Strange Negotiations - David Bazan
Strange Negotiations Image
Metascore
72 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.5 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

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  • Summary: The Seattle-based indie singer-songwriter and former lead singer of Pedro the Lion, releases his second solo album.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. American Songwriter
    May 24, 2011
    80
    Like John Henry, Strange Negotiations is workman-like. It's a grind from start to finish, but an enjoyable one at that.
  2. No Ripcord
    Jun 6, 2011
    80
    It's clear that Strange Negotiations is not a wholly secular piece, but Bazan is clearly moving in that direction.
  3. Alternative Press
    May 16, 2011
    80
    The instrumentation and arrangements on Strange negotiations bring out the subtleties in Bazan's ever-evolving songwriting style. [Jun 2011, p.106]
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  4. Under The Radar
    Jun 8, 2011
    60
    It's these quiet moments that demonstrate what the Seattle-based musician does best--paint a specific picture with words that put you inside his memories and minimalist melodies that tie them all together. [May 2011, p.76]
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See all 9 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. themostbrian
    9
    David Bazan has spent his entire career trying to connect his listeners to real life: the pain of loss, the confusion/wrestle/loss of faith, the shame of failure, the grueling task of being human, the arduous joy of love, and the profound hope that binds it all together.

    Strange Negotiations finds Bazan no closer to any ultimate answers to these conundrums but rather resigned to the mystery and determined to call out the hypocrisy that props up oppressive systems even while identifying the same traits within himself.

    Overall this album is an amalgamation of Bazan's styles - The pulsating fuzz of Control, The underlying spirit of fun on Achilles Heel, the deep questioning in Curse Your Branches and Winners Never Quit with the penetrating hope of It's Hard To Find A Friend. And there is more than enough synth to keep fans of Headphones listening.

    For me personally, having had this album for a few weeks now, Strange Negotiations has surpassed Curse Your Branches and is in the realm of my favorite Bazan/Pedro album: It's Hard To Find A Friend.

    One tip: Repeated listenings will reap many rewards.
    My one criticism: At 40 minutes, this LP is a little on the short side for my tastes.

    9/10 - Keep rocking, Dave!    … Collapse
  2. mattchumon
    4
    David Bazan has always walked the line of minimalism. There was a stripped down beauty to the old Pedro the Lion songs. There are sparks of what used to be here and there with Strange Negotiations but I feel like each new album he releases is further from capturing that simplified genius. What's left just puts me to sleep.… Expand

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