Brand New leaves nothing to be desired on third album

by Alex Everett, editorial assitant

If you have never experienced Brand New or you have and are just not a fan, I highly encourage you to go pick up their masterpiece titled “The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me”.

Brand New has really outdone themselves with this new album of epic proportion. Fast chord progressions and flawless drumbeats will immediately capture your attention and make you fall deeply in love with this band more and more with every time played.

Brand New is originally from Merrick, N.Y. and now spends most of the time on the road touring to some of the most die-hard fans that I have had the privilege to see.

No doubt listening to this heroic album will let you hear how much this band has matured since “Deja Entendu,” their second album. The lyrics are creatively written by front man Jesse Lacey for all those who have experienced heartbreak and could use some re-assurance. The style of music on this CD seems to erase all of the cliché words (pop punk, heart core, screamo, etc…) used to label Brand New. It has a sound and vibe from a different world. This brilliant album will grab your attention from the first seconds to the last. 

“Sowing Season (Yeah)”, “Degausser”, and “Pretty Face” are the featured songs on the album. So if you are a downloading junkie, I recommend these songs to be checked out first.

There were rumors floating around about Lacey being hospitalized for an appendicitis attack that may have delayed or possibly stopped the album from ever being produced. But after successful surgery, Lacey recovered quickly and was able to start and finish the recording process.

The album was recorded in Oxford, Mississippi, with producer Dennis Herring who also produced their previous album “Deja Entendu.” After starting the album, the band decided to drop Herring and go with Mike Sapone, who they had worked with on the first album, “Your Favorite Weapon.”

Their latest album was released on Nov. 21, 2006, and has been a success not only in North America, but also in Europe, where the fan base is just as large, if not larger, than it is in the America. Overall, the album gets two index and pinky fingers pointing high to the sky from me.

Brand New began touring in Berlin on Jan. 25 and will end the tour May 24 in the states. Although the rock sensation will not be making it to Lubbock, they will be playing in Austin at Stubbs’ on April 10. So die-hard fans can get ready for a road trip down south.