Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Pete Yorn


Pete Yorn is another one of my favorite artists. He is a singer/songwriter who’s sensitive, but a rocker at heart.  His melodies are perfect for a laid back summer evening or on a road trip with friends. 

Yorn got his big break when he wrote the original score for the Jim Carrey and Renée Zellweger, film Me, Myself and Irene.  His song “Strange Condition” was featured on the soundtrack.  The song was also heard in the Josh Hartnett flick, 40 Days and 40 Nights.  More of Yorn’s songs can be heard in films such as, Shrek 2, Orange CountyHellboy, Open Season, Just Like Heaven, and Spider-Man, as well as TV shows including, Six Feet UnderSmallville, CSIVeronica Mars, House, and Dawson’s Creek, and The Vampire Diaries.


Yorn has been very busy over the last year or so.  Last June, he released his fourth studio album, Back & Fourth.  The album was recorded in Omaha with producer Mike Mogis, a member of Bright Eyes, who has produced albums in the past for Cursive, The Faint, and Rilo Kiley.  Last September, he released a very different kind of project. He teamed up with actress Scarlett Johansson to create a duet album titled Break Up.  Serge Gainsbourg 1967 and ‘68 albums with Brigitte Bardot inspired the album.  Break Up gained popularity in France reaching the #18 spot of the album charts with the lead single "Relator".  On top of constant touring and writing Yorn had a lot of material and started recording his next album.


Pete Yorn released his self titled sixth album in September. Produced by Frank Black of the Pixies, the album was recorded in only five days.  The two set up a studio in Salem, OR and essentially just rocked out.  The album's lead single "Precious Stone" definitely holds true to that sound.  With songs about the simple joys of being a kid like, "Velcro Shoes",  how time passes when not performing on "Rock Crowd", and a rerecording of "Paradise Cove" from Back & Fourth simply titled "Paradise Cove I", Yorn has done a excellent job of defining his sound on his latest work. 


On November 3rd, Pete Yorn announced dates for his next tour.  Of course I plan to make time to see him perform.  I saw Yorn perform with my best friend Kristina when he was promoting the album Nightcrawler.  We were so lucky to be literally right in front of Pete Yorn during the show and we both left the show that night with a sense of awe in the way he connects with an audience.  He will be in Chicago on February 23rd at The Vic Theatre, but last week, Kristina and I decided that we would go together to see him perform in Saint Louis on February 27th at The Pageant. Visit Pete Yorn's official website for more dates.


Check out Pete Yorn's latest video for "Sans Fear".  See if you can spot actress Darryl Hannah and Rami Jaffee of The Wallflowers.





Pete Yorn track listing:
1. Precious Stone
2. Rock Crowd
3. Velcro Shoes
4. Paradise Cove I
5. Badman
6. The Chase
7. Sans Fear
8. Always
9. Stronger Than
10. Future Life
11. Wheels

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