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Sputnikmusic

Regardless of the circumstances surrounding its creation, Curse Your Branches is Bazan's best album to date.

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Tiny Mix Tapes

Bazan has built his career on the merit of his honesty, and Curse Your Branches finds him exerting that idea more forcefully than ever before, creating a record that beautifully, paradoxically, and soulfully explores the beauty and strife of admitting "I don’t know."

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Paste Magazine

Lyrics have always been the focal point of Bazan’s music, and here they carry a vast majority of the weight.

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Los Angeles Times

Despite its undercurrent of outrage, Branches--which expands Pedro's folksy sound with creamy keyboards, processed drum beats and the occasional spritz of glam-rock guitar.

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

Curse Your Branches--his first solo album, though Pedro was basically just Bazan anyway--pushes him into full-on agnosticism, though that changes little about his terrifically melancholy music.

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Filter

These songs would stand on thier own in terms of sound alone, but it's the addition of Bazan's thoughtful lyrics that make this perhaps his most powerful and interesting album thus far. [Summer 2009, p.94]

All Music Guide

Doubt can be crippling, but it also serves a positive purpose here, as Bazan has rarely sounded so convincing in his vocal delivery or songwriting.

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The New York Times

His identity crisis, drinking binges and family tensions are chronicled in chunky, rootsy rockers that can be stately or foot-stomping--and can, perhaps, offer some resolution.

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NOW Magazine

It never sounds gimmicky--instead, the juxtaposing of acoustic guitars and synthesizers seems completely natural.

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PopMatters

While he has been rightfully criticized in the past for leaning too heavily on fuzzed-out, midtempo guitar pop and stripped-down folk, there’s a surprising amount of variety to be found here, not to mention a great deal of depth.

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Under The Radar

It's been molded into something deeply personal and jaded, as black-hearted and resigned as American Music Club circa "Everclear." [Summer 2009, p.60]

Alternative Press

On paper this may sound bleak--and in many ways, Curse Your Branches is--but ultimately there's a level of solcae in Bazan's sadness that's remarkably reassuring and, stranger yet, satisfying. [Sep 2009, p.106]

Prefix Magazine

For all the talk that’s been made recently of Bazan’s own struggles with alcoholism and faith, it’s telling that on Branches the strongest, most evocative tracks are those that, in the singer’s beautifully worn and warm delivery, choose, in essence, melody over meaning.

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Slant Magazine

Still a little dry at times, Curse Your Branches is saved by its attempts at lightness and levity, a positive step which shakes the singer out of a funk of self-serious gloominess.

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The Phoenix

Bazan has, it's reported, fallen out with God and off the wagon, and those tumbles get painful airtime on his solid first solo LP, Curse Your Branches.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 18 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jet gave it a9:
Bazan's debut full length record connects with the listener in a way few albums can. The lyrics bring you into the life of a Bazan and allow you to share in his trials and doubts. Aside from fantastic storytelling, Curse Your Branches also succeeds musically with delicate texturing of many instruments. You won't be disappointed with this album and it will grow dearer to your heart with every listen.

Adam M gave it a9:
Great new offering from Bazan. Thoughtful lyrics and a solid sound.

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