Todd Martens

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - By the time Swedish band Peter Bjorn and John's "Writer's Block" saw U.S. release on February 6, lead single "Young Folks" was on track to outsell the group's previous album by itself.

The song, a '60s-influenced slice of wistful pop, spins a tale of two hesitant lovers, a pair of "30-year-olds who have been burned by previous encounters with love," guitarist/vocalist Peter Moran says. With its bongo-like drumming and whistled melody, the playful tune has attracted the attention of TV music supervisors: "Grey's Anatomy" and "How I Met Your Mother" both have featured the cut.

It also has become a YouTube hit, thanks to a retro-styled cartoon clip generating well more than 1 million views. To date, the song has sold 3,000 copies on digital outlets, according to Nielsen SoundScan, matching sales of the group's 2005 album, "Falling Out," which was released on small indie Hidden Agenda.

"Young Folks" isn't entirely representative of "Writer's Block," but as Moran says, "It's done the work for the album.

"When we play live, there's guitar noise and I solo a little and it's a bit improvised," he says. "It's almost like punk rock at times. I reckon some people will be surprised that we're a bit of a rock band."

"Writer's Block" melds the band's Merseybeat influences with early-'80s new wave, and debuts this week at No. 2 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. Indie retailers expect the act's momentum to gain when it stages a summer U.S. tour.

"Writer's Block" is the band's third album and the first release from Almost Gold Records, a new venture from Arcade Fire/Bjork manager Scott Rodger and Isaac Green, who also runs the indie StarTime International Records.

The Internet attention surrounding the new album and the single prompted two recent New York club shows to sell out in a matter of hours.