reviews
FILE UNDER: Noise rock for the next generation
Brand New - DaisyAlternative Press - Scott Heisel on 8/31/09 @ 1:35 PM - altpress.com
It's been three years since Brand New issued their major-label debut, 2006's spectacular The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me, and due to a widespread media blackout from Jesse Lacey & Co., we still haven't learned what the album was about or what went into its creation. Now that its follow-up, Daisy, is in the can, we don't ever expect to crack the code behind "Degausser" or "You Won't Know." The band have presented a whole new set of dark, dense songs without providing an explanation or reason for any of them--and to make things even more complex, guitarist Vincent Accardi wrote the majority of the album, instead of frontman Lacey. Is the difference noticeable?
Sounding far looser and less methodical than Devil And God, Brand New's fourth album eschews elaborate arrangements for a record that feels half-improvised at times and brutally raw throughout. It's sonically akin to Nirvana's In Utero, mainly because you can tell by listening that the people who made it just don't give a fuck. The record begins with just under 90 seconds of an old church hymn before launching full-on into "Vices," quite possibly the most sinister track the band have ever put to tape, loaded with frantic guitar squalls and Lacey's gut-wrenching scream. Kurt Cobain would be proud.
The disc's first single, "At The Bottom," continues the post-grunge vibe, with lyrics about burying a loved one interred in a dirty, lo-fi recording that sounds like the evil twin of Devil And God's "Jesus." "Sink" also comes straight out of the Nirvana playbook, with quiet verses, an ultra-loud chorus and Lacey taking on the vocal melody like an old delta blues singer. The album's sequencing is to his benefit, as directly before "Sink" is "Be Gone," a 90-second interlude that actually sounds like delta blues. Lacey's deliberately delayed, distorted vocal line makes the listen an uncomfortable one, which ultimately allows his style on "Sink" to be easier to stomach.
From the fiery intensity of "Vices" and "Gasoline" to the slow burn of "You Stole" (the album's best and most lyrically brutal track), Daisy is incredibly top loaded. Although the disc never truly takes a nosedive, its second half suffers from a lack of any supremely memorable moments and only makes the listener want to hear its first half once more. Is this the fault of Accardi, who Lacey admitted wrote the bulk of the record? It's hard to say, as the lyrical themes present on the largely Lacey-penned Devil And God--religion, death and the afterlife--are still prominent on Daisy's lyric sheet. The music is some of the band's angriest yet, but at times, it sounds like it's loud just for the sake of being loud ("In A Jar").
It's hard for many Brand New superfans to admit, but it's entirely possible that the band simply wrote a good album this time around, not a great one. As Lacey sings (and Accardi writes) on "Noro," the album's closing track, "I'm on my way out." (Or, depending on which set of ears is listening, "I'm on my way to hell.") After three classic, genre-defining albums (it's far too early to gauge Daisy's impact on the scene), maybe it's time for the band to ride off into the sunset while they're still able to mount the horse. (DGC/INTERSCOPE/PROCRASTINATE! MUSIC TRAITORS) Scott Heisel
GO DOWNLOAD: "You Stole"
Official Website: http://www.fightoffyourdemons.com
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Well, Mr. Heisel, you're usually spot-on with your reviews. 99 times out of 100, I end up totally agreeing with what you say about a record. I am not a pirate, so I haven't heard it yet, but this dampens my excitement about the album just a little. I'm still buying it the day it comes out, even if it's only a 3.5 star album. Keep up the good work, sir. If not for you, I doubt I would be listening to half of the stuff I have in the past year and a half.
haha they should probably just break up. It's a fool-proof plan. No one will have to deal with the perfectly gelled haired douchebag known as Jesse Lacey, Brand New can stop ripping off bands that are better than they are and everyone can just listen to Deja Entendu and the Devil and God like they should.
i'm sorry, is this the fourth album by Brand New or the 17th? "maybe it's time for the band to ride off into the sunset while they're still able to mount the horse", seriously? this isn't AC/DC or some band that's been around for 20 years rehashing the same album over and over again. so that sentence - and to end the review! - makes it sound like someone is severely unhappy with the band and / or album. you're supposed to promote a good album, and with a 3.5/5 score you kind of did that. but the review ending in such a negative manner, you simply have come off as angry at what Brand New have created.
I know that when I first listened to the devil and god i wasn't that thrilled with it. The more I listened to it the more tracks I really liked. Even years after it initially came out I find myself drawn to the tracks that I really didn't like when I first got it. Maybe it's going to be the same with Daisy. Maybe you should give the record another listen to and let some of the tracks sink in.
People saying that this record needs several listenings make me laugh. A good record won't become bad unless you spin it way too much. A bad record won't become a good one no mater how much spins you try it. Scott is right. Brand News superfans are having a bad time to admit that this is far from being a great record. It isn't bad. It's a good record tha fall short of greatness. I'd rate it 3/5. People giving this a higher rating than Thrice's Beggars are down right insane to me.
To ap.net boys going crazy above: The review does says good things about the record. It just not says that it is a masterpiece. And it isn't. Stop being so butt hurt with people not liking this as much as you think they should.
