Pedro The Lion – Achilles’ Heel

Pedro The Lion – Achilles’ Heel / 2004 Jade Tree Records / 11 Tracks / http://www.pedrothelion.com / http://www.jadetree.com / Reviewed 31 August 2004

“Achilles’ Heel” starts out with “Bands With Managers”, a slow, deliberately plodding track that skillfully mixes the human nature of the vocals with the detached, machine-like nature of the drums and synthesizers. Looking back to late nineties alternative rock for the inspiration for the vast majority of the CD, Pedro the Lion elicits comparisons to Placebo, Sloan, and Geggy Tah. Perhaps the most enticing matter with Pedro the Lion would be the divergent paths taken in arrangements, which means that Pedro the Lion actively searches out for different time signatures and less braindead build-ups, a common pitfall endemic to a number of alternative-rock bands. Well-crafted tracks like “The Fleecing” show the ear for pop music that David has, and that particular track is arranged masterful, having a chaotic guitar line build up with no release – the ultimate tease to the listeners. The mechanized drums on the aforementioned “The Fleecing” make a perfect match to the noisy, earthy synthesizer lines laid down.

Never drowning in excess, Pedro the Lion masterfully creates a rich sound only using a handful of instruments. The sweet “Discretion” is a perfect example of this, being led on by a dual drum and guitar guitar for the entire track. The disc is not without its snags, however – “Arizona” is too Spartan, too bare to continue listening. “Arizona” is only a sub-4 minute track, but when the plodding drum beats are the guideposts in the empty scenery of the tack, the disc quickly slaws to a snail’s pace. Even the vocals, which pull the disc from ruts a number of times on “Achilles’ Heel” are affected negatively by the tempo, with a warbling that just is impossible to latch onto. Where the strength for Pedro the Lion is definitely at the beginning of the disc, each track that follows from the first few sojourns out into the world tends to rehash the same formula that made tracks like “Discretion” above-average.

Pedro the Lion are impeccable in terms of their instruments, and are solid in terms of their arrangements. However, “Achilles’ Heel” is markedly weak when it comes to experimentation by the band. Instead of trying to forge out on new land, Pedro the Lion would rather liven things up slightly by adding a synthesizer at times. As sad as it is to say, “Achilles’ Heel” has been preceding by tens of albums that surpass in terms of innovation and overall quality.

Top Tracks: I Do, The Fleecing

Rating: 4.5/10