Pete Yorn is finally carving out a sound that's uniquely him; no more
Ryan Adams comparisons are necessary, for the Jersey-born singer/songwriter has written some of the most complex songs of his career to date with
Nightcrawler. While the title might suggest something a bit more dark and dramatic,
Yorn embraces the warmer sound of his previous work to create a rich, picturesque batch of songs. Having producer
Butch Walker in tow is a great move for
Yorn, too, for he finally seems content with his artistic place. In addition, producers
Tony Berg and
Michael Beinhorn focus on the simplicity of
Yorn's familiar, country-inspired sound; however, those who reveled in the hungry delivery of his 2001 debut
Musicforthemorningafter may question
Nightcrawler's natural rock stamp. From the shivering slow build of "Vampyre" and the reaching desire of "For Us" (which also features
Dave Grohl on drums) to the road trippin' golden tones of "Maybe I'm Right,"
Yorn sounds pretty self-assured this time out.
The Kinks-ish "Georgie Boy" and the murky synth beats of "Same Thing" highlight more of an experimental side to the guitar-centered
Yorn, and such a slight change in sound is swiftly done.
The Dixie Chicks' Martie Maguire and
Natalie Maines also lend a hand on "The Man," a classic ballad from the natural-born troubadour. Overall,
Nightcrawler breathes easily, and despite it missing the fire of his first record, it's a worthy piece of work. "Undercover," which is featured on 2002's Spider-Man soundtrack, and "Splendid Isolation" from the 2004
Warren Zevon tribute
Enjoy Every Sandwich: The Songs of Warren Zevon are also included here. ~ MacKenzie Wilson