Curse Your Branches

The very term "Christian indie rock" is enough to earn the consternation of anyone who prefers a little spiritual skepticism in their songwriting. And if there's one thing singer-songwriter David Bazan has picked up during his tenure with faith-based rockers Pedro the Lion, it's that a healthy dose of doubt can never be a bad thing when chronicling a life plagued by personal demons. Bazan's debut solo full-length, CURSE YOUR BRANCHES, relays the singer's struggles with his faith and alcoholism in honest, deeply personal confessionals that touch upon universal themes of addiction, loss of faith, and redemption. Musically too, Bazan seems to be stretching out just a bit from Pedro's mid-tempo folk rock, adding some color with electronic beats, buttery synths, and the occasional splash of glam-flavored guitar. And while the somewhat bitter lyrical edge of songs like "When We Fell" (decrying "completely unraveling" truths) and the title track ("all falling leaves should curse their branches") plumb the darkest (and ugliest) depths of Bazan's emotions, CURSE YOUR BRANCHES remains a rewarding listen, even for those who may not be suffering a similar crisis of faith.