When Brand New released Deja Entendu in mid-2003, it caught a lot of their fans off guard. It found the band taking a stylistic leap forward from the clever (albeit cookie-cutter) pop-punk of their 2001 debut, exploring expanded sonic textures and indie rock overtones, their urgent choruses tempered by acoustic musings and softer introspections. It all seemed very deliberate yet completely natural all the same, and the record was an underground smash. Something even more substantial was definitely brewing beneath the band's emo façade, and as a result, Brand New's follow-up was hotly anticipated for the three years it took the band to release it. The resulting The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me is the completion of their pop-punk molting process and one of the best surprises -- that isn't really a surprise at all -- to come out of 2006. Even when they were playing straightforward pop-punk ditties, Brand New had an edge to them that made them seem smarter than their peers; now they sound even older and stronger (and like they've been listening to a lot of '90s college and indie rock). This record is dark and dense, yet accessible, a shadowy air permeating every crevice where Jesse Lacey's plaintive and often tortured lyrics aren't already residing. He draws listeners in with vulnerable ruminations and questions of love, death, self, and religion, and his vocal inflections bring as much meaning to the table as his carefully chosen words. The opening "Sowing Season" ebbs and flows steadily, moving along under light guitar before exploding with percussion, Lacey ably switching from a hushed delivery into an anguished cry of emotion before falling back down again effortlessly. With it, Brand New sets up the somber intensity of the record straightaway. Textural and sonic layers unfold at every turn -- punching drums and trembling guitars here, aching vocals and subtle touches of string there -- and the album moves with a directed force that seems so naturally powerful and uncontrived, it's almost ridiculous to think that the band cut its teeth with poppy anthems like "Jude Law and a Summer Abroad." The Devil and God is not an album of hooks; the excellent percussive stomp of "The Archers Bows Have Broken" is the most immediate here, but songs get stuck in the brain nonetheless and demand repeated spins. Old fans especially smitten by Deja's "Play Crack the Sky" have no excuse not to love everything about this record, as even lengthy tracks (like the near-eight-minute "Limousine" or the chill-inducing beauty of "Jesus") are completely compelling. People who were ready to discount Brand New into the emo/TRL heap of the 2000s better rethink their stance; Brand New seems to know exactly what they're doing and this record is a testament to their ability to stay true to themselves. Whether they want to stay underground or fully break into the mainstream, this album has the potential to do either. Either way it doesn't really matter -- whatever happens, there's no denying how excellent this record is.
Brand New began sloughing off their "emo pop punk" tags with 2003's Deja Entendu, which showed hints of progressive, textural production. Three years later, The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me unveiled a maturing band getting more interesting with each record. New songs married the raw, energetic rush of their early work to increasingly diverse arrangements and probing, philosophical lines f...
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While I wait for new releases to peak my interest, I will go back to the year 2006, when the New York-based Brand New released their major label debut (third album overall) entitled The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me. The reason this is an important album is that it signaled the breaking away from their old style of music and cemented them into this new captivating type of rock that has no ...
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On a rather nice, sunny day in Burlington, Vermont, I stood outside of Higher Grounds ballroom along with what seemed like EVERY student from the local high school (and here I am, going on 19 this saturday...). Now, to begin with, I'll be honest. I had, at that time, heard Brand New's new album once through from a friend. I ended up at the show when 4 friends of mine had bought tickets, and ...
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Okay, so I'm a little late getting this review out, but it's the first chance I've had to write anything up. I drove to Chicago Tuesday night to see Brand New play at the House of Blues. Never been there? Take a look "here.":http://www.hob.com/resources/inc/flashslideshow/FlashSlideshow.asp?name=chicago For the record, I'd never been there before either. The floor is a lot smaller than it ...
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Despite the short time that I've had The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me in my possession, Brand New's "Degausser" has already overtaken "Andy" by Mike O'Neill as my all-time most played song on iTunes. By 30 plays. I won't tell you how many times I've played it. That would be too embarrassing. I'm not even sure that's my favorite song on the album. The point is: Crazy. The end. Oh yeah, and...
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I just realize how awesome this lyric is!"So pray little Kay, love is just God on a good day.And you can't blame your motherShe’s trying not to see you as her worst mistake."I thought I'd share it.
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the similarity between Bright Eye's Connor O'Berst and Brand New's Jesse Lacey????? Jesse Lacey sounds SO alike to Connor in their latest album its not funny! Listen to Sowing Season or Jesus and you'll see what I mean, well, listen to it anyway, it's a really awesome album!
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So I'm new to this whole MOG thing. I probably have too many of these types of accounts on websites like this already.I think I'm finally beginning to recover from the fact that I wasn't able to see Death Cab in New Orleans since I'm 16. They were two hours away and I had to miss them. *cries*. I e-mailed the place they were playing to see if I could get a pass of some sort, but that proved uns...
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I just looked at my post the other day about Brand New and how I was so excited to go see them on tour. And I just remembered that I'm going to be on spring break when they come to New York... only I'll be in Italy.The fact that it's Italy is quite possibly the only thing that makes the situation OK. Surprisingly, I'm still kinda bummed, though. I'm sure I'll get over it when I get to see the P...
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Hi am Matt, also known as Matty.I have nerd-y qualitiesAm a 21 year old StudentI am studying Communication Studies at Sheffield HallamI have a great girlfriend called MeshellI have cool friendsI love Music, Comics and Computer GamesI work at Gala BingoI like Metal,Emo,IndieMy favorite Bands are Iron Maiden, Coheed and CambriaI like Robots, Zombies and SpaceshipsI am a Trekkie and proud of it!
