Since 1996
Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective
Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready....
Subscribe
About Us
Features
News
Album
Reviews
Movie
Reviews
Concert
Reviews
Top
10
Resources
Time
Wasters
Contact
Us
Artist: Headphones
Label: Suicide Squeeze
URL: www.headphonesmusic.com
Length: 10 tracks
Headphones’ debut LP utilizes a simple three-pronged approach- drums, synths, and Bazan’s drawling vocal delivery. While the lyrical content is about the same as you’d find on Achilles Heel, full of first person narratives awash with themes from the deep, dark end of the human psyche pool, the classic arcade-game synth sounds and louder, at times almost Control-esque pounding drums gives the record a sharper overall point than Pedro the Lion’s most recent material.
While the intrinsically perky synth tones would make you think that these new songs would sound less dark and brooding than most of David Bazan’s other work, the three-man conglomeration of Headphones have managed to make a record that is at times as emotionally melancholic as the darkest of Pedro the Lion. In fact, other than the obvious exception of the synths, there really isn’t a whole lot here that sets Headphones apart from Bazan’s main act. He could have easily stamped the Pedro moniker onto this and called it a side-step rather than drafting it under a new band name; it’s less of a criticism than it is a simple head-scratcher, though. If you enjoy Pedro the Lion, you’ll certainly get a kick out of this release regardless.
They may be lacking in any true progression as far as Bazan’s song writing is concerned, but the ten new tracks on _Headphones_ are about as intelligently crafted and strong as anything he’s done. “Gas and Matches” and “Pink and Brown” could rank among his best work, with narrative themes about the consequences of sin and raw remorse, carried by stark synth arrangements and Frank Lenz’s excellent, calculated drumming. The album closer, “Slow Car Crash” is a love song as doom-fully sweet and powerful as the album opener from Control, “Options.” The record’s weak spot is in its early midsection. While the music is solid, the more general themes of radio-selling out and false love in “Hot Girls” and “I Never Wanted You” (respectively) don’t pack as much of a punch as the other songs around them. Still, the music throughout is solid and filler-free. Given the debated quality of Pedro the Lion’s last record, it may even be a stronger release than Achilles Heel as such. The blatant strong language in certain tracks could turn away many, but Bazan never writes a line that doesn’t lead to a worthwhile theme. People could have as many convictions as they want, and they have every right to have each one, but they can’t accuse Bazan of unintelligent writing or poor lyrical choice; his songs all have a point. His discontentment with the world and the dark issues he writes of is the very thing that proves that redemption is needed and that it can be found.
For fans who were unimpressed
with the quieter, languid rock of Achilles Heel, Headphones should
restore your faith in David Bazan’s song writing ability. Otherwise,
it is a strong release and a welcome change of pace that fans and newcomers
should appreciate.
Jonathan Avants 5/25/05
