To get it out of the way quickly: Pedro the Lion's
David Bazan is a devout Christian and as far as our lives find their way
into our work, his songs could be analyzed for their religious references.
But far beyond any iconography, his music is arresting in its simplicity
and emotion; his lyrics not preachy, but critical of the day's newscast and
of weak souls. And while on three previous albums the former Seattle hardcore
punk dialed back his vitriolic music in favor of a quieter examination -
both good and bad - of relationships, his latest release Control
reveals a restrained, calculating rocker. After recording previous albums
almost entirely on his own, Bazan brings in bassist Casey Foubert and drummer
Trey Many for this release, giving him room to focus sharply on his edgy,
dirgeful guitar and dark, enveloping lyrics. On the driving "Penetration"
Bazan rails against corporate America's drone mentality: "If it isn't making
dollars, it isn't making sense/If you aren't moving units than you aren't
worth the expense." And in his best Bob Mould impersonation, the married
Bazan questions a lover's infidelity on "Rehearsal" with the detached emotion
of someone who's been there before. Control is not a record for people
looking to brighten up their lives - the ten songs are almost an even split
between those that deconstruct damaged relationships and those that find
extreme fault in American consumerism. But if difficult topics can't be examined
with such musical acuity -- and Bazan has much to say -- we are all a lot
worse off.
ANDREW STRICKMAN
(April 16, 2002)
