Rating: NNNN
It’s not that unusual for musicians to discover God later in life and reinvent themselves as gospel performers. David Bazan, on the other hand, appears to have gone in the opposite direction. Best known as a Christian indie-pop artist during his days with Pedro the Lion, Bazan’s first solo album has been called by some his breakup record about God.
[rssbreak]
Tackling his battles with alcohol and spirituality, Curse Your Branches is a deeply personal project, but resonates easily with both believers and non-believers. While he’s admitted to spending some time flirting with atheism, his stance here is more about questioning and coping with the contradictions of faith (and life).
Aside from its weighty lyrical themes, the album is remarkable for the effortless way Bazan combines his folky tendencies with his interest in electronic sounds. It never sounds gimmicky – instead, the juxtaposing of acoustic guitars and synthesizers seems completely natural.
Top track: Please, Baby, Please
David Bazan plays Lee’s Palace tonight (Thursday, October 22).
