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Rating: Formed in 2000 and hailing from Long Island, New York, Brand New are a quartet on their third album, "The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me," a work in which the initial emo roots have evolved into an intriguing and anguished indie rock that in many ways reminds us of the grunge epic that developed more than twenty years ago.
The combo consists of drummer Brian Lane, Garrett Tierney on bass, Vin Accardi on guitar, and Jesse Lacey on vocals, second guitar, and lyrics.
The strong point of the group is indeed the singer, possessing a voice that resembles Morrisey when staying on lower registers, and very similar to Omar Rodriguez of Mars Volta when he has to scream according to the emo styles.
The album kicks off strongly with "Sowing Season (Yeah)" featuring a Nirvana school chorus around which melancholic yet sharp guitar riffs revolve, leading the dance now through more meditative, now tumultuous moments. The verses also denote a clear inner turmoil: "...I am not your friend...I am not your lover...I am not your family...".
"Millstone" slows down the pace and boasts a catchy and "lilting" chorus; the same tones are maintained in the ballad "Jesus Christ," with its soothing vocals, where the singer questions faith and existence with irony more than devotion ("...Jesus Christ, I’m alone again...So what did you do those three days you were dead?...because this problem's gonna last more than the weekend...").
We then arrive at one of the album's peaks: "Degausser," which owes much of its beauty to the lesson imparted (and here well assimilated) by At The Drive In from "Relationship Of Command."
Another pinnacle, in my view, is "Not The Sun," which markedly recalls the best of Bush’s debut album (revisit "Sixteen Stone," one of the few essential post-grunge albums).
Before it, we had the addition of the chilling instrumental-like "Welcome To Bangkok," rich with electronic insertions that then give way to rising, screeching screams, the ideal soundtrack for a hypothetical modern horror.
The album concludes with four tracks slightly inferior to the first eight, but still above average.
The slow and psychedelic "Luca," which is enhanced at the end with an explosion of sounds, and the almost-instrumental "Untitled," brief and atmospheric, concluding with the cheerful emo-pop ride "The Archer’s Bows Are Broken" (the word "Blink 182" comes to mind) and the closing "Handcuffs" with a small acoustic arpeggio in the style of Eels.
In conclusion, each listen to this work leaves an ever-greater sensation of having discovered a little gem of modern rock, which allows me to postpone the death of a musical genre that many would unfortunately declare dead, but that it is not, as long as you’re always ready to lend an ear...to "something new" ("Brand New," to be precise).
Tracklist and Lyrics
04 Handcuffs (04:10)
I'd arrest you if I had handcuffs,
I'd arrest you if I had the time,
I'd throw you down in the back seat,
as if you'd committed a terrible crime.
I'd break into a towns worth of houses,
And rob whole family's blind,
I'd do it to you like you do it to me,
If you knew you would get away fine.
I'd drown all these crying babies,
If I knew that their mothers wouldn't cry,
I'd hold them down and I'd squeeze real soft,
To let a piece of myself die.
It's hard to be the better man,
When you forget you're trying,
It's hard to be the better man.
I'd arrest you if I had handcuffs,
I'd arrest you if I had time,
I'd wait for you outside the courtroom
And taunt you
When all your appeals were declined
I'd drive my car off of a bridge,
If I knew that you weren't inside,
With the pedal to the floor who could ask for more,
A fantastic way to kill some time.
You could lay on your back and be beaten
You could put up your fists and fight
You could try and be way off
It's hard be the better man,
When you forget you're trying,
It's hard to be the better man,
When you're still lying,
It's hard to be the better man,
When you forget you're trying,
It's hard to be the better man,
When you're still lying...
You're still lying
05 Millstone (04:16)
I used to be such a burning example
I used to be so original
I used to care I was being cared for
And 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
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 like God was listening
I used to make my parents proud
I was the glue that kept my friends together
Now they don't talk and we don't go out
I used to know the name of every person I kissed
Now I made this bed and I can't fall asleep in it
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
Throw me that lifeline
The ship of fools I'm on will sink
A millstone around my neck
Be my breath, there's nothing I wouldn't give
Never hit the breaks
There's no time to save him
He's run out in the street
Anybody know his name?
I think I recognize him
He sure as hell paid for that mistake
Woah
So take me out tonight
The ship of fools I'm on will sink
Millstone around my neck
Be my breath, there's nothing I wouldn't give
To save my life tonight
The ship of fools I'm on will sink
Millstone around my neck
Be my breath, there's nothing I wouldn't give
06 Jesus (05:18)
Jesus Christ, that's a pretty face
The kind you'd find on someone that could save
If they don't put me away
It’ll be a miracle
Do you believe you're missing out?
That everything good is happening somewhere else
With nobody in your bed
The night is hard to get through
And I will die all alone
And when I arrive I won’t know anyone
Jesus Christ, I’m alone again
So what did you do those three days you were dead?
Because this problem is gonna last
More than the weekend
Jesus Christ I’m not scared to die
But I’m a little bit scared of what comes after
Do I get the gold chariot
Or do I float through the ceiling
Or do I divide and pull apart
'Cause my bright is too slight to hold back all my dark
This ship went down in sight of land
And at the gates does Thomas ask to see my hands?
