Tuesday 12.11.07: DAVID BAZAN, J TILLMAN

David Bazan || Listen

Consisting of ten tracks — five songs delivered with full band instrumentation (with Bazan playing most everything himself), then repeated in solo acoustic format — the disc comprises revamped Pedro b-sides and material originally intended for the next Pedro album. Simultaneously noisy and melodic in a Flaming Lips kind of way, lead tune “Selling Advertising” is particularly caustic, taking lyrical swipes at online music site Pitchfork: “You’re so creative with your reviews/Of what other people do/How satisfying that must be for you…. So if it starts to get you down/Just pretend that you don’t make your living/From selling advertising.” Although still touring behind that and the rest of Fewer Moving Parts, Bazan’s been performing a new batch of songs in his current live set, armed with only an electric guitar, a husky, compelling voice that’s simultaneously sweet and gravelly, and a fervent power reminiscent of Bob Mould’s solo performances. – Westword

with:
J. Tillman || Listen
The Minor Canon