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This ep is quite an incredible venture through one man's journey through his own struggles and on into the loving redemption found in God. Quite a ride that will dredge up so many emotions that will hit you intensely, unless you are either heartless or dead. The song, "almost there" is probably the song that hits me the hardest. It describes so well how life can be such a struggle sometimes. But the ep does not just describe struggle, it also offers hope at the end of the ep. Redemption is a strong message. The frontman, David Bazan, (who IS the band since other contributing musicians are constantly changing) is such an incredibly humble person as well. I had the pleasure of seeing him+band this summer at Cornerstone Music Fest. The place was packed; he came on stage barefoot and bearded, wearing his plain white t-shirt and plain drab shorts and proceeded to deliver one of the best shows I have ever seen. Also, this band has been richly blessed with all the musicians who have helped with recording and touring, they have added wonderful touches of individuality to each album. Buy them all! -jack

...If you have [the money], which you should, then this is what you should spend it on. David Bazan's band, Pedro The Lion, released this first CD in 1997 on Tooth & Nail Records. It is a six-song journey through the life of a faltering Christian, falling on his face just as every believer does. These songs deal with heartache, drug addiction, finding self-worth in God, and falling down at the feet of the Lord. Never before have I heard so much said in under half an hour. If you only buy one Pedro album, do yourself a favor and get this! 5 stars.

This is Pedro's first concept album. The first song is a high-minded rejection of the philosophy of Christianity, then the second and third track a descent into addiction, and the third is encountering Jesus again -- this time as the "hole fix it man" (or maybe that's "whole fix it man") only one who could maybe help. The fourth is about peace and rest, and the fifth is peace and rest. By taking us through this journey, Pedro is making an important point -- that following Jesus isn't a matter of intellectual assent, but of experiential need. Kierkegaard is all over this album.

The standout song is the climax, "Almost There." This song is the bridge between punk and emo. We stopped listening to punk because we got tired of the yelling. You can be a rebel without being angry, and eventually all the screaming ends up just feeling overly dramatic. Emo takes the same emotions that drove punk and subliminates them. Anger becomes cynicism and aggression becomes passive-aggression for the sake of self-preservation: it's sort of "the only sane thing to do is to scream but as soon as I scream you think I'm insane." On "Almost There," the anger and desperation rises to the surface in the chorus -- dominant is Bazan's monomelodic, slow, almost boring emo vocal, but creeping up underneath it is a much more raw, desperate, punk echo. Having heard it, you can never hear that subdued, "boring" dominant vocal without at least sensing the echo of anger and desperation, and that's the heart of emo. I'm screaming, you just don't know it because you're not listening. The song is a masterpiece.

What I love about David Bazan's music is that it's candid. His voice bleeds with honest frustration at failures that are all too familiar. It's simple: nothing gets lost in an all-enveloping harmony, but that's what I love about it. Everything is there for you to listen to, exposed and evocative.
And it's an honest love for God, without pretense, that comes from a contrite and broken heart.

And that's what I love about it.

I remember the day that I got the newest Tooth and Nail insert in my Starflyer 59 album. I lived for the inserts. I remember reading about this band Pedro the Lion and their forthcoming album on Tooth and Nail. For some reason I remember it being called "lullaby". I looked at this insert everyday and had Pedro on my wishlist, and then the fateful day came and I bought the CD.

My memory isn't what is should be, but I do know that the CD didn't leave my discman for months. Shortly after buying it I lost a very very close friend in a car accident. I can remember sitting on a big rock on top of a hill in my neighborhood listening to the track "lullaby" and crying.

Pedro the Lion have been a huge facet in my life since that moment. I haven't heard or felt anything so honest and heartbreaking, and I don't know if I want to. After listening to this album for so many years I want to share it with the whole world, and i plan to when I turn it into my first short film. Keep an ear to the ground, you will hear it soon.

an incredible album, but not quite as catchy as their newer stuff, so it is a pity that many people who can appreciate pedro the lion's newer stuff may not get this album. this album can definitely give you faith in the simple beauty of music and lyrics (if you had lost it, that is), and may even give you faith in the fact that other people are struggling at least as much as you are and maybe even faith in other things. if you don't think life is a hard thing and you would prefer to stay foolishly oblivious, then don't buy this album, because you just won't get it. i reccomend whole, fix, and the hymn at the end because they are all incredible. by the way, they are great live and david bazaan is probably the most humble, real performer that i have ever seen. buy this one first and then make the progression with the band through their other albums, making sure that you give each one a good bit of time to soak in.

This is as good as it gets, y'all. I only have this EP, but I'm gonna be getting their other two albums ASAP because they are SO good. It's the kind of music that you listen to and then want to go get down on your knees and pray. This band is so underrated...they're ten times more emotional than Jars of Clay or Smalltown Poets. Talk about good stuff...this is it.

PTL use simplicity to the max. This is one of those hard to find albums that stuns you every time you listen to it, and puts you in an almost hipnotic state. A must have for any musician

Everything David Bazan puts out is amazing, even back this debut EP. This isn't as stripped down as "It's Hard To Find A Friend" or as pop-oriented as the albums on Jade Tree. With Pedro being more of an actual band on this release instead of just Bazan and whoever else he can find, these songs have a different feel than any others. On "Almost There" there's even screaming! But fear not, the sincere, beautiful lyrics are still there, along with the simple hooks and clean guitar tones. Every song here is a winner, a look into faith, struggle, and grace.

Words can not do this work of art justice. David Bazan is brilliant! His music is incredible, and his voice is simply amazing. The lyrics are as real and honest as possible. Finally, a christian band that doesn't come off preachy!

...everyone should own this CD!