Customer Reviews

Fewer Moving Parts

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

David Bazan dropped the Pedro the Lion name, but the lyrics and music are still the same old Pedro. And definitely a step up from Achilles Heel. Cold Beer and Cigarettes has to be one of the best songs David has ever written. The album's sound seems like a mix of Headphones and Control. Which makes this album a winner. And that makes Dave the winner. And I'm glad he didn't quit making music, because winners never quit.

Oh well. My pizza's done and I hate writing reviews so I'll just say that Fewer Moving Parts kicks *** and that Bob and Dave *didn't* put me up to this. I swear.

Dave's back to work on this EP. A very different approach to recording than he has used on any other record. Dave recorded everything so the arrangements are more complex. If you don't break into a smile when the synth parts come in on Selling Advertising and How I Remember you must not have any teeth. It's good. Really good. Buy it.

If the cover art had "Pedro The Lion" stamped on it instead of "David Bazan", fans might never know the difference. This is David Bazan's first release since dropping the "Pedro The Lion" moniker and becoming a solo effort. "Pedro The Lion" was basically just David Bazan anyway, with a rotating cast backing him on records and at shows.

The best way to describe this EP is that it combines elements of Control, Achilles Heel, and David Bazan's electronic side project "Headphones". The result is 5 indie rock songs that follow the logical progression of sound for Pedro The Lion. All the songs are fairly catchy and singable, with "Cold Beer and Cigarettes" being the stand-out track. It's true that the songs tend to sound a bit bland after a while, and repeated listens tend to dwindle in just a short time. I think this EP is a must for Pedro/Bazan fans, but it won't win fans or break any new ground.

Anyone that was bummed about Pedro The Lion breaking up has absolutely no need to break out the anti-depressants. "Fewer Moving Parts" delivers everything that a Pedro The Lion record could, except the cute and cuddly name.

if you like pedro the lion or headphones, "fewer moving parts" should be right up your ally. the sound is still familiar, but david bazan has decided to take a new approach to his music; he has a new freedom. though the timbre varies from song to song, the music is consistently well written. as always, mr. bazan has given us an album that will undoubtedly be underrated.

I saw David at Cornerstone Fest this summer and he was good. He sand mainly slow, depressing, acustic songs. But I like alot of them. I couldn't find any of his merch so I waited till I got home. This is the only solo recording I found of his. It's really only 5 songs, and then 5 acustic versions of the same songs. The sonfs are creative and yes, in the vein of Pedro The Lion. There is a 'band', but I think It's all Bazan. If you aren't familiar with Bazan's lyrics, you should be. Some colourful language does make an appeareance again. If you area die hard Bazan/ Pedro fan, go for it. Otherwise, at least look up the lyrics first. Lyrics may confuse you as to his'spiritual views' or 'spiritual life' or whatever. Theres some good ideas here, but not a lot of uplifing moments.

Elements of Control, Achilles' Heel, and Headphones come together in an excellent EP that should hold fans off until the next eagerly-anticipated LP.

My biggest complaint with this album is that there are only five songs on it. EP's from great artists always leaves us wanting more. Here Bazan manages to take an EP and give us our money's worth. There are only five songs, but two versions of each one. His EP ends up timing out to longer than many artist's entire albums, and the songs are brilliant. The production value is a step down from his earlier work, especially Pedro the Lion's Achilles Heal which had true studio quality. While some of the songs seem like early sketches (such as Cold Beer and Cigarettes/The Devil Is Beating His Wife which sounds much more determined ina live youtube video) they are obviously amazing lyrical and musical achievements. Over the past few years Bazan has been able to develop his minimalistic approach to an increasingly musically sophisticated talent. With Fewer Moving Parts we find Bazan able to write tunes with complex chord structures that sound as accessible and natural and his earliest recordings. As usual his tunes ring perfect for a lyrical presence nearly unmatched in modern music... But mostly this album just leaves us waiting for the LP that follows.

I'll keep it simple. This is David Bazan's best work. If you liked either Pedro the Lion or Headphones, buy this. You will not be disappointed.

Once again David Bazan gives us another great album. There is no doubt that he deserves his recent mention in the Past Magazine Top 100 living songwriters; that being said I am a little frustrated with this album. Don't get me wrong, the music is very good, and the lyrics are what any long time fan would expect. (They are a bit dark, and he does seem a bit jaded, but i hope that he is just venting and not jaded.) My problem is the price; $12 for five songs. Yes, he does them all twice, but that seems a little pricey for five songs. Still this is a great album.

Time was, you could throw on a Pedro album and be greeted with the honesty, heartfelt sincerity, and unassuming charm of the young David Bazan. Now after years of touring, Winners Never Quit, Control, Achilles Heal and the Headphones album, he just sounds like a bitter old man. "Fewer Moving Parts" might be the worst one yet -- for crying out loud, track 3 is about his choice to pursue a "solo" career! Dude, no one wants to hear about that stuff, no matter how facetiously you present it. Somewhere, somehow, Bazan turned into a crochety, unpleasant grandpa writing cold, distant, heavyhanded songs that overly generalize their subjects and condescend to the listener. He needs to somehow summon whatever weird ghost inspired him to write songs in the past place and get some of the old inspiration back. If he can.

Two stars for a sentimental favorite, I guess.