It's slightly ironic that
The Only Reason I Feel Secure,
Pedro the Lion's quasi-concept EP about criticism, should be its most critic-proof. Brief and to the point, within this EP's five songs lie four of composer
David Bazan's best, along with a traditional Christian song, "Be Thou My Vision." The sound of this EP certainly owes a debt to
Sebadoh, especially the excellent "Criticism As Inspiration," which is sonically similar to
Sebadoh's "Soul and Fire." The comparisons end there, though, as this EP proves that
Pedro the Lion is a driving, emotional force of its own. ~ Josh Modell