When David Bazan unexpectedly revived Pedro the Lion in 2019, it was to explore the period of his childhood spent in Phoenix, Arizona. As it turns out, the reunion record was merely the first in a proposed five-album cycle devoted entirely to his formative years. While Phoenix benefited from the full-time musical input of two new members (guitarist Erik Walters and drummer Sean Lane), its sequel, Havasu, is ultimately more of a solo release with Bazan handling the lion's share of the instruments himself. Chronicling one's seventh grade year from the distance of middle age is not a challenge many songwriters would willingly face, but given Bazan's penchant for self-punishing introspection, he commits himself to the task with his usual intensity and a surprising amount of tenderness. The setting of these youthful follies is Lake Havasu, Arizona, a suburban desert community built around a man-made lake known as the final resting place for London Bridge, relocated there from England in the late '60s by a wealthy oil magnate. Over a bed of rugged, mercurial indie rock, Bazan recounts the misery of being transferred to this place against his wishes at the impressionable age of 12 and the tumultuous middle school year that followed. There is confusion, frustration, awkward crushes, and botched romances as well as some life-defining moments of creative growth, particularly on the standout "My First Drum Set," which describes in poignant detail his desperate band room switch from clarinet to drums. Although lovingly written and tightly arranged, Havasu's consistently midtempo plod and the bittersweet nature of its subject makes for a somewhat dreary listen. Bazan has never shied away from difficult emotions, but a five-album reckoning of his early years is a tough sell. Then again, middle school is a rough time for any kid, so hopefully his next stop is less of a slog.
© Timothy Monger /TiVo