Pete Yorn

His fifth solo studio effort and Vagrant Records debut, Pete Yorn sees the Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter peeling away the baroque orchestrations of his critically acclaimed previous work to expose a beating rock ‘n’ roll heart. Much of the eponymous album’s remarkable raw power comes courtesy of producer Frank Black, who in 2008 invited Yorn up to a Salem, Oregon studio for some spontaneous sessions. The result is exuberant and edgy, with songs like “The Chase” and the album-opening “Precious Stone” ringing out loud and strong with chiming guitars, soaring harmonies, and Yorn’s soul-wrenchingly wrecked vocals.