The son of a pastor, David Bazan wasn't introduced to secular music until his early youth, an experience that helped fuel the Christian-influenced songwriting of his first project, Pedro the Lion. Bazan formed the band in 1995, mixing first-person narratives and nuanced indie rock with contributions from a rotating cast of musicians. Based in Seattle, the group released four albums, beginning with 1998's It's Hard to Find a Friend and concluding with 2004's Achilles Heel. Bazan stopped using the name in early 2006, but his musical aspirations continued with several other outfits. Shortly after dropping the Pedro the Lion moniker, Bazan joined Nick Peterson and Starflyer 59's Frank Lenz to form the electronic pop outfit Headphones. He also began recording his own solo material and was named one of the Top 100 Living Songwriters by Paste Magazine in 2006. Now, Three years later, Bazan is releasing his full-length solo debut, Curse Your Branches, on the Barsuk label.

Headlights are an indie pop band not afraid to incorporate a synth wall of sound and a mod organ in consecutive songs. There's a synthesis of keyboards and guitars, of vocals, of ethereal programming and huge drums; a solidification of lyrics centered on the ups and downs we all experience. Polyvinyl Records