Nightcrawler
The third and final CD in a series that opens and closes a day in the life,Nightcrawlersignals that Pete Yorn may have saved the best for last. The New Jersey-bred singer/songwriter remains heavy on the pop-sensical rock songs that have sketched out his young, but million-selling career. Remaining front-and-center, his animated vocal style--which can soothe during the quieter moments and vociferate on more stout efforts--is skillfully adept in conveying newfound inspirations that have snuck into the mix and broadened his sound. Sure, tracks like "Maybe I'm Right," "Bandstand in the Sky," "Policies" and the instantly accessible "For Us" remain directly in Yorn's wheelhouse. But as he tackles issues such as love, jealousy and immortality, crosses into genres like contemplative '60s folk ("Alive") and Spectorized R&B; ("Georgie Boy"), and harmonizes with Dixie Chick Natalie Maines ("The Man"), Yorn keys the vault on his first trilogy, leaving only a guitar and open canvas in the path of his future.--Scott Holter