David Bazan’s New Record Curse Your Branches

December 4, 2009 | Filed Under Poetry 

I’ve been a big fan of Pedro The Lion since the late 90s. One of my favorite albums of all time is the 1998 It’s Hard To Find A Friend with classic songs like Big Trucks and When They Really Get To Know You They Will Run. Some have called Bazan one of the greatest song writers of our generation, and I think that’s a fair assessment.

One thing that’s always struck me about David Bazan (the guy behind Pedro The Lion who now performs under his own name) is his disarming honesty and lack of pretension; refreshing and compelling. The stories he tells, the satire he weaves, the poignant criticisms he makes … they carry a lot of weight … just because the guy has a lot of integrity. He cares about truth.

Anyone who’s followed Bazan’s career closely has most likely recognized an arc of tension between his Christian faith and reality. The tension, one might say, of absurdity. A tension that at least gave the appearance that he was uncomfortable in his own skin, maybe even a bit angry. This tension is something I’ve lived, and I’m sure many others have too.

With his latest album though, what’s most apparent is a David Bazan who is at ease. A changed man. The songs, largely autobiographical, paint the picture of a man who has reordered his life. A guy who saw the depths of alcoholism but allowed the grace of fatherhood enter his life and move him to take responsibility. A guy who loves his wife so much that, when tempted with the thirst for alcohol, calls her up in the middle of the night to ask her permission… knowing that she won’t approve. If there is a motif on this album, it’s that of a guy growing into a man.

Throughout Curse Your Branches, Bazan details some bold moves – he takes responsibility for his beliefs (becomes an agnostic), his family (beats alcoholism), his delusions (a consuming fear of his wife’s infidelity), a respect for his family’s faith (including his young daughters). These stories are poignant and honest.

Musically, the album is more polished and produced than previous Bazan/Pedro albums. The intro to the opening song Hard to Be is case and point. As are the crystal clear vocals and the wonderful percussive inflections of instruments like the tambourine and shaker.

Perhaps surprisingly, given the narrative of the album, I’m left with a positive, hopeful vibe. It’s the story of a man who has changed. A man who is comfortable with himself. A man who isn’t afraid to not know. A man who’s got profound love for his family.

And it’s a story told through great music.

Probably David Bazan’s best album to date. Go get it.

Comments