Pedro the Lion - It's Hard to Find a Friend
List Price:
Our Price: $7.92
You Save: $6.06 (43%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.61 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Artist: Pedro the LionEdition: Music CD
Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2001-10-16
Music Label: Jade Tree
Soundtracks:
- Of Up And Coming Monarchs
- The Longer I Lay Here
- Big Trucks
- Suspect Fled The Scene
- Bad Diary Days
- The Longest Winter
- When They Really Get To Know You They Will Run
- Of Minor Prophets And Their Prostitute Wives
- The Bells
- Secret Of The Easy Yoke
- The Well
- Promise
Music reviews of It's Hard to Find a Friend
Music Review: It's Hard to Find a Friend When You Don't Listen to Pedro the Lion
Rating: 5 Stars
David Bazan takes you through a lot of lessons of life: From learning about empathy from your father, to bad break ups, or finding faith, he goes through them all. In his band, Pedro the Lion, he collaborates with Jonathon Ford to create their 1998 album produced by Jade Tree, "It's Hard to Find a Friend." Seeing how only two people had to come up with so many musical components in the album it is expected to be a decrease in the quality; but Pedro the Lion blends so may musical styles to a perfect pitch that when I first listened to the album I had no clue that it was just two people jamming in a basement. And not only is the sound quality astounding, but the lyrics are thought provoking and strong, yet at the same time he maintains a tone of melancholic sincerity. David Bazan doesn't know all the answers, but he knows enough to know that he doesn't know all the answers and makes a statement about it.
One of the ways he accomplishes the overlaying tone of the album is by creating miniature stores within most of his songs, which is also one of his main characteristics as an artist. In the first son, "Of Up and Coming Monarchs" Bazan tells a story about a man wishing to escape the draft and run away. Within the song he mixes in his views about war: "Swim with me/ And we'll escape all the troubles/ Of the present age/ Finally free/ The mermaids teach us/ How to breathe beneath/ The line that now divides action from apathy." The slow, catchy beats led by the switching of chords from the guitar make the song sound as though you are out on the ocean. The mixture of the sound and lyrics place you in a different world while still conveying Bazan's ideas towards war and makes the song delightful yet strong. Also, Bazan tells another tale in the song, "Big Trucks" by taking you into the world of a father teaching his son the lesson about empathy through a metaphor about the busy road. With an upbeat and captivating tempo Bazan sings, "There's real people in the big big trucks/ That you flip off when they get in your road/ You get so hacked but you pay no mind/ To the great big sign that says oversize load." With the fast tempo and child-like lyrics, Pedro the Lion creates a song that reminds you of the lessons that you learned as a child, and should always remember.
Probably the only downfall to the album is in the song, "The Longer I Lay Here." It begins with a straightforward rhythm set by the drums and maintains the rhythm throughout the entire song; if only the rhythm was not so annoying and repetitive. Sadly enough, even Bazan lets us down with sub-par lyrics in the song such as, "It sounds so ridiculous/ But I just can't lick this/ I need a miracle/ Someone to help me/ myself."
Although Bazan may have one low note, he makes up for it in the heart wrenching song, "Bad Diary Days." He tells of when he comes to knowledge of his girlfriend's cheating habits. In other musical artists about love affairs, there is always a great deal of resentment; but Bazan takes his own route and stays true with a genuine sincerity in all of his words. He comes across in a caring way in "Bad Diary Days" by crooning, "We barely ever fight/ She knows that I love her/ At first we made it every night/ But I don't want to bug her about it/ She just has a funny way/ Of loving me." The song is completely depressing because the poor guy is getting played but is still madly in love with the girl; it truly captivates the awkward shuffle between the suspicions to the realization of the messiness of an affair. "Bad Diary Days" sums up what Pedro the Lion is about, the lyrics are blatant and simplistic, yet heartfelt; Bazan leaves nothing out of his train of thought and that is what makes him such a great lyricist.
