This album starts off with "Lit Me Up", and it's certainly a very dreary and dark tone. I mean, if you take the darkness of "Daisy" and multiplied it by a ton, that's what this is. Like, "Daisy" was dark and all, but "Lit Me Up" is damn near satanic. And the recordings Bran New have placed in the background are just making it more and more twisted. We're talking pretty simple tricks here, but they certainly work. Now, while this one does take about 2 minutes to get going, it's certainly worth it. The tension here is nearly ridiculous, and I love the way front man Jesse Lacey's very hazy and dreary lyrics blend in. Jesse sounds more disconnected than ever, which if you know anything about the dude, that's certainly saying something. Not to mention, his vocals are sounding even more tormented with this very dense and suffocating production. Hell, it almost sounds like Brand New are performing underwater. Overall, this is one hell of an intro. Being the first Brand New material in years, however, the band is taking their time and understandably so. it's worth it though and sets a seriously unforgettable tone. Then we have "Can't Get It Out", which is much more direct and to be honest sounds like something off of the band's "The Devil and God..." album. There are elements of Indie Rock here, and it's just sort of nice to actually hear Brand New in not such a murky environment. It has so many of the classic Brand New elements, like the constantly building riff leading up to that gigantic chorus. And let me tell you, this chorus is big enough to go toe to toe with any of the band's older material. Not to mention, over the years Brand New have constantly brought in more and more elements of Post Hardcore. Not so much of a surprise, it's once again seriously on display here. But it's moments like this that have me wondering why the hell Brand New are breaking up. They sound unbelievable, to be honest. And so far, "Science Fiction" is worth the wait. A nice loud scream starts up the next track, "Waste". Now, as far as the vocals go, I really feel like everything on this one is actually right where it needs to be. But instrumentally this one doesn't pack quite as much of a punch. Mostly, my issue with this is that the instrumentals don't suck me in like they did on some of the band's early releases. That is at least, until the chorus, because then things pick up to just fine levels. But overall, I'm really not that much into this track. I'm not as sold on the noisy production matched up with Jesse's acoustic guitar. Outside of that, this isn't necessarily bad. But "Waste" certainly doesn't have the atmosphere I'm looking for. But then we have "Could Never Be Heaven", which is even more of a straight up acoustic track. Once again, this one really doesn't hit me too hard instrumentally. However, I'm seriously digging Jesse's vocals and lyrics here. And in a way, it is a nice throwback to the time of "Deja Entendu". I do enjoy parts of "Could Never Be Heaven". But instrumentally, I keep almost falling asleep. It's not like Brand New haven't done soft tunes in the past, I don't know why this one was just so bland for me. Thankfully. Brand New still have so many tricks up their sleeves.
"Same Logic/Teeth" while it's on the softer side, immediately reels me in. I love how Brand New bring in a slew of old school Emo influence on this one, 90's emo that is. But I can't help but be stunned at how much Jesse brought his A-Game on this one, with his usual very visceral and striking lyrics and performances. This one is just so patient, so slow, but it's the sort of emotional power that I've been dying to hear in the last few tracks. Some of the more screamed and yelled vocals on the verses here are seriously on point, they don't overstay their welcome either. Instrumentally, this one is all over the place between the horns and the almost Celtic sounding folk licks. "Same Logic/Teeth? just has so much depth overall. Hell, even the last stripped down minute or so comes off so well. Then we have another sort of dreary, murky tune in the form of "137". As a matter of fact, it's so hazy that I wouldn't have been surprised to hear this turn up on the band's "Daisy" album. But to be honest, I'm really digging a whole lot of the vocals. As far as that goes, Brand New's harmonies have actually hit an all time high. So far, I do have to say this was worth the wait. The guitar melodies are almost hypnotic on this one, and while earlier I had some issues getting into some of these slower tunes, Brand New have certainly upped their game. Not to mention, while some of these recordings in the background have sort of just been alright on other tracks here. But on "137", they honestly sound right at home. I have nothing bad to say about this one at all, especially with that last minute of wild solos and great breakdowns. "Out Of Mana" up next has so much more of an aggressive sound, once again pushing further towards the classic "The Devil And God..." territory. But sadly, I don't feel like Jesse's near whisper quiet vocals do this track enough justice, at least during the verses. As far as the chorus goes, it actually ends up coming off of some of the more memorable material here. Overall, this tune is solid. I do like a lot of the breakdowns in the second half, and I’m seriously into a lot of Jesse’s wilder vocal moments. Then we have “In The Water”, and at first I really wasn’t feeling this because of how slow and dragged out it sounds from the intro. But to be honest, the almost southern sounding guitars and keyboards give this the sort of big sound that I’ve been craving to hear more of. In a way, this track is almost a little positive sounding, which is sure as hell foreign to me as far as Brand New’s music is concerned. Overall, the pacing on this track is done wonderfully, and this track overall is so brilliant. Does that justify it being practically 7 minutes long? That’s debatable. But for one final rodeo, you have to give it to Brand New for branching out.
