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Its Hard to Find a Friend ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED Remastered
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Its Hard to Find a Friend ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED Remastered
23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
 buy this album, June 8, 2002
It's Hard to Find a Friend (Made in Mexico, 1998 and Jade Tree, 2001), Pedro the Lion's first full-length album, is characterized by mature lyrics, sparse but well-crafted music and an overall sound that rivals any Emo album on the market. It's the sort of album that makes a great impression the first listen and doesn't cease to make you marvel in any of the next four hundred listens. I'll try to put my finger on the brilliance of this project to explain why I recommend it to just about everyone.Pedro the Lion is basically a one-man band fronted by David Bazan, a Christian who writes from a refreshing perspective of broken humility. The first EP he recorded was released by Tooth & Nail Records but since then he has signed with secular labels and tours mostly in secular venues. I see as many non-Christians as Christians at Pedro the Lion shows in my area. This is simply because Bazan is one of the finest craftsman in the Emo/Lo-Fi genre of Rock music. He's not merely the safe, Christian alternative to some popular secular act. The instrumentation on It's Hard to Find a Friend is very clean. On every track I can pick out each instrument (typically electric guitar, bass and drums) and follow along with it. The sparse music isn't necessarily slow, some songs have a noticeable punk influence, but it seems as if each chord, each stroke was thought through. Instead of bombarding listeners it provides the right amount of music, a true accompaniment to the lyrics.After this album, Bazan begins to start writing thematic albums, but It's Hard to Find a Friend is about a variety of topics. "The Longer I Lay Here" is a confession of slothful ambivalence: "I would like to be you just for a few habit-forming years / laziness cuts me like fine cutlery / I need a miracle - someone to help me help myself." "Big Trucks," which may be Pedro the Lion's most popular tune, narrates a father teaching his son about patience and forgiveness with highway analogies. "Bad Diary Days" documents love going sour and "When They Really Get to Know You They Will Run" discusses the futility of our looks-oriented culture. Sacred topics are also prominent on the album. "Of Minor Prophets and their Prostitute Wives" is a lyrical exploration of the first few chapters of Hosea. "I treated you as if you were a princess / you treated me like a cop / I gave you boundaries to save you from certain death / dangling from the end of a rope ... but you're still playing for a love you'll never find / outside these arms of mine / the whole town is one step behind you / with the hangman on call / they've got the judge and you're convicted without a plea / darling, they will listen to me." Similarly, "The Well" is a short account of John 4. "Secret of the Easy Yoke" is a song about wrestling with faith and the Church. The refrain reveals a simple plea, "could someone please tell me the story of sinners ransomed from the fall? I still have never seen you, and some days I don't love you at all." The song fades out with Bazan softly singing "Peace, be still," the words Jesus used to calm the raging seas. The last song, "Promise," ends the album with a short, fast-moving confession of faith. "From what I've seen so far / I can't believe my eyes / and what a nice surprise / if I look up and the sky's not there / is there any reason that I should be scared? / But a promise, is a promise, I know." It's Hard to Find a Friend unashamedly tackles relevant topics most Christian musicians would prefer avoiding. Bazan's honest portrayals of faith and life make this album a must-have for Christians and seekers alike.
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Customer Reviews
Just awesome., February 25, 2006
If you want a smooth sound that takes ya away. And I know people talk about this being a christian CD ( Im agnostic ), but it's not imposing. It is good. listen to it and you'll know. Go to allofmp3.com to HEAR LONGER CLIPS than amazon gives you.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Great, January 25, 2006
If you can get pass the fact that they are on a Christian label, this band is incredible. The way that David Bazan tells stories makes the listener feel like they are there with the character. But one must take into account that this music is very downbeat, but truely great for that rainy or fall day. But give them a chance and you will find incredibly personal music that many of us can relate to.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
songs about finding one's personal path, May 21, 2005
"The Secret of the Easy Yoke," moved me to tears and I am not a Christian. The honesty, the questioning, the doubt and the belief make this song one of this important band's most powerful statements. Musically simple, but like a great Beethoven melody, has the power to move mountains.
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1 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
get it now, April 10, 2004
heres a track by track, just because its fun to do
1)of up and coming monarchs- 4/5 a nice laid back song
2)longer i lay here- 4/5 another laid back song, acoustic, nice changes
3)big trucks- 2/5 the music is well done, but the recording quality and the singing isnt very good
4)suspect fled the scene- 5/5 great story
5)bad diary days- 5/5 one of the highlights of the album, another amazing story of a husband losing faith in his wife
6)longest winter- 3/5 not bad, great lyrics
7)when they really get to know you they will run- 5/5- awesome lyrics! another highlight
8)of minor prophets and their prostitute wives- 4/5- pretty darn good
9)bells- 4/5 mesmerizing
10)secret of the easy yoke-4/5 wow i gave a lot of 4/5's but for some reason the album adds up to a 5/5
11)well- 3/5 not bad
12)promise- 5/5 beautiful closer, nice to hear a happy song as a last song.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
best rainy day music ever, August 18, 2003
i have had this cd for the past three years, and anytime there is a rainy day nothing can augment it as well as this cd. it's so relaxed and non-pretentious. i highly suggest that everyone check out the tracks. it's also great for taking a nap or that lazy day, or anytime you get too tense from life's stresses.
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