Emotionalpunk.com
Media Review
Music Quality: 9.0
Production: 7.5
Originality: 10.0
Tracklisting
2. Sic Transit Gloria ... Glory Fades
3. I Will Play My Game Beneath The Spin Light
4. Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don't
5. The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows
6. The Boy Who Has Blocked His Own Shot
7. Jaws Theme Swimming
8. Me Vs. Maradona Vs. Elvis
9. Guernica
10. Good To Know That If I Ever Need Attention All I Have To Do Is Die
11. Play Crack The Sky
The long awaited Brand New album, Deja Entendu, leaked awhile back; it's no big secret. Hundreds of fans new and old alike have been quoting the band in their away messages, journals, and the like. And lyrically, the new Brand New album is beyond words, in fact, the entire experience of Deja Entendu is beyond words. Okay, so it's been overhyped and long-awaited, so what's Deja Entendu about?
At first, the album literally shocked me. What the hell was this? Slower, to the point of almost lethargic at moments, but with the obvious tinge of backing vocals and dark mood that Brand New has become accustomed too, Deja Entendu is easily the most suprising CD to come out this year. Here's a great band who has gained an amazing fan base and support for their first album, Your Favorite Weapon; I heard Jude Law And A Semester Abroad in Best Buy the other day. But instead of copping out another YFW, the band does something completely radical, completely sporradic, different, and almost crazy: they release an album that sounds completely unlike anything they have ever done, but yet still sounds like them.
Sic Transit Gloria ... Glory Fades and its gaspy, breathy verses sound like a different band almost, but then when the high-energy chorus with all it's pop melodies and backing vocals hits, you know this is Brand New. Better (than YFW)? It's hard to tell. Worse? No way. Just completely different.. and dark but slower. The thing is, even on this very disc, songs vary in style from one another; The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows is easily one of Brand New's most mature pop songs, and seems easily fitting on Your Favorite Weapon, whereas Guernica's lethargic verses and heavy vocals sound completely unlike anything they've ever done.
All in all, to go into detail on every one of these complex songs would take too long. Although I seemed to like the insantly pleasing pop sensibilty of Your Favorite Weapon, Deja Entendu might take awhile to hit you but once it does, it really sticks. I hate to just follow the hype, but going against the grain simply won't work for something that is a genuinely mature, unique, and solid release. Pick up Deja Entendu today, and listen more than once: because it will take awhile for this one to hit you but once it does it will knock you out.