Brand New still have quite a few tricks up their sleeve. We have “Desert” which takes us right back to that very murky and dark sound that we've been working with for most of the album. You would think that Jesse after all these years has sort of started to run out of things to say, but that’s far from the case. I actually continue to really love the vocals on this one as well. But instrumentally, I feel like this one is a real disconnect. The twangy guitars are here which are a Brand New staple, but outside of that, to me, this really doesn't feel like a Brand New track at all. The pacing on this one is also sort of weird. And those high pitched vocals on the chorus Jesse? No thank you, sir. On the other hand, “No Control” is much more in Brand New’s territory. Sure, there are some sluggish areas. But at the end of the day, Brand New at least sound like themselves. But it’s more than just that. “No Control” actually comes off as one of the more mature tunes Jesse Lacey has penned in his older age. It’s sort of refreshing to hear and gives me an enormous sense of closure listening to this IF it truly is the last Brand New album. Not to mention, that last minute or so is some of the most intense moments on this entire album, even though it’s not a complete track. Then we have “451”, which with this serious groove sounds like something out of the playbook of Queens Of The Stone Age. As a matter of fact, a whole lot of this track has a real QOTSA vibe. Even the backing vocals have this very sinister vibe that I really love. I have no idea where this track is even coming from, but this is the furthest thing I’ve heard from a Brand New track here. But it’s done so well that I’m seriously craving more. It’s dark, groovy and sort of sexy in a weird way. I don’t even know what I’m listening to anymore, to be honest. Those hard, almost southern guitars are back, taking care of everything in their path, and I love every second of it. This album ends with “Batter Up”. Now, I’m going to be brutally honest, this is the sort of track where I least like to hear Brand New. Instrumentally, this is just such a damn bore that it isn’t even funny. Thankfully, Jesse does come back with some really nice vocals and lyrics. But does anyone really get any closure from this? Because I certainly don’t. To be honest, this sounds like a mid album cut from “Deja Entendu”, and that’s about all. I like moments of “Batter Up”, like the drums in the later moments that actually end up making this album pretty epic. I just wish this was bigger and more exploratory as some of the other tracks here. But still, this album was certainly worth the wait.
Rating: 8.1/10
Give A Listen To: "Lit Me Up", "Can't Get It Out", "451", "In The Water"
Genre: Post Hardcore / Emo / Some Indie Rock (Don't Deny It)
If you dig this, check out: Brand New - "The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me"
Overall Thoughts: This album really threw me off guard. I saw Brand New last September around the time where they first announced they were breaking up. But to be honest, I really never thought I would be here talking about it. This album is massive, and while some of the softer tunes don't really hit me that hard, the majority of this album is brilliant. Brand New here for one last time are branching out into sounds I never would have thought I would hear from them. And overall, this just serves as a reminder at how great of a rock band Brand New truly are.
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