As the album comes to a close, Bazan starts to bring his faith into his songs. The song, "The Well," discusses the parable about the woman and the well from the New Testament. But don't think Bazan's cynical views towards politics do not pertain to religion. In the "Secret of Easy Yoke" the song's melodies are greatly subdued and the lyrics stab the church: "I could hear the church bells ringing/ They pealed aloud your praise/ The member's faces were smiling...Their perfect fire annoyed me/ I could not find you anywhere." He calls out the hypocrisy of the church and even calls out on his own hypocrisy by saying, "I still have never seen you, and some days/ I don't love you at all." The song packs a punch yet without the vocals, the song just sounds somber and dreary and not at all spiteful. This observation illustrates how the juxtaposition of instrument and words can make an effective song. Bazan is sad about the insincerity of the church, this can be found in the sound of the song; Bazan is cynical about the insincerity of the church, this can be found in the lyrics of the song. Although his views are harsh, they are never up in your face; Bazan is just saying how he feels.
Although Pedro the Lion keeps up a melancholic outlook on life throughout the album, the band finishes off on a high note in the song "Promise" by praising, "If I look up and the sky's not there/ Is there any reason that I should be scared/ When a promise is a promise I know." The rocking beat and almost cheery lyrics establish Pedro the Lion's purpose: To sing about real life. And in real life, there are times when things are depressing, but with an optimistic outlook life is bearable.
Pedro the Lion wants you to listen as you think. David Bazan has ideas to share and he is sharing them with you through store that has a nice beat and a slow voice that soothes you; all the songs blend into a mix of short stories that pulses through your ears and leaves you contemplating the complexities of life.
Description of It's Hard to Find a Friend
All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.Alternative Rock CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Alternative Rock CDs
Bouncing Souls - Maniacal LaughterRelease date: 1996-01-26; Music CD
Best price: $30.00
Blondie - Parallel LinesRelease date: 1994-07-29; Music CD
Best price: $149.98
Doors - L.A. WomanRelease date: 1993-04-09; Music CD
Best price: $99.99
Amon Duul - Phallus DeiRelease date: 1997-04-08; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Tangerine Dream - MelroseRelease date: 1990-10-02; Music CD
Best price: $74.98
Tangerine Dream - Private Music of Tangerine DreamRelease date: 1992-11-10; Music CD
Best price: $5.00
Price in other shops:
![Ska Explosion [VHS] Image](/images/Ska-Explosion-VHS-6303381014-X.jpg){kind=small}
Ska Explosion [VHS]Cleopatra; Release date: 1995-02-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
![Little Earthquakes [VHS] Image](/images/Little-Earthquakes-VHS-6302488664-X.jpg){kind=small}
Little Earthquakes [VHS]Atlantic / Wea; Release date: 1992-11-10; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $12.50
Price in other shops:
Exileby Geoffrey Oryema
Music CD
Best price: $4.95
![Louder Than Live [VHS] Image](/images/Louder-Than-Live-VHS-6301627865-X.jpg){kind=small}
Soundgarden - Louder Than Live [VHS]A&M Video; Release date: 1991-07-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $183.90
Similar CDs
Pedro the Lion - ProgressRelease date: 2000-06-27; Music CD
Best price: $4.30
Price in other shops:
David Bazan - Fewer Moving PartsRelease date: 2006-06-13; Music CD
Best price: $5.16
Price in other shops:
Pedro the Lion - ControlRelease date: 2002-04-16; Music CD
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops:
Pedro the Lion - Achilles HeelRelease date: 2004-05-25; Music CD
Best price: $3.95
Price in other shops:
Pedro the Lion - Winners Never QuitRelease date: 2000-03-28; Music CD
Best price: $5.49
Price in other shops:
Pedro the Lion - Only Reason I Feel SecureRelease date: 2001-10-16; Music CD
Best price: $6.72
Price in other shops:
Pedro the Lion - WholeRelease date: 1997-04-08; Music CD
Best price: $4.63
Price in other shops:
Headphones - HeadphonesRelease date: 2005-05-10; Music CD
Best price: $8.25
Price in other shops:
David Bazan - Curse Your BranchesRelease date: 2009-08-31; Music CD
Best price: $7.31
Price in other shops:
David Bazan - Strange NegotiationsRelease date: 2011-05-24; Music CD
Best price: $8.87
Price in other shops: