Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 26
  2. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. Writer’s Block has announced the renaissance of both pop music and love.
  2. The band has smartened up, and now it's playing to its strengths.
  3. Writer's Block is the work of a band at the absolute peak of its writing and performing skill.
  4. New Musical Express (NME)
    90
    By turns brooding and effervescent, but always outrageous fun, 'Writer's Block' is a compact minor classic.
  5. Despite its more fractured stylistic elements -- shoegaze smashing headlong into folk pop -- Writer’s Block emerges as one of the most complete and satisfying records of this year.
  6. The instrumentation is superb, the record feels unforced, and the music is heartfelt.
  7. Their most focused and fully realized effort yet-- an album that adds an imperial hugeness to the teen noir and garage-y psychedelia of their past efforts-- and one of the better pop records we've heard this year.
  8. In the end, Writer's Block isn't a life-changing musical statement, but it is a superb collection of finely crafted pop songs.
  9. An excellent third album from the Swedish trio, Writer's Block should make sure that the group remains in obscurity no more.
  10. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    The balance of sweet and sad is just right. [16 Feb 2007, p.76]
  11. Billboard
    80
    The album is laced with spacey, distorted guitar fuzz, delicate '60s pop melodies, groovy basslines and winsome lyrics that coalesce into a unified group of songs from start to finish. [17 Feb 2007]
  12. A delightful album designed to sink in over repeated listens.
  13. Uncut
    80
    For the most part, this Stockholm outfit's sun-streaked, clever-white-boy pop-funk catches a season as expusitely as Air did circa Moon Safari, or as Hot Chip have more recently. [Aug 2006, p.104]
  14. It shows a group both confident, with an established dynamic, and beaming in the light of their most triumphantly appealing effort.
  15. A delight, from start to finish.
  16. Under The Radar
    80
    A diverse exercise in how a tiny band can re-invent itself on each track to sound forceful. [#15, p.84]
  17. Spin
    80
    PB&J casually swap instruments and styles while carefully nuturing their ever-delicate tunes. [Mar 2007, p.88]
  18. It’s an eminently listenable album, but there’s no need for unchecked evangelism. Just enjoy the damn thing.
  19. Mojo
    70
    While their music does have a Scando smoothness to it, its ramshackle moments recall the Beta Band more than they do Sondre Lerche, The Cardigans, et al. [Sep 2006, p.100]
  20. Q Magazine
    70
    It walks the line between indie and pop without stumbling. [Oct 2006, p.125]
  21. If there's a main criticism of this record then it's the fact that it's not entirely cohesive.
  22. Writer's Block is one of those albums where the songs seem familiar in a good way.
  23. Blender
    70
    When these Swedes get whacked by romance, they cushion the blow with a reed-kneed bedroom boogie that shimmies while evoking decades of great escapist groove music. [Mar 2007, p.141]
  24. The first two songs eclipse any other songs on the album, but I'm not saying the rest of the material is weak.
  25. There's lots of sunny '60s pop that was prominent on PB&J's previous records ("Start To Melt" is the most successful one here), but the group has expanded their palette and broadened their strokes.
  26. Perhaps if each song were half the length, the fun, easy-listening element to PBJ's music would be more clear-cut. As it is, Writer's Block proves a real struggle.

Awards & Rankings

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 44 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 44
  2. Negative: 2 out of 44
  1. Apr 25, 2012
    3
    "Young Folks" is a fabulous track: wonderful instrumentals, great vocals, and one of the catchiest choruses I've ever heard. Unfortunately,"Young Folks" is a fabulous track: wonderful instrumentals, great vocals, and one of the catchiest choruses I've ever heard. Unfortunately, nothing else on this album comes anywhere close to matching that elite standard. Full Review »
  2. Oct 23, 2011
    9
    A great all-around album. While some people may think 'Young Folks' overshadows the rest, all of the songs sound are actually very catchy tracks.
  3. Mar 23, 2011
    8
    This is good indie pop. Writer's Block has some truly amazing tracks. The opener "Objects Of My Affection" is a wonderful song and the trackThis is good indie pop. Writer's Block has some truly amazing tracks. The opener "Objects Of My Affection" is a wonderful song and the track following it "Young Folks" will instantly grab you with it's whistling solo that's just really catchy. All In All, Peter Bjorn & John come up with some really intricate pop melodies that will not soon escape your head. B+ Full Review »