So, this review may be somewhat biased, but I suppose reviews are meant to be a matter of opinion (from an unpaid consumer's point of view, at least).
First, a somewhat "professional" review of it, though that's not saying much considering any entertainment medium is full of complexity and depth. Beyond emotional attachment to this album, it stands out because of its tone, its varied use of instruments, and its composition. From all the PB&J I've listened to, they truly excel at one thing: switching it up. Every album has its own life and they're all intrinsically linked at the same time. This one fuses their ability to craft incredibly catchy pieces of music with along with an extremely mellow and feel good sound (which is EXACTLY what I crave). You listen to the sensational "Young Folks" and can't help but sing and whistle along, and yet there's something in the music that goes deeper than just "pop." Put up "Up Against the Wall" and you're in for an incredible piece of musical composition that speaks volumes in its moments without lyrics. The way each song is made seems beautiful and non-excessive -- they didn't throw anything "extra." It is exactly as it needs to be, and is perfect in that sense. Add in the incredibly diverse amount of instruments they implement and you have an album that is obviously created with love and care -- not for profit, but for art.
Now as for my personal affinity for it, Peter Bjorn and John's album Writer's Block is by far my favorite album of all time. This comes from a guy who got his taste in music from rock and metal (System of a Down, In Flames, etc...). But as any true lover of music, taste evolves and grows. This album personally for me has infused into it many emotions that resonate with me. It's one of those albums that doesn't excel because of its lyrics (while those are quite nice), but because of its flawless musical composition. There's something about the overall mood of this album that quite literally synchronizes with my heart. I'm sure many people have ran into songs or albums like that -- ones that just seem to "get you." That's what this album is for me. It also came into my life during a very important time and helped me with a great deal.
Decisamente il loro pezzo forte, non c'è che dire. Ogni brano è tagliente, ricco di spunti per niente scontati con quelle voci così felpate. "Young folks" ce la ricorderemo per anni, un capolavoro dell'indie.