David Bazan - Curse Your Branches (2009)

David Bazan, as vocalist for Pedro the Lion always created a mood of intense desolation. It was just something in his voice that did this, lending an even deeper emotional content to already heavy lyrical themes. His voice is deep and earnest, but doesn’t have all that much energy in it. Not that it sounds effortless, just completely devoid of any inherent positivity, which suits him well to melancholic singer/songwriter fare. This is his first solo album, and it is a bit of a downer. That said, it isn’t miserable to listen to. The first track “Hard to Be” uses a backdrop of acoustic guitar and a persistent snare beat supplemented by ringing organ and piano notes. It’s the sonic equivalent of melancholy, but not overt depression. I would liken it to being in a terrible mood during a beautiful day. That’s really how I would sum up much of this album, with a few exceptions. “When We Fell” is actually upbeat, with a chugging bass line and guitars that ring cheerfully. Backing vocals are used on this track to its benefit, breathing much more life into this song than on some of its counterparts. “In Stitches” closes the album on a sorrowful note, stripping the accompanying instruments to slow drumming and organs that churn in a rather dreary way. The album ends with a half-minute of somber piano notes giving the feeling that his disposition hasn’t changed much over the course of the album. “Bless This Mess” is one of the albums best songs, with a refrain far catchier than one might expect Bazan to be capable of. I find it difficult to explain what it is I like about this album. I do like it quite a bit, it’s just one of those cases of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. I liked Pedro the Lion, but I don’t think any of their albums were quite as cohesive as this. It seems like this has a bit more personality to it. It’s a clearer showcase of his work, as expected, and he’s so believable it’s hard not to at least respect that. LISTEN

1. Hard to Be – 6:23
2. Bless This Mess – 3:57
3. Please Baby, Please – 3:49
4. Curse Your Branches – 3:34
5. Harmless Sparks – 2:30
6. When We Fell – 3:40
7. Lost My Shape – 3:44
8. Bearing Witness – 3:13
9. Heavy Breath – 3:19
10. In Stitches – 4:33