The New Year
Newness Ends

THE REVIEW

I want to talk to you about an extraordinary album. And I don't know if I'll find the right words to describe it. But it would be worse not to talk about it.

"Newness End" is the debut album by The New Year from 2001. A band reformed by the Kadane brothers (Texas) after closing the chapter of Bedhead. Closed apparently. Just look at the covers of the six albums (three + three) to see that there is no discontinuity in the band's intentions. It is a musical journey in slow but continuous evolution. Without ruptures, it used to be said "without concessions". This album came out with a bang. An incredible freshness that lo-fi bands had never had. So an unusual lo-fi band, because it achieves the miracle of fusing slowness and musical freshness.

On a personal judgment level, I go beyond the current opinions (always very favorable nonetheless). In fact, I consider the music of the Kadane brothers a point of ARRIVAL of the entire rock world in general. Being a point of arrival, it will not be satisfying for everyone, especially for the younger ones. Appreciating The New Year requires a minimum of apprenticeship. And above all, at least two listens. It won't be difficult, you'll see. There is the almost total absence of studio arrangements to be valued. The music sounds live, there's an almost demo sound. This album was the first of the triad (so far), the second "The end is near" contains some memorable pieces but a little less freshness. While the last eponymous one from 2008 repeats the miracle, personally, I didn't think it was possible but it happened (the review is already in the archive). A masterpiece doesn't have to be necessarily experimental.

The Kadane brothers simply need to do me the favor of continuing to make music. We can only listen to them. Alex