John's Track of the Week: "Relator"

Song: Relator

Artist: Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson

Album: Break Up

Year: 2009

Before you say anything about the Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson choice, understand that I wouldn't put this up unless it was, in fact, a legit track. As much as the concept of Johansson as a musician may make some cringe (I wasn't all that receptive to the idea in the beginning either), the combination of her sultry voice with Pete Yorn makes for a delightfully glowing experience.

From the off-beat shuffle in the background, to the spacious guitar strumming by Yorn, "Relator" just screams pop hit, yet will probably never amount to more than a guilty pleasure for indie kids everywhere. It's fun, for lack of a better word, not unlike the remainder of the nine-track effort the duo just put out this past week. The album as a whole is an earnest, and honest look inside the inner workings of two minds, though unlinked romantically, managing to exist on the same wavelength for the entirety of a smart and interesting release. Admittedly, it's not all that different from the efforts of She & Him, or the project that inspired this one, Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot's 1960s duets. However, it is a refreshing look at both artists' musical talents in a slightly different light than we're used to. Check it out below.

[Previously on Animal Noises: Tuesday's Releases (9/15): Now Streaming]