The signs of Bazan's sadness from his first solo album reign supreme in his follow-up solo album, "Curse Your Branches". He manages to find a new sound while still keeping his signature harmonies in tact, though a bit more giddy sounding (in a few songs) they're still drenched in a strange sadness that penetrates you in each track. "Hard To Be" kicks off the album with a melodic Headphone's vibe, but the master of lyrics shocks you with a newfound agnosticism, sure to be very upsetting to his Christian following.
As an atheist, I was first excited to hear the change after years of listening to him scratch at doubt, until later in the album when his misery is so evident, you just want to have a sit-down with him and ask him what the hell happened and tell him to find his faith again.
The folksy sound of, "Please, Baby, Please" seems like a prelude to a divorce from his wife while "Harmless Sparks" seems like signing the divorce papers of his religion. The reference to alcoholism is very discernable through the entire album and even in the upbeat tracks, you find it hard to ignore that he's miserable in the important aspects of his life.
Twangy songs like "Bearing Witness" and "Bless This Mess" (with Neil Young-like chorus vibes from "Living With The War") might seem entirely foreign, but comforting if you listen to the words. I know that I will always take it easy on the guy because he's solved more problems in my life than I've ever been brave enough to face solo, but his desolation humbles me regardless. Even if his music isn't something I'd ever, ever pick out personally, the man's lyrics still lie in their own realm of greatness and understanding and seemingly, quite effortlessly.
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