Pete Yorn - Back and Fourth
Record Label: Columbia
Release Date: June 23, 2009
Pete Yorn has never been incredibly upbeat. Sure he had his moments on major-label debut musicforthemorningafter, sophomore slump Day I Forgot and 2006's Nightcrawler, but his mumbling vocal drone has always made the mood somewhat nocturnal, plodding and downtrodden. His latest album Back and Fourth takes those traits to a whole new level. Working alongside Mike Mogis and executive producer Rick Rubin, Yorn strips away the electric guitar and sharp hooks in favor of dusty, bar room ballads. Lead single "Don't Wanna Cry," is a rather ho-hum choice for first single and an incredibly uninspiring album opener. Equally disappointing is the unimaginative "Last Summer," in which he sings, "We were there last summer, it was fresh as the ocean, we were great last summer, we cannot go back again." Really, Pete? What is this, tenth-grade?
For most of his career, Yorn has displayed a knack for simple pop prettiness, an ability to do a lot with spartan keyboards, guitars and drums. There was a carnival-like fizz as he regaled the woes of his somber heart. Other times his rock was rousing and cutthroat, and on the sparse ballads he seemed to bring the songs down to their molecular structure. It was irresistible, catchy and filled with love, joy, heart and ambition. Back and Fourth possesses none of those traits. Yes, Yorn once again executes with confidence and precision, but the brooding mood is a bit too much.
While there is a simple vibe here that hearkens back to Simon and Garfunkel or The Byrds, that's not exactly the kind of music Yorn has driven to success. While he's admitted, "I think I've been living my teenage, rocked-out fantasy for a long time, and I had some growing up to do," the results are somewhat muddled. This album isn't a total wash by any stretch. "Thinking Of You," sounds awfully parallel to Conor Oberst and "Country," is probably one of Yorn's all-time bests. The album's other bright spots include the breezy and summery "Paradise Cove" in which he sings about a "white trash beach" and the funereal "Social Development Dance," in which he mourns the loss of a friend by writing, "I Googled you in quotes, got no results."
Yorn's decision to shift towards something simpler and stripped down comes at a pivotal time in his career. Later this year he'll release a duets album with Scarlett Johanssen and that release paired with this one represent a sea change of sorts for Yorn's sonic landscape. On prior albums, Yorn used to play all the instruments but instead he's divvied up the responsibilities to a slew of seasoned studio musicians, including but not limited to: Joey Waronker, Nae Wolcott, Jonny Polonsky, Joe Karnes and Orenda Fink. That shift in strategy actually hinders the work here. While the album is supposed to be more personal and intimate, the results are the exact opposite. The songs feel more distant, withdrawn and alien.
If he's truly done with his "rocked-out fantasy" than the days of songs like "Closet" and "Crystal Village" are nothing but ancient history, and that my friend is what they call, a letdown. For now, that's exactly what Back and Fourth is, one colossal letdown.
Wow, if a letdown takes that score, I will definitively check this out.
Well-said. It is a letdown, but the man is talented, so I have to give credit where credit is due. It's just not as strong as the others. But that's just my ten cents.
I think i like Pete Yorn, but I don't know. One of my favorite songs is For Nancy, its just great. But I haven't found anything that good, even though i have his trilogy of albums.
Honestly I didn't know he was coming out with another album, i was under the impression that he "retired" from music.
I'll check this out now, let me open up demonoid. jk
ok just read the review. Its a really good review, you wrote it really well. I'm surprised nobody likes For Nancy the way I do. Now i'm truly going to piratebay this album----jk again.....
I think i like Pete Yorn, but I don't know. One of my favorite songs is For Nancy, its just great. But I haven't found anything that good, even though i have his trilogy of albums.
Honestly I didn't know he was coming out with another album, i was under the impression that he "retired" from music.
I'll check this out now, let me open up demonoid. jk
For Nancy is one of my two or three favorite songs ever. musicforthemorningafter is one of my 10 or 20 favorite albums too, but I haven't liked any album he's released since. It's really too bad. Hope this is a return to form.
ok just read the review. Its a really good review, you wrote it really well. I'm surprised nobody likes For Nancy the way I do. Now i'm truly going to piratebay this album----jk again.....
for nancy was the song that turned me on to him. Still love it
well written review, mos def. i have been with Pete Yorn since musicforthemorningafter, and was one of the few who really liked Day I Forgot, but could not, at all, get into Nightcrawler. he really kind of let me down with that one. but, i have got to say, i've been listening to this album via Myspace stream (waiting for the physical release, vs. already having it digitally from iTunes), and i am thoroughly impressed by this "Fourth" album. i think the songwriting is fantastic (by the way, when did simple lyrics become bad lyrics? why does everything have to be drenched in irony or sarcasm anymore in order to be considered good?), and the music is very light and summery--a great way to kick off the season. I'm driving to Cornerstone a few days after this album drops, and you can bet that it will be in full rotation, a good number of times. Also, "Thinking of You" really sounds nothing like Conor Oberst; it does, however, sound like a continuation of great songs like, "Lose You," "On Your Side," and "EZ," which is great! i cannot wait for this album to finally hit the record store shelves. i am more than willing to be the only person who buys this album but, seeing as the album is #6 on iTunes top albums right now, i don't think that will be the case. Back and Fourth is a solid album from a fantastic musician. but, that's just my opinion.
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