Pedro the Lion – Achilles’ Heel LP

Description

Achilles’ Heel,Pedro the Lion‘s fifth album, is a hallmark for the band, a culmination of their previous work, and — upon its release — their best album to date. Breaking down the linear narratives of The Only Reason I Feel Secure andControlinto broader concepts and themes that rely far less on storytelling and more on topical personal politics turns out to be a winning approach. Walking through the emotional fray of America’s suburban ennui,David Bazanand company have built a beautiful and wavering mix of indie rock and country-folk.Ester DrangkeyboardistJames McAlisteris a shining addition toBazanand longtime contributorT.W. Walsh, adding a syrupy keyboard undercurrent to contrastBazan‘s longing melodies and lyrics — and the guitar work reaches new levels of uncharacteristic gritty rock on the venomous “Keep Swinging” (don’t expect it for more than one track, though). With some of the best songs of the band’s career — the classic, simple, country-tinged “Foregone Conclusions” and the lush, soaring “The Fleecing,” for example —Pedro the Lioncast themselves as aNeil Youngfor the tract homes and convenience stores, a middle-class hero for those caught in the mundane space between the McMansions and the nine-to-five grind.Bazanis a master of this stuff, delving through the routine and ordinary for every drop of melancholy and poetry. While lilting and humorless (don’t expect anything as fun asthe Darknesshere), these songs are like literature set to music, the indie rock counterpart to a novel like A.M. Homes’ The Safety of Objects — maybe a little tough to swallow or make it all the way through, but brilliantly rendered nonetheless. -All Music Guide