Only Reason I Feel Secure [EP, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Pedro The Lion | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 16, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: EP, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Jade Tree
• ASIN: B00005O7SO
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,136 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #11 in Music > Indie Music > Alternative Rock > Singer Songwriters
  • #89 in Music > Alternative Rock > Singer-Songwriters

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Biased and Conscience Stricken, April 8, 2004

By 

Peter Swift (Cogan Station, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Only Reason I Feel Secure (Audio CD)

It pains me to call this remastered EP my favorite from Pedro the Lion, but sadly it is. I feel as if any musical credibility I have is lost when my favorite album by an artist is not only an EP, but also a remastered and rereleased EP.

The full name of this EP, of course, is "The Only Reason I Feel Secure...is because I'm validated by my peers." See? Even the title is great! However, the music is far more interesting than the title.

From the way I understand the lyrics, I would say that this EP has far more spiritual directness and openness than any of Bazan's previous releases - even to the point of including a hymn (Be Thou My Vision) on this release. The songs "Letter from a Concerned Follower," "Be Thou My Vision," and "Diamond Ring" all have a distinctly Christian message and with the exception of "Vision," they all reflect a superior writing style in their intelligent and heartfelt lyrics (not that Vision doesn't, but...well, Bazan didn't write it). The subtle sarcasm in "Concerned Follower" powerfully drives home a problem with contemporary philosophy and the secularizing power of information and technology while "Diamond Ring" fools listeners until the last verse when the audience is forced to recognize God as the narrator.

The other songs certainly can't be ignored - whether full of spiritual content or not. "Criticism as Inspiration" is a fantastic song about pride and moral superiority with a clever ending that partially turns the tables on the narrator. Following Criticism is "I am the one who always calls" which describes a seemingly failing long-distance and impersonal relationship that relies on the internet and phones...discussing modern methods of communication seems to be taboo in this genre of emo/folk, but Bazan's lyrics are unabashed and intelligent. The line: "my faith in zeros and ones / to host our romance" is obvious...but very original and descriptive. Bazan's lyrics, as usual, are fantastic.

The last couple of songs on this extra long EP are also not throw-aways. While they might not be original, Inventor and Big Trucks are still both fantastic Pedro songs and their inclusion as "rarities" is definitely worthwhile. I proudly give this EP 5 stars but I'm tempted to post this anonymously.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the best pedro the lion record, August 12, 2000

By 

chris wildeman (carlisle, pa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Only Reason I Feel Secure (Audio CD)

this is the album where pedro the lion really seems to mesh, from the first two tracks (criticism as inspiration and i am always the one who calls) to the beautiful rendition of be thou my vision, it works well throughout. so many beautifully honest lyrics (it makes me feel so good to always tell you when you're wrong, the big man that i am to always have to bring you down) that it will hit you every time you listen to it. i think this is my favorite pedro album because the music doesn't obscure the ideas, which is one downfall that i see in the recent lp. if you are more into their lyrics and the quiet simplicity of their music, then you will enjoy this album a great deal, especially if you want to hear about struggle (because that is what this album is all about, especially dealing with hypocrisy).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars seering and intimate sounds, July 24, 2004

By 

Matthew Brundage (Silver Spring, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Only Reason I Feel Secure (Audio CD)

I've been listening to Pedro the Lion's 'The Only Reason I Feel Secure' lately. It's weird because I don't usually get too enthusiastic about Christian artists. They're sort of a borderline Christian band -- it's not blatent or preachy but many of their songs have positive Christian messages. They did a cover of 'Be Thou My Vision' and the sound is at once intimate, honest, confident, and solemn. Jaw-droppingly beautiful. Then there's 'Diamond Ring' At first, the listener believes he's hearing a song about unrequited love -- a man trying to win the love of a woman and constantly getting turned down: '...I told you that I loved you from the start, but you still said no, you would not have me...' As the song progresses, the listener realizes that it's God speaking to the woman -- not just another suitor. It's one of the sadder songs I've ever heard, but at the same time it lends insight into the emotions that God must go through everyday as He loves people unconditionally but gets denied their love in return. Upon listening to 'Diamond Ring', I immediately had to hear it again, in this new context. Think of them as a Christian Elliott Smith. Lead singer David Bazan sings as if he's praying.