Yorn's 'Break Up' isn't hard to do

By Jonathan F. McVerry - For the CDT

Friday, Oct. 30, 2009

Artist: Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson

Album: “Break Up”

Label: Rhino/Wea

Teaming up with an unlikely duet partner like Scarlett Johansson, singer-songwriter Pete Yorn could expect to draw a few curious eyes, but attracting serious ears might be the challenge on his latest nine-track release.

In September, Yorn, along with the “Lost in Translation” actress, released “Break Up,” an album of bluesy pop rock that exposes a fresh and fun side of the New Jersey guitarist, as well as the musical side of Johansson.

Inspired by French singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg’s work with actress-model Brigitte Bardot, Yorn enlisted Johansson to take on the concept album, which runs through the emotions, pitfalls and pain of a standard breakup. Yorn says he conceptualized the album in a dream during a bout of post-breakup insomnia he had been experiencing.

Enlisting Johansson for “Break Up” may be Yorn’s payback to Hollywood, as it was his song “Strange Condition” appearing on the soundtrack of 2000 comedy “Me, Myself and Irene” that garnered his first batch of acclaim. He also wrote the score for the movie.

Johansson, like Bardot, is not unfamiliar with the recording studio. She has her own discography, including a 2007 album of Tom Waits cover songs. Unfortunately, most of her work to date has been fairly forgettable and unimpressive. Fortunately for both artists, Yorn’s music has the potential to breathe new life into her musical jaunts as well as add a pinch of much-needed personality.

The record opens with its first single, “Relator,” a poppy, radio friendly sing-along that fires up a chemistry between Yorn and Johansson. But the chemistry doesn’t stay strong throughout the album and peters out with the lifeless dirges of “Clean” and “Someday.”

On “I Don’t Know What to Do,” the couple trades verses and harmonizes choruses to create the record’s best track. Elements including the jangly piano solo and Johansson’s carelessly pleasant vocals exudes a warm vibe that strays from the blues that fills out the record.

On Oct. 30, Yorn will take the State Theatre stage along with supporting alternative act Alberta Cross. The Halloween eve show no doubt will stretch across Yorn’s short but personally written catalog. The theater, tailor-made for singer-songwriters, will provide a righteous atmosphere and pleasurable backdrop for Yorn’s whispering folk rock.

Pete Yorn will perform at 8 p.m. Oct. 30 at the State Theatre, 130 W. College Ave., State College. Call 272-0606 or visit www.thestatetheatre.org for more information.