Pete Yorn
Nightcrawler

THE REVIEW

Atypical. This word alone is enough to describe Pete Yorn, musician from New Jersey, the author of a few noteworthy hits.

The third album by the singer-songwriter is "Nightcrawler", produced by Columbia Records, and despite having this strong brand backing it, the album doesn't take off in the charts and doesn't enthuse overseas critics, unlike his debut record "Musicforthemorningafter". However, this shouldn't be misleading. First of all, I aim to outline the identity of the album; fundamentally, we are talking about 'soft' rock, pop/rock, and even Britpop in the least commercial sense of the term because despite the album being wrapped in an aura of easy listening, carefree, and melancholic atmosphere, it is neither slick nor predictable. It's telling that what I consider the best track on the album or among the best, "Undercover", wasn't even chosen as a lead single, decisions which can often prove unfortunate for the commercialization of an album.

Yorn talks about common feelings, moments of lived life, memories of love and friendship, with simplicity and that dash of indifference that makes tracks like "For Us" and "Alive" smooth as well as highly appreciable. Then there is indeed the gem, "Undercover", almost a voice out of the chorus, environments that refer to the European Brit so little emulated in the United States with a captivating and well-matched base. One must admit, though, that it is an album without infamy and without praise, and so, to counterbalance negatively, we find the bland "Policies" and "Maybe I'm Right", legitimate fillers for an album that subjectively is slightly long in proportion to its simplicity (14 tracks totaling over 50 minutes). This should suffice to describe this third and latest work of Pete Yorn, recommended for a relaxing listen accompanied, why not, by a glass of Scotch, but far from me is inviting you to purchase it, except for the nostalgic and for all those who can potentially grasp the 'Leopardian pessimism' of the atypical, silent, introverted, Mr. Yorn.