Jason HAS making the music he's wanted to for the last several years; I don't believe he's had any outside influence as to what his stuff should sound like - unfortunately the last several albums have all sounded the same, and I said earlier in a "lackluster feel."
TW Walsh was really only on the last Pedro the Lion album, Archilles Heel. TW had his own band and projects he was recording/producing. He wasn't really a signifigant figure in the PTL years at all in my opinion. In fact PTL has been a lot like SF59 in the sense it's really only been Bazan. The first Pedro album was Bazan and Johnathon Ford (unwed sailor, broncho, roadside monutment), and the second was him and Casey Foubert. The Only Reason I feel Secure album was all Bazan. TW Walsh actually recorded, mixed and mastered the last two Bazan solo albums and Casey Foubert has continued to be featured on his new stuff. His live band even featured, I believe, Wescott who recorded with him back in the day.
So I find your claim to be somewhat silly; he hasn't disassociated himself at all with his musician friends even from the PTL days.
lawyered