On his debut for
Columbia Records
,
Pete Yorn
wears his heart on his sleeve like
Ryan Adams
, sings in a husky croon similar to
Jakob Dylan
, and earnestly plays into passion and emotion like
Jeff Buckley
. The year 2001 belonged to
Yorn
, and his critical praise was not unwarranted, with
Musicforthemorningafter
marking the stunning beginning of a long, varied career. It's a raw selection of heartland and American
trad rock
, yet
's love for
Brit-pop
is also quite evident, with several breezy acoustic-based songs (
"Sense,"
"Simonize"
) resembling threads of
the Smiths
.
's voice may crack at points, but it contributes to the dusty feeling of the entire album, which is leanly orchestrated with a mix of guitar, harmonica, and a standard rhythm section. The debut single
"Life on a Chain"
kicks things off with appropriate twang, featuring a slightly slurred melody that helped earned the song a spot on modern rock radio, while songs like
"Just Another"
prove that
can also work his way around a ballad.
arrived when
modern rock
was looking for an outlet to escape
alternative metal
's popularity, but the album's popularity wasn't a calculated thing. With a poppy core and some rough-around-the-edges wrapping paper,
turned his debut into the perfect cure for those who were sick of the previous decade's music. ~ MacKenzie Wilson