Progress

Review

Pedro The Lion (AKA Seattle singer/songwriter David Bazan) doesn't really move forward on his 2000 Progress EP. The two new songs are two of his most depressing. "June 18, 1976" tells the story of a mother who, shortly after giving birth, jumps to her death; "April 6, 2039" tells of a depressing life that seems to have gone on too long. Both of these tracks were self-recorded, and the resulting sound is claustrophobic to the point of being spooky. The CD version of Progress includes two bonus tracks, excellent radio versions of two of Pedro The Lion's best songs, "Of Up And Coming Monarchs" and "Letter From A Concerned Follower." The seven-inch version comes elaborately packaged in a children's book called A Guitar For Janie.