The Only Reason I Feel Secure [EP] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Pedro The Lion

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 16, 2001)
• Original Release Date: October 16, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: EP, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Jade Tree
• ASIN: B00005O7SO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #82,434 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The follow-up EP to Pedro the Lion's debut album was originally released in 1999 and hailed by critics and fans alike as further proof of singer/songwriter David Bazan's genius. Remixed, remastered, and repackaged from Jade Tree Records with a brand new layout and lyrics for the first time, the EP also contains 3 extra tracks that originally comprised Pedro's first single.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 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)

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.

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)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very secure, January 26, 2006

By	Logan Seguin (Michigan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This album may be my favorite Pedro album, even though it is an EP. What is so great about this album, as well as pretty much all their albums, is the diverstiy. They dont tire out one style of song, which is true even with this short EP. There are slow songs and faster songs, i mean, one must keep in mind that this is a rather downbeat band, but regardless, they do have more upbeat songs. I mean, compare "big trucks" to "invention"-which is one of my favorite Pedro songs. The writing on it is as good as anything David Bazan has done, and yet, it sticks out to me for some reason. From beginning to end, there is not one bad track, or even mediocre track, it is all very solid, and flows as well as all their stuff. Emotionally, probably as strong or stronger than their most popular album "Control."