Shoegaze-inflected millennial “happy-sad” music that cradles you through burnout and feels like a sigh of relief after lying on your floor after school, “Writer’s Block” by Peter Bjorn and John feels like a bittersweet and uncertain springtime day. It features themes of romance versus reality, creating a juxtaposition between moody lyrics and cheerful beats. The emphasis on instrumentals over lyrics lends itself to the album’s overarching melancholic yet sunny energy. The lengthy instrumentals feature synths, jangly guitars, harmonies and layered electronic textures of sound. The second track, “Objects Of My Affection,” repeats the line “the question is, was I more alive than I am now?… I laugh more often now, I cry more often now, I am more me,” reflecting the uncertainty of change. One of the more popular songs from the album, “Up Against The Wall,” opens with a woozy organ sound. This music then guides the listener into a steady beat of drums leading into a mellow but tense bassline, and the singer joins in with a nasally, doubtful tone. He sings, “Maybe we could make this work / But I just had to leave before it’s getting worse,” with emotion that continues the bass line’s full yet strained feeling. Overall, “Writer’s Block” is relatable, wistful, indie, atmospheric and dreamy. It’s the kind of music that can quietly envelop an entire room.