Phoenix

This weeks review has a lot to do with doubles.

It doesn't have anything to do with double doubles - either on the court or Animal Style. Though full disclosure I would crush one of those burgers right about now.

We're not going to double down on anything except a soft 16-18. We are not going to use that term colloquially, and certainly not in any political manner like has been done so often in the recent past.

It doesn't really have anything to do with the doubles I like to get at Gloria's. Went a couple weeks ago with Fred and he tried them for the first time. He really enjoyed the chickpea filling, but wasn't much on the bread. Paired it up with a roti we brought home and shared with everyone else. I highly recommend trying these doubles.

I'm also not going to say anything more about the witches from the Scottish Play. 

This week's review has a lot to do with double meanings. Sometimes they're obvious, sometimes they're not. In the case of the album title of Pedro the Lion's new record, Phoenix, it's both.

Just released this past Friday, Phoenix is the first record from Pedro The Lion since 2004. In the years since David Bazan has been recording with other projects, as well as solo records (you might remember I reviewed his album Care back in 2017). So in a way this album is the band rising from the ashes of 15 years off. But Bazan would put it another way, since the album really refers to the city of Phoenix, Arizona. Bazan grew up there, and on a trip through there touring he rediscovered a bit of what he used to be. He held on to it, let it grow, and we've been rewarded with this new set.

I also don't usually spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about lyrics when I listen to most of my music. Yet Bazan is a really great story teller, and it's that back catalogue that forces me to go read. It's here where I mention "Priests and Paramedics" again because it might be some of the best I've ever heard.

My favorite track from this album was actually released as the lead single last year. I spent a lot of time thinking if I should consider it for song of the year, but in the end I decided I'd save it for 2019. It's called "Yellow Bike," and it's a great jam. Using the story of learning to ride your bike as a way to tell the story of being a neverending wanderer that wants only someone with which to share - "my kingdom for someone to ride with." That line also sums up how Bazan wrote this album; in the past he'd done all the writing and arrangements and showed up and simply passed out parts to players that came and went. For the first time this Pedro the Lion album was more collaboratively written, and it really makes a huge difference. The music is still typical Pedro - it's indie that's almost emo but without such a hard edge; lots of room for these songs to breathe - but it's also matured so much. Check out tracks like "Clean Up," "Circle K," and "Quietest Friend."

I certainly would recommend Phoenix for those that have never heard anything from Pedro the Lion. Even better I would say to keep an eye out for more new music - Bazan has said he plans to write an album for each of the places he grew up (total of five) and this is just the first. It's great to have them back.