Musicforthemorningafter

iTunes Review

Pete Yorn made quite a splash right from the onset. Playing most of the instruments himself and counting fellow Jersey boy Bruce Springsteen and the Britpop of the Smiths as influences, Yorn comes across as a radical neo-traditionalist singer-songwriter/rock n’ roller with all that those paradoxes imply. Self-penned tunes such as “Life On a Chain,” “Strange Condition,” “For Nancy (‘Cos It Already Is),” and “On Your Side” sound immediately fresh and recognizable, as Yorn’s emotive yet steady lead vocals are remarkably assured for a young man’s debut album. The sound is tight and professional without ever turning uptight, and the yearning never leaves Yorn’s voice for long. “EZ” is the album’s gentlest track and real fury rests behind its laidback exterior. In fact, it’s Yorn’s deceptively laidback demeanor that brings much of the album’s toughness to light. He often sounds as if he’d rather whisper or turn to sleep when stuck with conflict, and that’s where the tension comes into play. The grind of “Black” and the flustered rush in the twisted “uh-huhs” of “Murray” are classic pop-rock moments.