Pedro the Lion - Achilles Heel (11 tracks) +Album Reviews

Progression and Comparisson in Pedro the Lion

seannyff | orlando, fl usa | 07/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"hardcore Pedro fans are engaged in deabte over the validity of Achilles Heel because it's just so different from Control. sneaky Mr. Bazan had us all thinking we were getting the next chapter in the concept album saga, but read the bio page on pedrothelion.com. Dave himself says he intended a less novelistic approach, and that he wanted people to hear how much fun the record was to make.see, Control is an album of zero hope, complete dispair, and impossible escape so well done that it attaches itself to you and gets too far inside your head (as a result it's still one of my favorite albums ever). Achilles Heel is in many ways better because it doesn't force itself upon the listener. you don't have to listen to all 11 songs start to finish to get the full effect of what Bazan is communicating. this has some fans scoffing as if there was something wrong with the lyrics or the music was bland.the secret to enjoying Achilles Heel is not expecting it to be another Control, or Winners Never Quit, or anything else you've heard before. take it for what it is: the album of Bazan's career."

Pedro's best yet

J. S. Kennedy | 02/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is definitely Pedro the Lion's best album to date. David's singing has improved tremendously and is smoother than ever. The lyrics are incredibly catchy and by the second time you listen to the album, you'll already find yourself singing along. The keyboard is a great addition, proving that Pedro the Lion is always looking for new ways to innovate yet still maintain that distinct sound we have all grown to love.

"My old man always swore that hell would have no flames

Just a front row seat to watch your true love pack her things

...and drive away""

Better, not Best

J. S. Kennedy | Springfield, IL | 02/05/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Any band that relies so heavily on tradgedy and pain for inspiration sooner or later has to look to the sunny side of life and that is what Achilles Heel is for Pedro the Lion. The lyrics still reflect some of the heavier themes, but the music is lighter. On Control, which I consider a master stroke of concept album brilliance, the guitars plod along and that matches the mood of the album, but this time around things are lighter. The music prances from verse to verse with a sense of being incredibly playful. The lyrics are as razor sharp as ever. Certianly what sets Pedro the Lion apart are the lyrics. The mastery in crafting every verse and chorus apparent on all previous albums remains on this one.

Many people have knocked this album for being different from the others. Personally I like to see a band evolve and I think this is just another step in that evolution. As Pedro the Lion gets older the music is bound to change as the band does. The is a breath of fresh air from a band that enjoyed choking on self-induced smog. I'm rooting for a concept album follow-up but until then I'll listen to this album and the pedro the lion backlog of greatness."

I've hesitated to say it, but..best album yet.

J. Nelson | prince george, BC Canada | 01/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"And that really is a heavy statement, given how much I enjoyed all of his previous work...notably "Winners Never Quit" and "Control."

As has been mentioned repeatedly, there's a definite departure from the overall concept album, with each track being a story in itself. While the album is a bit more upbeat than anything in the past, I think there's a very tragic element retained. I'm not a religious person, so I can't exactly identify to some of the themes discussed, but he makes it easy to empathize, and I hope those that do maintain a religious life are not put off by what they may hear..things like some objectionable language(I found it to be effectively used, rather than superfluous...such as the use of "the F word" in the song Foregone Conclusions, which portrays a sort of poetic irony). As some have mentioned, there really isn't a weak track on the album. The first time I listened to it...I loved each song as it came..and I kept thinking, "this can't possibly get any better," but repeatedly it did. My personal favorite tracks:

Arizona, Foregone Conclusions, A Simple Plan, Transcontinental, The Fleecing

Though...every song is absolutely wonderful."

Evolution

jrwillits | Harrisburg, PA United States | 06/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a huge Pedro the lion fan for a long time. This album is one their best. They, and by they I mean David, has come a long way since "Whole." As he changes as a person, so does his music. I personally love a lot of his old lyrics that really gave a different perspect on God which was quite refreshing. He does still have some of that in Achilles Heel, but not as much. When I had the privilege of seeing him in concert after the release of Achilles Heel, someone asked him why he didn't play his old stuff very much. He basically said that it was a different time in his life and that some of that stuff "just doesn't apply any more." I think he is a much different artist now. However, he still connects on that same level. Achilles Heel goes back to his old style of "It's hard to Find a Friend" except better. I would strongly recommend this album to anyone. David is a tremendous writer and sometimes I don't really understand what exactly he is talking about. But, I guess that's the beauty of it, because you can make it mean whatever you want to. Favorite Quote ~ "The Poison" - "My old man always swore that hell would have no flames, just a front row seat to watch your true love pack her things, and drive away...""

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	Pedro the Lion Achilles Heel Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock Track Listings (11) - Disc #1 Bands With Managers Foregone Conclusions The Fleecing Discretion Arizona Keep Swinging Transcontinental I Do A Simple Plan Start Without Me - Pedro the Lion, Walsh, TW The Poison
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