Peter Bjorn and John
Writer's Block
Release Date: Feb 6, 2007
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Record label: Almost Gold
Music Critic Score
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Album Review: Writer's Block by Peter Bjorn and John
Exceptionally Good, Based on 3 Critics
Based on rating 9/10
While the sound of Writer's Block is varied, the lyrical content is pretty black-and-white, focusing on the highs and (mostly) lows of romance. On the high side there's the giddy us-against-the-world "Young Folks," which is as nice a love ballad as you'll hear anywhere. Victoria Bergsman and Peter Moren's duet is enough to warm the heart of even the grumpiest romance snob.
Based on rating 4/5
Young Folks, the summer single from this Swedish trio, was so good it raised a question: could their first UK album possibly match up to the expectations it raised? Yes, actually. If it's not a resounding yes, that's only because Peter, Bjorn and John don't really do resounding; they do wistful and melancholic, and - at their most effusive - maybe a little yearning. But beneath the apparently Identikit indiepop moping lurks a wry lyrical sense, rather more mature and insightful than most of their indie peers can manage: "And the question is: was I more alive then than I am now?" they sing on Objects of My Affection, "I happily have to disagree/ I laugh more often now, I cry more often now, I am more me." A delight, from start to finish.
Opinion: Very Good
Sweden is widely acknowledged as a fount of inspired indie-pop. For whatever reason, those socialist Nords can just crank the stuff out. Their musical exports are not unlike IKEA; Swedepop is typically well-constructed, comfortable and rarely ostentatious. Au courant Swede sensations Peter Bjorn and John hail from the country’s picture-postcard North.