Reading about Sjowgren’s debut ‘seventeen’, released a year ago, it seems to be a universally agreed upon fact that this Bay Area band had introduced us to something special. Listening to the joyous indie-pop of ‘seventeen’ and new single ‘now & then’, what comes to mind is the audible equivalent of a warm smile or embracing a friend you haven’t seen in a while. Yes, our metaphors are a little cheesy, but there’s an air of the nostalgic about Sjowgren’s music. Moving in closer on the trio’s second release, it’s all about beach-bound chords, late-’60s-Beatles Indian strings, Local Natives-reminiscent backing vocals, light-footed folksy vocals akin to Margaret Glaspy or Julia Jacklin and driving drum percussion. Almost as catchy as their debut, the core element of ‘now & then’ comes down to that rumbling, pristine chorus and sage refrain “I knew then what I know now, I may loose it for a second now and then.” - HT