Between 2009 and 2010 Pete Yorn released three distinct and pretty decent albums (Back & Fourth (2009), Break Up (2009) with Scarlett Johannson, and Pete Yorn (2010)), so it makes sense that he would take a bit of time off. In 2013 Yorn returned to the scene, but this time he's not alone. Teaming up with his new partner in crime, LA neo-folk songsmith J.D. King, Yorn has found a fresh new voice in The Olms - and as their self-title debut proves, the band is surprisingly the sum of its parts.
While some fans might miss Yorn's straight-up roots rock ala Petty-Wallflowers, few can deny what a refreshing sound takes its place. King is the perfect hazy foil for Yorn's somewhat somber tones, and it brings the best out of both songwriters. Conceived as an almost pure collaboration of singing, songwriting, and performing, The Olms bounces around an eclectic mix of country and folk with a light shading of psychedelia thrown in for good measure. In many ways, it's not unlike the sonic territory of Break Up; however, The Olms is far more successful in terms of the songwriting, and much more enjoyable. Tracks like "On the Line" and "Wanna Feel It" embody this easy-going template as do "Someone Else's Girl" and "Twice as Nice" - even the left-field murder number "She Said No" is a winner! All said and done, the entire album is immediately catchy and memorable. But what's most important is that The Olms feels absolutely effortless, which is something that Yorn has never been able to achieve. Even his impressive and very successful debut Musicforthemorningafter (2001) felt labored at times (though it never dragged on like subsequent releases). Yet as a member of The Olms, Yorn just seems to be relaxed and better than ever. In addition, King too seems to shine in this duo, whereas his solo material might be missing the zest afforded here by his copilot.
To put it simply, The Olms is pleasant surprise that gets better and more addictive with each repeated listen. Both men are clearly songwriting pros in their own right, but together they are able to trim any solo fat and produce something that is truly transcendental. Even if The Olms turns out to be just a one-off, it was an incredibly noble effort and totally worth it. That being said, while more solo albums from either of them would hardly be a bad thing, more albums from The Olms would be the best thing!
- McS
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