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Brand New
- The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me
(Interscope)
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| It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that this, the first release for three years from Brand New, is one of the most eagerly anticipated albums of the year. |
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Deja Entendu was a huge record, not just in terms of critical success but also in terms of what it did for rock music. Up until that point emo was nothing more than pop-punk with tired, overused lyrics. That is until Brand New released their second album. Combining their pop-punk influences with a much darker sound and some frightfully huge choruses meant that musically Brand New were already better than most emo bands, but where they stood out most was in Jesse Lacey’s lyrical ability. His tongue-in-cheek lyrical charms were a breath of fresh air to music and made Jesse Lacey something of a cult idol.
So, here I am with the new album and I am dreadfully excited (despite that horrible title) and opener ‘Sowing Season (yeah)’ doesn’t disappoint. It starts with Brand New’s trusty old palm-muting and Jesse’s soft singing style - somewhat akin to ‘Okay I Believe You...’ from Deja Entendu - until, with an almighty ‘yeah!’, it kicks into a trademark huge chorus. But it still sounds like a progression from previous albums: gone is the 3 chord pop-punk riffs and instead in comes a much more intelligent and sinister approach. ‘Jesus Christ’ is a standout track, totally devoid of any emo tendencies and instead sounding rather like Modest Mouse. ‘Limousine’ suggests a totally new direction, a seven minute masterpiece complete with a mini-orchestra, multi-layered vocals and one and a half minutes of guitar feedback. ‘Welcome to Bangkok’ follows this same direction; it’s a three-minute instrumental which wouldn’t sound out of place on a Mogwai record. This is immediately followed by ‘Not the Sun’, which is the poppiest song on the album. Despite the intro sounding like The Killers, the song redeems itself with another mammoth chorus.
After three listens of The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me the above tracks are the only ones I could remember, and there’s a reason for this. This is not an emo record. There’s no ‘Sic Transit Gloria’, there’s no ‘The Quiet Things…’ and there’s definitely no heart-breaking-slit-your-wrists-I wanna-kill-myself-and-everyone-else-while-I’m-at-it lyrics. It’s a much harder listen than that, it’s not an album for the kids to sing along to at gigs. It’s an album to listen to over-and-over until, finally, you realise what a damn fine record this is.
Damn fine doesn’t mean it is flawless though, and there’s a horrible part in ‘Degausser’ where a huge group of children sing the bridge line. I feel like cringing everytime I hear this. The intro to ‘Luca’ (and indeed ‘Luca Reprise’) sounds like Oasis, due to Jesse’s vocals. Maybe the falsetto isn’t such a good idea? And the tracks ‘Millstone’ and ‘Handcuffs’ don’t add much to the album at all, and indeed just reek of filler.
But, these are minor dents in an otherwise faultless album. An album of progression, maturity and something that will surely attract a whole new legion of fans. Just don’t call it emo. |
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| James Bunce - 9/10 |
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Name:
Tom
| Date:
20/11/06 | Reply
Deja Entendu knocked me for six when I heard it, although it did coincide with a slightly messy break-up which gave the tracks more pertinence than usual. I want to hear this!
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Name:
James
| Date:
20/11/06 | Reply
Whoah. You can comment on stuff BEFORE it's published?
This really is a fantastic album, but it is totally different to Deja Entendu. I think they may finally lose that emo tag.
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Name:
Dan
| Date:
21/11/06 | Reply
Yes, but what about Clarity by Jimmy Eat World?
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Name:
Ian
| Date:
21/11/06 | Reply
Emo is a proper dirty word. For that reason this record slightly appeals to me. Good review
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Name:
James
| Date:
21/11/06 | Reply
Dan:
I don't understand your point about Clarity...
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Name:
Dann
| Date:
22/11/06 | Reply
I'm not sure I had one, but "Up until that point emo was nothing more than pop-punk with tired, overused lyrics" is I think a tad erroneous. I'd say Clarity remains the definitive 'emo' album, and that came out in '98 or '99. I've never got why everyone things Brand New are anything that special to be honest. (I'm in a mood this morning)
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Name:
dann
| Date:
22/11/06 | Reply
'thinks', not 'things'. too early. no tea.
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Name:
Tom
| Date:
23/11/06 | Reply
I suppose 'emo' was something different these days to what it was back in the days of Clarity. Historically the Get Up Kids were emo as well, but they sound so little like what emo has become shorthand for that it doesn't really ring true anymore.
Have you listened to Deja Entendu, Dan? There's some good stuff on there, more intersting than the singles.
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Name:
Dan
| Date:
23/11/06 | Reply
Yeah, I listened to the whole album having really liked one of the singles, and never really got into it. Seemed like workmanlike alt-rock to my jaded ears.
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Name:
Corey
| Date:
06/12/06 | Reply
The only equivalent band and album to Brand New's "The Devil..." right now would be Silverchair and their 2002 release "Diorama". Both bands have gotten better with every album, and each album gave a glimpse of what the next one might achieve.
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Name:
James
| Date:
10/12/06 | Reply
So where do you think Brand new are going next?
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Name:
Jenny
| Date:
20/12/06 | Reply
I absoloutely agree with everything you said. I was sort of expecting this sound of the album after hearing the leaked demos. I'm just not that broad minded in that aspect of music genre so I've just never heard anything like it.
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