Brand New - Deja Entendu [2003]

Brand New plays an incredible blend of aggressive post-hardcore and acoustic indie, filled with groovy bass, sing-along choruses, and introspective, soul searching lyrics. Deja Entendu (french for "already heard") is, to me, their masterpiece.


The album opens with the soft spoken intro Tautou, then dives straight into their catchiest track, Sic Transit Gloria, which is full of dance-inducing energy, and will certainly make you nod your head along. Up next is I Will Play My Game, with mellow verses and an engaging chorus, and Okay I Believe You, which starts out very quietly, and then explodes into a loud and perfectly contrasting rock chorus where Jesse Lacey declares "I just wanna believe, in us." The Quiet Things enters with a powerful oscillating guitar, and keeps up the energy throughout the whole song by increasing the frantic, near-screaming vocals, making it one of the best vocal performances on the album.

The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot returns to Brand New's more subdued, acoustic side, and the song feels exquisitely thoughtful with lyrics like "Call me a safe bet; I'm betting I'm not. I'm glad that you can forgive. I'm only hoping as time goes, you can forget." Jaws Theme Swimming is the most anthemic track on the album with driving guitars, and urgent vocals. Me vs. Maradona vs. Elvis is the most stripped-down song on the album; a single guitar and candid, harmonizing vocals for nearly the entire song with the rest of the band joining in at the end for a strong finish. Pounding drums usher in Guernica, an intense, energetic song with interesting lyrics allegedly about Jesse's grandfather being diagnosed with cancer. Brand New definitely displays their talent on Good To Know. It's the longest song on the album at just over seven minutes, but they easily keep it interesting for the entire length with the music (especially the wonderful guitar in the outro), the vocals, and especially the lyrics with lines like "Am I correct to defend the fist that holds this pen? It's ink that lies, the pen, the page, the paper." Deja Entendu closes with Play Crack The Sky, a final, reflective acoustic song complete with a Beatles reference at the end.

Deja Entendu is nearly flawless. Brand New simply makes genuine, original, intelligent music, so if you are into that kind of thing as much as I am, I'm certain you will also love this album.


Genre: Post-Hardcore, Indie

For Fans Of: Manchester Orchestra, Taking Back Sunday, Circa Survive

Contact: Myspace

Tracklisting:
1. Tautou
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 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





-T