"you can tell by listening that the people who made it just don't give a fuck." I am proud that this band has reached this point. Scott Heisel, this is a review, not a time for you to unleash your little vendetta with band. It's cool though, no one reads altpress anymore.
I believe everyone is titled to your opinion and reviews of albums and I respect peoples reviews that arent in love with I cd that I am in love with. But in this case im just not really seeing the reasoning behind the bad review. The reasons arent really solid. This CD is soooo hard to grasp and so complicated its a masterpiece. I though they were going to just put out something that sounded just like TDAGARIM and this wouldve pleased the fans and whatever, but like you said they dont care and they put out what they wanted to hear in an album and it is simply brilliant! I mean vices is the most perfect intro to any cd. And the later part of the cd in my opinion is better! i ran out of space
and you said that the second part of the cd lacks memerable moments? in my opinion bought a bride is brand news best song to date, except for "jesus" of course. and the song daisy is so beautiful and is perfect song for the album to be named after. and the ending song noro? the lyrics and tone of the song are chilling.Not sure how that is not memorable?I sincerely believe that this cd is bettern than devil and god and i know that those kids out there will be like"oh you brand new fans are so bias, and will like whatever the band puts out" these people have no idea what they are talking about.I know when i hear a cd that didnt fill its potential and this is not the case.Its simple beautiful
Right now, I am just not understanding the bad reviews. Listening to this album all the way through was one of the craziest experiences I have had to this date. I felt like I literally rode 11 rollercoasters. My body and mind was overwhelmed with the brilliance of this album. I could not sleep that night. I feel like this album will trump "devil/god/", which will therefore be the greatest album ever made. I know that is a bold statement, but I truely believe it. I think this cd will truely show who the real brand new fans are, and show those "fair-weather" fans.
No one complained when Vin Acardi wrote "handcuffs".
Listen Up!!!! You ALL have been duped, yes even you Mr. AP review man. It's all a fake. Jesse and the boys have the real release locked up so tight, not even the people who think they are 'important' enough to get a listen will come close. He sent out fake promo's and if you don't believe me go here http:www.twitter.com/bnjesselacey and see for yourselves. I shouldn't even give this the time of day, but I'm having difficulty understanding how the no taste in music/ gotta hang out and bash the biggest talent out there/ didn't get enough attention as a child/ severely intimidated by Jesse Lacey's God given gift to be perfect in every way/ asinine lollygaggers broke free from the white coats:\
When I first started listening to this album I was confused and a bit disappointed. I kept listening to it throughout the day and in my car, and the more times I hear it, the more I like it. This album is not as lyrically impressive as previous Jesse written albums, but many of the lines and the delivery still give me chills. Those who "understand" brand new and never get tired of tdagarim will enjoy this album, but will admit that it is not their best work. I am interested to see how it comes across live, as they said that they recorded songs that they would like to play live and not ones that people would like to listen to on an album.
this is one of the most bogus reviews ever. i think most of the bands in ap should have quit before they even bothered releasing their first album cuz they have zero talent.
Where do you get off saying Brand New should "...ride off into the sunset..."? Are you kidding me? This album is already shaping out to be classic Brand New and inovative at the same time. Brand New has to be one of the better bands out there now and you think they should disband or something? Why was this published?
thanks to this CD, i have THREE times as many STDs from all the pussy im pulling in. thanks daisy CD!
Brand New should just make a cookie cutter album so AP will give them another good review. Brand New is the best band making music today and too bad they don't make the same album over and over again so AP will love them.
Why should it matter if a listener can answer the questions a musician is trying to pose? To me it seems that Accardi had unanswered questions of his own, and he used writing a majority of this album to express the confusion he is having. Music isn't just for the listener its also for the musician himself to help find himself. This album has outrageous ups and downs and is in all n all probably the best album I've bought since Julien Plenti's "...is skyscapers." The musical diversity of this album is outstanding. So why should it matter whether or not we can answer confusing lyrics?
I can't believe I just saw someone try to say "A bad record won't become a good one no mater how much spins you try it.". If you think you can completely listen to, understand, comprehend and judge an album off of one spin, you are a fucking idiot. I realize you're saying it's just a bad record, period, but it's not. It's raw, interesting, a little unoriginal, but still. Vices puts a smile on my face every time I hear it. On top of that, AP sucks.. why do I have to pick a favorite Genre just to join this site? Are we that obsessed with labeling music still? Thought people got over that.
heck no they shouldnt ride of into the sunset u crazy person!there a original true band who doesnt care & makes music there own way & thats why i love them its true you have to listen to the album a couple times to realize its not a bad album but who hasnt done that to song or an album to actually comprehend & like it thats just me.ive been a fan of brand new since i was in 6th grade im now out of high school! & i keep getting amazed everytime! i havent listened to this album alot(cause its kind of depressing since i cant go to there concert lol) but i cant stop myself from playing it! & people have there opinions about it but i think this review is a joke & thats my mother fuckin opinion =)
"It's sonically akin to Nirvana's In Utero, mainly because you can tell by listening that the people who made it just don't give a fuck." This makes me smile. I've always compared Jesse to Kurt (temperamental, doesn't talk on stage, doesn't seem to like the band's fans, does almost all the songwriting). Note: In Utero is/was a MUCH better album.