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May 24, 2011Strange Negotiations may take some time to grow on even the most die-hard of Bazan's fans, but the roots of its few standouts run deep with repeated listens.
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Dec 9, 2011Losing his religion doesn't mean he's lost his gift for indie rock songwriting, though, and fans who're willing to indulge Bazan's soul-searching will find Strange Negotiations similar to Pedro the Lion's catalog, with a familiar mix of minor-key starkness and lush, guitar-fueled rock songs.
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Alternative PressMay 16, 2011The 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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May 24, 2011Like John Henry, Strange Negotiations is workman-like. It's a grind from start to finish, but an enjoyable one at that.
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Jun 6, 2011It's clear that Strange Negotiations is not a wholly secular piece, but Bazan is clearly moving in that direction.
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Jun 1, 2011He's a hard worker and you can hear it in his music. Granted, that's sometimes all you can hear, but even solid craftsmanship has its rewards.
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May 16, 2011With Bazan's husky baritone, Strange Negotiations suggests an Americana vet like John Hiatt more than an indie lifer. But the change serves him well on "Eating Paper," which works simple wonders with a chunky guitar riff and a steady cowbell, just as the Lord intended.
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Jun 8, 2011David Bazan's music used to be described as having crossover appeal, but he was the one who ultimately crossed over. Fortunately for fans, he's a more vital source of righteous anger now than he ever was as a believer.
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Under The RadarJun 8, 2011It'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]
User score distribution:
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Positive: 5 out of 6
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Mixed: 1 out of 6
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Negative: 0 out of 6
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Jun 23, 2011
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May 24, 2011