вЂњStronger ThanвЂќ gets all high and mighty by proclaiming that вЂњlove is stronger than fearвЂќ, yet Yorn is extremely hesitant to even consider falling in love because вЂњI gotta know myself before I know someone elseвЂќ. For an opposing viewpoint, the song вЂњAlwaysвЂќ spends a fair amount of time talking about the challenges that come with falling in love, but maintains all the struggles are worth it in the end just to have that deep connection with another person. He appears to be pretty down on himself in general, such as on вЂњThe ChaseвЂќ where heвЂ™s pretty much an asshole to this woman he loves, and then basically admits to being a horrible person while trying to convince her to come back to him.

But much of the album comes from a very raw and intense emotional place. Hell, the song вЂњRock CrowdвЂќ, as IвЂ™ve already attested, features both his light and dark side. WhatвЂ™s that, you say? Pete Yorn isnвЂ™t bipolar? Perhaps a psychologist can give this record a listen and craft a diagnosis based around that.

Speaking of concepts and storylines, this self-titled record finds Yorn trying to manage the challenges of being bipolar. The words are 100% Pete Yorn though, and thereвЂ™s no doubt about that, which is good for the wordplay but just a little bland when it comes to concepts and storylines. One listen to вЂњBadmanвЂќ and youвЂ™ll be left wondering what new artist youвЂ™ve just stumbled upon. A lot of the album actually carries that Frank Black touch, and that largely comes through in the heavy electric guitar work and some of YornвЂ™s vocals which sometimes get to the point where it sounds like somebody else is singing. WhatвЂ™s most interesting about that track though is how much it sounds exactly like something that Frank Black would do either solo or with his band the Catholics. LetвЂ™s hope the song was written from the perspective of a little boy, or Yorn might have some unchecked mental issues. With вЂњVelcro ShoesвЂќ he tells the story of buying the shoes, going home and taking a bath with his imaginary friend Billy, then having imaginary adventures with Billy. Surely youвЂ™ve heard the Paolo Nutini hit вЂњNew ShoesвЂќ about how he puts his вЂњnew shoes on and suddenly everything is rightвЂќ. вЂњCutesyвЂќ is another way to describe it, along with the song that directly follows вЂњRock CrowdвЂќ, which is вЂњVelcro ShoesвЂќ. Will Yorn play it at virtually every single show from now until eternity? You can probably bet on it, and IвЂ™ve not heard a more pandering song in the last several years. The idea behind the song is this: poor Pete Yorn always feels tired and depressed and down, but then he steps on stage to adoring fans and itвЂ™s like a warm embrace that makes him feel all better. Where it doesnвЂ™t aid him is on the song вЂњRock CrowdвЂќ, where the cheese factor is so high that it has become a new anthem for mice. Of course comparing a woman to a precious stone isnвЂ™t exactly a new concept, but cliched situation or not, YornвЂ™s smart writing helps greatly. вЂњPrecious StoneвЂќ opens the album, and as Pete Yorn tends to write love songs pretty well, this one fares as one of his best to date. Given his hit-or-miss history over the past 10 years, on the surface this new one appears to have a lot going for it, the question is whether or not thatвЂ™s enough. ItвЂ™s most likely that combination of elements, getting a fresh label with a fresh producer that pushed Yorn to make his fifth record self-titled. Frank Black, a name you might recognize in association with the Pixies or Black Francis or any number of other musical projects heвЂ™s associated with. He also worked with a new producer this time around in the form of Mr.

HeвЂ™s also got a brand new record label after signing to Vagrant, certainly a step down from the massive Columbia but perhaps he likes it that way. Maybe heвЂ™s just feeling exceptionally productive these days. Previously heвЂ™s gone at least 2 years between records. Yet Yorn is now releasing his fifth album, a mere year after his last one вЂњBack & FourthвЂќ.

Touring is by far the more lucrative method of getting some quick cash, though hypothetically Yorn could do a few years worth of it and maintain strong ticket sales even without some new music to back it up. Is he in desperate need of money? Well, with album sales being what they are these days, most artists donвЂ™t make much if any money from them. Pete Yorn has been particularly productive the last couple years, and thereвЂ™s a couple reasons why that might be the case.

Vagrant song lyrics