David Bazan formed Pedro The Lion in 1995, and he is the principal songwriter/creative behind the band. It's Hard To Find A Friend is the group's debut album, characterized by simple, pared down instrumentation and introspective lyrics. Bazan has included Christian messages in his previous releases, such as the Whole EP from 1997, and the same is true for it's Hard To Find…, but it isn't done in a overtly conspicuous way, which owes a lot to his swift approach to writing lyrics. Full of emotions and introspective moments, you get all the "emo" without the whining (not that whining is always bad)… Check out "Bad Diary Days," "Big Trucks," "Of Up And coming Monarchs," and "When They Really Get To Know You They Will Run."

• 2012 remaster
• music label: Epitaph 1998 / 2018

reviewed by rei kwondo 05/18