| Break Up | |||||
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| Studio album by Scarlett Johansson and Pete Yorn | |||||
| Released | September 15, 2009 | ||||
| Recorded | 2006-2009 | ||||
| Genre | Pop, Folk, Alternative | ||||
| Length | 28:55 | ||||
| Label | Atco/Rhino | ||||
| Producer | Sunny Levine | ||||
| Scarlett Johansson chronology | |||||
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| Pete Yorn chronology | |||||
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Break Up is a collaborative album between Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson. The first single, "Relator" was released as a digital download on 25 May 2009. The full album was released by Atco/Rhino on 15 September 2009.[1] Pete's brother Rick Yorn is Scarlett's agent.[2]
Contents |
The album was recorded in 2006, thus preceding several albums that Yorn and Johansson have released as solo artists.[3] Johansson completed her vocals for the project in two afternoon sessions.[4]
Yorn said that the concept for the album was realized in a dream he had. The project was inspired by Serge Gainsbourg's 1967 and 1968 albums with Brigitte Bardot.[5]
Johansson spoke about the project recently; "The idea of two people vocalizing their relationship through duets...I always thought of it as just a small project between friends. It perfectly captured where I was in my life at the time".[6]
In a recent interview Yorn stated that he would like to do some live shows with Johansson to promote the album. On September 10, 2009, Johansson and Yorn performed "Relator" on the French television show Le Grand Journal. It was Johansson's first live performance on television.
The duo stop by the village for a live session of KCRW days before its transmission on Wednesday October 7 and besides and interview where they talk about past, present and future projects, they performed the single "Relator" along with "Blackie's Dead", "Search Your Heart", "Shampoo" and a cover of The Kinks' "Stop Your Sobbing".[7]
They also stated that they would like to tour, but because the short time the songs give them to perform (around 29 minutes), they would like to turn the concert into a dinner if there's the demand for them to tour.[8]
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| The A.V. Club | (C+)[9] |
| Allmusic | [10] |
| BBC | (average)[11] |
| CHARTattack | [12] |
| Entertainment Weekly | (B-)[13] |
| The Independent | (positive)[14] |
| Now Magazine | [15] |
| Paste | (positive)[16] |
| Pitchfork Media | (4.7/10)[17] |
| Rolling Stone | [18] |
The album was rated 57/100 among professional music critics at metacritic website indicating a mixed or average review.[19]
All songs written and composed by Pete Yorn, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Relator" | 2:33 |
| 2. | "Wear and Tear" | 3:22 |
| 3. | "I Don't Know What to Do" | 3:29 |
| 4. | "Search Your Heart" | 3:01 |
| 5. | "Blackie's Dead" | 2:37 |
| 6. | "I Am the Cosmos" (Chris Bell) | 2:47 |
| 7. | "Shampoo" | 3:05 |
| 8. | "Clean" | 3:48 |
| 9. | "Someday" | 4:17 |
CD 2 includes live versions recorded at The Village Recorder in Los Angeles on October 7, 2009. Originally broadcasted on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic with Jason Bentley.
This enhanced CD also includes Relator video.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Relator" | 2:36 |
| 2. | "Blackie's Dead" | 2:38 |
| 3. | "I Don't Know What to Do" | 3:30 |
| 4. | "Search Your Heart" | 3:03 |
| 5. | "Shampoo" | 3:08 |
| 6. | "Stop Your Sobbin'" | 2:38 |
| 7. | "Relator" (video) | 2:33 |
| Chart (2009) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| French Albums Chart | 18 |
| The Billboard 200 | 41 |
| Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia) | 45 |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 58 |
| Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders) | 78 |
| UK Albums Chart[20] | 160 |
| Year | Single | Chart | Peak Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "Relator" | Swiss Singles Chart | #57 |
| 2009 | "Relator" | Belgian Singles Chart (Wallonia) | #10 |
| 2009 | "Relator" | UK Singles Chart[20] | #189 |
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