Pedro the Lion - The Only Reason I Feel Secure Re-release - Jade Tree

Review by: Jason Railey

Thank God that Jade Tree decided to re-release this once hard to find EP. I must admit that at first I was a little disappointed when I heard that they were re-releasing this EP. I thought it I might be just an excuse to exploit the growing popularity of a great indie rock band. But then I listened to this record. For those of you who weren’t lucky enough to pick up a copy of the original Made in Mexico release you’ll be pleasantly pleased that you actually are probably better off this time. This disc has been re-mastered and you can tell an audible difference this time as apposed to all those other heavily marketed quote/unquote re-mastered re-releases. You definitely feel as though you get your money’s worth. The guitars are clearer and the vocals are placed better in the mix. Most notably on “Be thou a Vision”. The new version extends the track a bit with the familiar organ at the end but then a nicely placed background vocal fades into the mix and continues on for another 10-15 seconds before fading out again.

The beauty part of this release is the addition of the original Big Trucks 7” songs, “Big Trucks,” “Diamond Ring”, and “Invention.” This is a nice addition for all of those that missed that Made in Mexico release as well. I particularly like the track “Diamond Ring.” It tells the story of a relationship gone wrong and the rejection that one party feels as a result of it.

For those of you who don’t know or aren’t familiar with Pedro the Lion allow me to say that you are missing out on one of the most honest song writers that I’ve heard in a long time. Their lyrics are pithy and introspective although the music itself is pretty straightforward. But with the confines of this description comes the kicker. There is something very comfortable and personal about a songwriter who isn’t afraid to bear his soul on a record for the world to judge. But it is not that fact that is so amazing but rather that he is so honest that you feel like you are listening to a close friend talk about their fears, hopes, and dreams instead of a total stranger.

If you haven’t heard of Pedro the Lion you should and if you heard this record before you need to run down to you local independent record store and listen to it in its newly polished form. You won’t be disappointed.