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So 2006 is drawing to a close now and there have been some really good gigs going on this year, here are my top 10. If anyone can tell me what month the gigs without dates where in please! 1) Iron Maiden - Sheffield Arena - December 2006Amazing - just see my blog about it!2) New Found Glory w/ Early November & Hit The Lights Notts - Rock City - Nov 2006NFG always know how to put on a good show...
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I used to be such a burning example,I used to be so original.I used to care, I was being careful.Made sure I showed it to those that I love.I used to sleep without a single stir,'Cause I was about my father's work.Well Take me out tonight,The ship of fools I'm on will sink.A millstone around my neck,Be my breath, there's nothing I wouldn't give.I used to pray a God was listening.I used to make ...
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For those of you that are interested in the meanings behind lyrics, I thought you might be interested in this story. On Brand New's album they just released (The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me), there is a song titled "limousine". This song is about a car accident that happened over the last summer in Merrick, Long Island (where the band is from) A car was driving the wrong way on the LIE ...
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Brand New began sloughing off their "emo pop punk" tags with 2003's Deja Entendu, which showed hints of progressive, textural production. Three years later, The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me unveiled a maturing band getting more interesting with each record. New songs married the raw, energetic rush of their early work to increasingly diverse arrangements and probing, philosophical lines f...
More >
…As if I’m not broke enough, they go and do something as stupid like this. Now if they’d only do the same thing for Deja.Share this on del.icio.usDigg this!Share this on RedditBuzz up!Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUponShare this on TechnoratiPost this to MySpaceShare this on FacebookTweet This!Subscribe to the comments for [...]
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Okay, so I'm a little late getting this review out, but it's the first chance I've had to write anything up. I drove to Chicago Tuesday night to see Brand New play at the House of Blues. Never been there? Take a look "here.":http://www.hob.com/resources/inc/flashslideshow/FlashSlideshow.asp?name=chicago For the record, I'd never been there before either. The floor is a lot smaller than it ...
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We had a friend over recently, and invariably we started talking about my current job situation, or - more specifically - the lack thereof. "God, it must be so awful," they said, "you must just feel so shitty!" I smiled and nodded politely, but they continued, almost willing me to concede that yes, I'm at my lowest ebb and all that. I've actually had a few friends do this. "Dude, if I were you,...
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Below is a fantastic video of the fantastic band Brand New playing their fantastic instrumental Welcome to Bangkok (yes, it's a Bjork reference) off their fantastic album The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me.
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When I first heard Brand New, I was sitting shotgun in my girlfriend's Toyota Cressida. I was a freshman in college, back home for Thanksgiving. She was a year younger, still stuck in high school, and the distance was hard on us. She said I was sure to love this song, and keyed up "Soco Amaretto Lime," the acoustic finale to BN's debut Your Favorite Weapon. As it ends, singer Jessie Lacey repea...
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I almost forgot about this song. Good thing I remembered.
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Ok, so I remember seeing Brand New in '02 open for Finch and The Starting Line. And I remember how excited I got watching them. Enough to buy the CD (Your Favorite Weapon), however it took some time before I really got into it. Over the course of that summer I lived in Hawaii and absolutely fell in love with it. When I got back home in the fall a few people who I had made copies of the album fo...
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Despite the short time that I've had The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me in my possession, Brand New's "Degausser" has already overtaken "Andy" by Mike O'Neill as my all-time most played song on iTunes. By 30 plays. I won't tell you how many times I've played it. That would be too embarrassing. I'm not even sure that's my favorite song on the album. The point is: Crazy. The end. Oh yeah, and...
More >
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For those of you that are interested in the meanings behind lyrics, I thought you might be interested in this story. On Brand New's album they just released (The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me), there is a song titled "limousine". This song is about a car accident that happened over the last summer in Merrick, Long Island (where the band is from) A car was driving the wrong way on the LIE ...
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Incase you haven't realized it by now, I'm a huge fan of Brand New. Since their new album, The Devil and God Are Raging Inside of Me has been released today, I took the time to compile some reviews/interviews that have been done over the last couple weeks. Please do yourself a favor and go buy this album today! If you're still unsure if you want to buy it or not, you can stream the entire album...
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the similarity between Bright Eye's Connor O'Berst and Brand New's Jesse Lacey????? Jesse Lacey sounds SO alike to Connor in their latest album its not funny! Listen to Sowing Season or Jesus and you'll see what I mean, well, listen to it anyway, it's a really awesome album!
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It's offical. Teh next Brand New album is called "The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me".It's so....emo.EDIT- It seems the "offical" press release was a lot more suspect than it seemed at first. So I have no idea what the album will be called. However, I'm starting to like "The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me" enough to put it in my MSN name...
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I just realize how awesome this lyric is!"So pray little Kay, love is just God on a good day.And you can't blame your motherShe’s trying not to see you as her worst mistake."I thought I'd share it.
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sowing Season |
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| 2 Millstone |
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| 3 Jesus |
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| 4 Degausser |
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| 5 Limousine (MS Rebridge) |
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| 6 You Won't Know |
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| 7 Welcome to Bangkok |
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| 8 Not the Sun |
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| 9 Luca |
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| 10 [Untitled] |
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| 11 The Archers Bows Have Broken |
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| 12 Handcuffs |
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 "The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me")
