Although Swedish indie-pop has been on an upswing over the past couple of years, and though the eclectic trio Peter Bjorn And John made a strong impression with its first two albums, its Writer's Block is still a surprising, assured step forward. As likeable as quasi-retro folk-rock can be, it's essentially a sound for connoisseurs who get off on the evocation of once-fashionable musical moods. Writer's Block, though, rolls by like it's on its way from the past to the future, trailing a cloud of bongos and whistles. Peter Bjorn And John carve out a unique sonic space, simultaneously cavernous and intimate, and they don't overdecorate. Aside from the post-intro opening song "Objects Of My Affection," which has the relentless percussive force of a freight train, the songs on Writer's Block are wide open, making good use of emptiness.