Peter Bjorn and John

That massive jangling of guitars on the title track is pure 1986 -- imagine the Waterboys doing the Jesus and Mary Chain covers, with a dash of Adorable, and that's one side of this Swedish trio. Elsewhere, it's back to Merseybeat on "Let's Call It Off," and Mazzy Star-esque vocals on "Young Folks," which you'll be whistling for weeks. Lo-fi and sparse, but tuneful and fun, this is more the Cardigans than it is the Velvet Underground, but PB&J don't spread the twee on too thick.

This past fall, Peter Bjorn and John's absurdly catchy "Young Folks" became the surprise
indie-rock hit of 2006, thanks in no small part to its appearance on Grey's Anatomy. On the
Swedish trio's third album, Writer's Block, Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling and John Erikkson
offer up a full LP's worth of the kind of bright, warm pop music that Scandinavia has been
churning out like pickled herring the last few years. Tracks such as "Amsterdam,... More >