I know you're coming in the night like a thief
But I’ve had some time, O Lord, to hone my lying technique
I know you think that I’m someone you can trust
But I’m scared I’ll get scared and I swear I’ll try to nail you back up (Everyone now)
So do you think that we could work out a sign
So I’ll know it's you and that it's over so I won't even try
I know you're coming for the people like me
But we all got wood and nails
And we turn out hate in factories
We all got wood and nails
And we turn out hate in factories
We all got wood and nails
And we sleep inside of this machine
07 Degausser (05:32)
Goodbye to sleep,
I think this staying up is exactly what I need
Well take apart your head
Take apart the counting, and the flock it has bred
Goodbye to love,
Well it's alright I'll push you up
Right against the wall
Take apart your head
Chew it up and swallow it
You're brought back but you're running
I'll find sleep in the end tonight
I can't shake this little feeling
I'll never get anything right
Goodbye you liar,
Well you sipped from the cup but you don't own up to anything
Then you think you will inspire
Take apart your head
(and I wish I could inspire)
Take apart your demons, then you add it to the list.
(goodbye my love)
Bring you back but you're running
(goodbye my love)
I'll find sleep in the end tonight
(goodbye my love)
I can't shake this little feeling
(goodbye my love)
I'll never say anything right
I'm on my own, never say anything right
I'm on my own, never say anything right
I'm on my own, never say anything right
I'm on my own, never say anything right
Well take me, take me back to your bed
I love you so much that it hurts my head
Say I don't mind you under my skin
I'll let the bad parts in, the bad parts in
When we were made we were set apart
Life is a test and I get bad marks
Now some saint got the job of writing down my sins
The storm is coming, the storm is coming in
You're brought back but you're running
I'll find sleep in the end tonight
I can't shake this little feeling
I'll never get anything right
I'm on my own, never say anything right
I'm on my own, never say anything right
Take me, take me back to your bed
I love you so much that it hurts my head
I don't mind you under my skin
I'll let the bad parts in, the bad parts in
Well you're my favorite bird and when you sing
I really do wish you'd wear my ring
No matter what they say, I am still the king
And now the storm is coming, the storm is coming in
08 Limousine (MS Rebridge) (07:42)
Kay
here's your ride
Get your petals out
and lay them in the aisle
Pretend
you're God, and grow
And it's your day to wed
We've found your man
He is drinking up
He's all-American
and he'll drive
He's volunteered
with grace to end your life
We'll tidy up
It's sad to hold
but leave your shell to us
You explode
you firefly
You tiny boat with oars
Feather oars
The world tilts back and pours and pours
And so
you satellite
you tidal wave
You’re a big surprise
And I
have one more night
to be your mother
Her signal was interrupted.
My baby's frequency not strong enough
Remain my hands and smile
we will miss you but in time you'll get set up,
And we will write.
Beauty supreme
Yeah, you were right about me
But can I get myself back from underneath
This guilt that will crush me
And in the choir
I saw our sad messiah
He was bored and tired of my laments
Said, "I'd die for you one time, but never again"
Never again
Never again
Never again
Never again
Never again
Never again
Never again
Never again
Well I love you so much
But do me a favor, baby don't reply
'Cause I can dish it out but I can't take it
Well I love you so much
But do me a favor, baby don't reply
'Cause I can dish it out but I can't take it
One will love you so much
But do me a favor, baby don't reply
'Cause I can dish it out but I can't take it
Two will love you so much
But do me a favor, baby don't reply
'Cause I can dish it out but I can't take it
Three will love you so much
But do me a favor. baby don't reply
'Cause I can dish it out but I can't take it
Four will love you so much
But do me a favor, baby don't reply
'Cause I can dish it out but I can't take it
Five will love you so much
But do me a favor, baby don't reply
'Cause I can dish it out but I can't take it
Six will love you so much
But do me a favor, baby don't reply
'Cause I can dish it out but I can't take it
Seven loves you so much
But do me a favor, baby don't reply
'Cause I can dish it out but I can't take it
Seven loves you so much (I'll never have to buy adjacent plots of earth)
But do me a favor, baby don't reply (We'll never have to rot together underneath dirt)
'Cause I can dish it out (I'll never have to lose my baby into the crowd)
But I can't take it (I should be laughing right now)
Seven loves you so much (I'll never have to buy adjacent plots of earth)
But do me a favor, baby don't reply (We'll never have to rot together underneath dirt)
'Cause I can dish it out (I'll never have to lose my baby into the crowd)
But I can't take it (I should be laughing right now)
10 Welcome To Bangkok (03:05)
Space cadet, pull out
Space cadet, pull out
Space cadet...
Pull out.
12 Luca (05:08)
When I disappear, do you fear for the sister I took?
When I disappear, it is clear I am up to no good
I am drearily blunt, letting this bed wetting cosmonaut
"Son, the last thing you'll realize
you need is what you've already got"
So touch me or don't
Just let me know
Where you've been
So drop me a line with a hook and some raw bleeding bait
(one, two, three, four)
For I am uncaught and still swimming alone in the lake
(five, six, seven, eight)
Shimmering under a moon made in anger and angst
Shimmering like a penny out of reach in the subway grate
(Shimmering like a coin kept safe away,
you'll never listen to anything)
So touch me or don't
Just let me know
Where you've been
We could leave it alone,
I'm sure there's someone who knows
Where you've been
You never worked well with our group
Not with the faults we found
So we fixed you with cement galoshes
No one can save you now
Unless you have friends among fish
There'll still be no air to breathe
You could drink up the entire ocean
I'll still find someone to be everything we know that you'll never be
So touch me or don't
Just let me know
Where you've been
Or we could leave it alone
I'm sure there's someone who knows
Where you've been
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