Pedro the Lion - Achilles Heel

Sounds Like: Pedro's not a happy man.

See Also: Elliot Smith, John Vanderslice.

Usually, Pedro the Lion, a.k.a. David Bazan, finds miserable narratives to follow through an album or song. On Achilles, he uses broader themes while writing some of his strongest songs to date, but comes away with a less complete album.

On the first track, "Bands With Managers," he cries that, "bands with managers are going places, bands with messy hair and smooth white faces." It's a simple number that sounds full in voice and instrumentation. And it's the sad observation he makes about his hopelessness as an artist that makes this powerful to listen to. This may be the standout track of the album, but the rest isn't much worse.

"Start Without Me" and "Foregone Conclusions" are more poppy than Pedro's ever been, pumping in head-bopping choruses, and "Keep Swinging" adds some distortion to the mix. But the stories aren't always there to compel you when the music gets slow.

- Nate Buchik

Corey Red and Precise - Resistance Iz Futil

Sounds Like: Jesus traded in the robe for FUBU.

See Also: Nas, Busta Rhymes.

Christian music, especially hip-hop, is often overlooked with due cause, but the debut album by Corey Red and Precise is worthy of secular recognition and industry props. Surfacing from an eight-year underground stint, Red and Precise come out swinging with raw lyrics that pay homage to no person or subject matter. The two ministers don't just spit; they preach. And somehow, it works (see "Da Matrix joint" and "No Grey Lines"). Ja Rule-type accusations won't work with Red or Precise, who earn respect by bringing the attitude and audacity of the Bronx and Staten Island streets, respectively, to the mic. I heard these two on a lesser-known compilation album when I was in high school, and it's nice to see their consistency in lyrics and maturity in mixes. The beats are tight and the rhymes floetic. If anyone should be allowed to rap about Jesus, it's these two.

- Nathan Tafoya