 | Tracklist:
1. Relator
2. Wear and Tear
3. I Don't Know What to Do
4. Search Your Heart
5. Blackie's Dead
6. I Am the Cosmos
7. Shampoo
8. Clean
9. Someday
Release Date: 2009 | |
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| Summary: An understated, excellent pop album which comes across as a resounding success. |
Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson's unlikely collaboration Break Up starts with the upbeat, mid-tempo Relator, and who'd have thought it? Johansson sounds completely at home; after all, 2008's Anywhere I Lay My Head was at best uneventful, a record of Tom Waits covers that begged a million questions and gave very few answers, but on the album opener she sounds natural and well-positioned. Just as the beginning of I Don't Know What To Do carries an unfamiliar soul twang that many would never have expected, Yorn seems to bring out the best in her. He's prominent, of course, but this record feels just as much hers as his (despite the obvious location of the songwriting credits - Yorn only steps out of the way on I Am The Cosmos, but it's not to Johansson, it's to Chris Bell.)
Break Up rarely kicks into 'full swing', preferring to favour stuttered, soul/jazz-influenced backdrops and catchy (but never overtly so) choruses that seep in slowly, like, I'm in love with a girl, sees what you are, what you a-are, from the chorus of Blackie's Dead. There's no doubt that Break Up is a chill-out album, less of an epic tragedy than an understated attempt at documenting a split, but in that arena it fares remarkably well; even I Am The Cosmos sounds restrained and beautiful, with Johansson's tender vocals carrying the abstract lyrics incredibly well. There's no hint that Break Up was rushed or became a struggle at any point; he sounds typically comfortable and the pop hooks keep on coming, while she adds the necessary second point of view. Though Johansson fades slightly towards the end of the album, even the layered vocals of Shampoo feel perfectly oriented, and I don't remember feeling like a duet record was as well executed as this.
Yorn's talent shines through, as you'd expect; it's been a while since he started writing complex and excellent pop songs, and it shows. Really gentle horns, soft piano, unassuming acoustic guitars and a sublime rhythm section mean that Break Up feels like a tour-de-force of pop sensibilities; it never loses its head, but at the same time it never falls into convention. Tracks like the great I Don't Know What To Do are content to rest innocuously at a medium tempo through their runtime, while Blackie's Dead floats above a solid and persistent drumbeat. The bass on Break Up is subtle, but that doesn't stop the energy, it just means it's more laid-back. It suits Yorn and Johansson's vocals that nobody tries to push the record beyond permanently enjoyable pop music, but that doesn't mean it's always predictable; I Am The Cosmos' slow-burning electronics come out of left field and there are plenty of nuances to accompany their voices, which are obviously the focal point. Rightly so; they're both excellent.
It's strange, because Break Up never really combines to form anything of a cohesive story, especially with cuts like I Am The Cosmos and vague lyrical themes, but the lack of overbearing ambition is endearing in a way; this record doesn't pretend to answer questions or fix problems, it's just a story. In keeping with such a theme, it's short - 28 minutes is all this collaboration lasts, but it's long enough. The verses turn to choruses at just the right points, the flow is brilliant, and the interplay between Yorn (permanently fragile) and Johansson (permanently pretty) is flawlessly worked. Closer Someday and its picked acoustic guitars and dragging beats feels more like a penultimate track and there's definitely something special missing in the way of completeness, but that almost feels deliberate. Short, sweet, with excellent replay value and a lot of beautiful moments, it leaves you kind of not knowing, but the temptation is to press play from the beginning again. Sounds exactly like a break-up.
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http://www.spinner.com/new-releases#/1
album streaming, album is brilliant, album is chill
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Is that THE Scarlett Johansson? Since when does she make pop music?
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Yepppp, it's her.
Since 2008, really. But good pop music? Since now.
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well everyone knows how every fucking person in hollywood can be a musician if they want to. sounds...interesting anyway.
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this sounds interesting, I might actually try this out
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Just got it so I will check it out because she is so hot.
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i'm very wary on this one, i heard like a minute of one of her older songs, and her voice sounded awful, she just could not sing AT ALL. she was in tune, but her pitch and delivery were horrible. has her voice gotten better? convince me!
oh and: I don't remember feeling like a duet record was as well executed as this have you heard Robert Plant & Alison Krauss' album? it's VERY good
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She's DEFINITELY better on this than on her 2008 album, and these songs suit her voice so much more; additionally, there's a lot of interplay and vocal variation because of the duet factor. I really enjoyed her on this which was quite the surprise, and Yorn is brilliant too.
And no, I expect I should get onto that.
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yeah, you would definitely love it, it's a really beautiful and relaxing record. And you have convinced me, i'll get this and try it out. ps scarlett has THE biggest natural boobs. didn't need me to tell you this though i'm sure
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Personally, I find this album a bit of a yawn-fest, but anyone up for some quick cheap pop should totally check it out
Digging: The Weeknd - Echoes of Silence Digging: The Weeknd - Echoes of Silence | | |
lol yawn i get it 
this will probably round off as a sputnik 3.4/3.5
it's nothing remarkably invigorating or OMGCRAZY but it's amazing chillout musix
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you love to shell out 4s and 4.5s
Digging: Thursday - No Devolucion Digging: Thursday - No Devolucion
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I'm a huge Bangles fan and also like Pete, so this is worth checking out. Thanks for the review.
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you love to shell out 4s and 4.5s
i should probably rate more excellent albums lower just to make you happy riight?
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hmmm.
judging from what u guys have said, i might just give it a try.
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I saw this under new posts and thought it was a news story "pete yorn and scarlett johansen break up"
Digging: The Killers - Live from the Royal Albert Hall Digging: The Killers - Live from the Royal Albert Hall
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lmao
lucky guy
apparently he woke up one morning and was just like
OMG I HAV 2 RECORD A DUET ALBUM WIV SCARLET JOHANSON
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i should probably rate more excellent albums lower just to make you happy riight?
pretty sure he meant you overrate albums no better than pretty good
Digging: Pop 1280 - The Horror
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His rating average is 3.44; I do not think he overrates. In fact, I would rate some albums higher than he rated them.
Didn't care for Scarlett's solo CD, but perhaps she's better here.
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oh good spot, adam downer, thanks for pointing this out
ftr lowered this review to a 3.5 because of 'this will probably round off as a sputnik 3.4/3.5' and it's not as good as Back And Fourth. i was toying with the rating anyway so don't love urself too much ;)
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