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Brand New

Your Favorite Weapon
2001
Triple Crown

Brand New - Your Favorite Weapon (Cover Artwork)


Review by: Scott
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Triple Crown Records (link)

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Triple Crown Records (Logo)

Published on February 9th 2002

I've had a copy of this album since late October of last year. I've been meaning to write a review of it every day since then, I really have. There's just one small problem: it seems like almost every time I put this album on to really analyze it, various friends come in the room and stay for a few songs, then decide that they want to borrow the album. This game of CD cat-and-mouse has been going on for months now.

My Drive-Thru Records addict friend Mike has fallen in love with this band. He worships their really innovative three-voiced harmonies, as do I [we're both choir geeks]. He also loves how the band can cram a year's worth of hooks into just one song [take a listen to "Jude Law and a Semester Abroad" for an example]. Then there's my friend Craig whose favorite bands are Dashboard Confessional and Alkaline Trio. He loves this album because of all the emotion you can pick up in the vocals. The lyrics especially are pretty deep without making your head hurt, and some are just downright nasty. a sample from "Seventy Times 7" : "Have another drink and drive yourself home / I hope there’s ice on all the roads / And you can think of me when you forget your seatbelt / and again when your head goes through the windshield.” On a side note, ladies, this is why you do not date a musician. Anyway. Frequent visitors to my reviews might recall my friend Liz; even as a "jaded scenester" like herself, she likes this a lot. My Illinois-via-California friend Justin loves this because, to bring everything down to the lowest common denominator, Brand New is able to be a pop-punk band without sounding stale and repetitive. That is a feat in itself. So what is my verdict? It's pretty much a conglomeration of all of my friend's opinions.

This album has some *really* strong tracks, and there aren't really any songs that warrant the pressing of the "skip" button [although, on days, "The No Seatbelt Song" really gets on my nerves]. Opener "The Shower Scene," while sounding nothing like the rest of the album, propels the album straight out of the gates with a very Hot Rod Circuit-like style. Immediately following that is the aforementioned "Jude Law," which in an alternate universe would be topping radio and MTV charts across the planet. "Mix Tape" makes me laugh every time I listen to it, with sardonic lyrics like "I know that you're a sucker for anything acoustic / when I say let's keep in touch, I really mean I hope that you'd grow up / This is the first song for your mixtape, and it's short just like your temper / somewhat golden like the afternoons we used to spend before you got to cool." "Failure By Design" is about as straight up rock as you can get, which gets a thumbs up from me. And of course what pop-punk album would be complete with an acoustic song at the end? In this case, the song is called "Soco Amaretto Lime," and is a very quiet, slow paced song until it gets cut off in mid-chorus by the sound of a record skipping. It's kind of a cute way for the band to tell the listener the album is over.

But this band is not all roses. My biggest complaint is also one of my biggest praises - the band's vocal harmonies. I've seen them live twice [again, guys, I'm totally sorry for that Davenport, IA show] and they are a live force to be reckoned with. On recording, while their music comes across pretty closely, the vocals just comes off as sounding too whiny and high pitched. Of course, all this makes me want to is see the band live again, so it can't be all that bad of a complaint.

In conclusion [shit, it sounds like I'm writing a term paper], Brand New has got what thousands of other pop-punk bands do not. There really isn't a name for what they have, it's just that *thing* that only certain bands who are a cut above the rest have. This band is going to go on to bigger and better things and I wouldn't be surprised if, within 5 years, they're on a super big indie like Vagrant Records, or possibly even a major label. You're getting proper warning now.

MP3s
Seventy Times 7
Jude Law and a Semester Abroad
Failure By Design



People who liked this also liked:
Brand New - Deja EntenduBrand New - The Devil and God Are Raging Inside MeThe Lawrence Arms - Oh! Calcutta!Refused - The Shape of Punk to ComeThe Lawrence Arms - The Greatest Story Ever ToldThe Loved Ones - Keep Your HeartWeezer - PinkertonThe Lawrence Arms - Apathy and ExhaustionJawbreaker - Dear YouAgainst Me! - As The Eternal Cowboy



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    Posted by esk-Hi-mo on 2008-10-07 13:46:20

    this CD is by far my favorite, the lyrics are amazing =] i can never get tired of this CD.

    Posted by krid1987 on 2007-07-20 21:34:12
    My Score:

    The first cd of one of the best if not the best band in the entire genre or in all of rock music...just an opinion

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 8:47 PM (EDT)

    someone described song 3 as a blink 182ish song. brand new toured with blink, and are fans of theirs. so if you like this band and not blink, your just another one of the million of people here who idk, are stupid just go look at a blink album review and read the comments your one of those guys.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 10, 2005 at 9:39 AM (EST)

    this album rooooooooooooooooocks

    Posted by revolutionary on 2004-11-03 23:57:09
    My Score:

    so like, people dont like blink 182 now?
    fuck that shit, i wish this site had like an online simulated fight mode where people could fight each other with sharp objects. the Ramones own all things. Brand New rocks.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 2, 2004 at 7:24 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    pretty good album, but theres some bad songs on here

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 7, 2004 at 2:24 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Track #1 - a cover of "theme song of the night flyers" by the rookie lot, this song is REAL GOOD. sounds like an older movielife song, but it's real riffy and has some really neat guitar twidling. there is also a lame ass distortion effect on the vocals to make lead singer jessie constapolas sound like a roughneck badass.

    Track #2 - everybodys FAVORITEEEEEEE!!!!1 this is somewhere between pop punk faggotry and arena rock anthem. some great hooks, and more sobbing about girls. all in all a killer pop song.

    Track #3 - bleh, junk. sounds like a bazillion other crappy bands. at least it's pretty catchy though. this is actually a cover of one last goodbye's "stick a hot cattle prod up my piss hole".

    Track #4 - this song KICKS ASS, this sounds like some total stoner pothead shit. listen to those guitar riffs!!!! they make me want to spark a doob RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!! fuck the crying about girls thats going on and pretend hes singing about burning flags.

    Track #5 - Boring Annoying and Dumb!

    Track #6 - real catchy, horrible vocals and lyrics. can't get into this one at all.

    Track #7 - woohoo!! this song is sweet, sounds like a GAY ASS (FUCKING GAY!) 1980s ass fisting coke binge goth fuck fest lifted from the cure's "dick integration" album but with the hooky, stadium ready guitar cum choruses you should be familiar with if you've listened to this cd up until this point. i know that description sounds awful, but i'm serious I LIKE THIS A LOT!

    Track #8 - hahaha terrible

    Track #9 - this is a dis track to crosstown rival gang the hymen bloods. starts off catchy and uptempo, then veers off into predictable pop song tom foolery. blah blah blah.

    Track #10 - back on track here, sounds a bit like older get up kids what with the jangly guitar picking, nicely constructed vocal lines as well!! nothing original, but another winner for brand new, the assholes!

    Track #11 - a terrible song about raping slave women.

    Track #12 - another awful song, this one is acoustic and slow, so it's twice as annoying!!!

    playing is top notch throughout, with a couple fewer songs and some things done differently in mixing/production this could have been an insanely good album, but the weak spots genericify it the fuck up. i still have to give them credit for coming out with something in the vein of "stuff that was played out three years before this was released" and injecting some serious life into it. it's pop music, but it's really good pop music. if you like hot rod circuit or the ten zillion bands that rip them off, or you are a hot 16 year old girl that wants to come suck my cock, you'll like this a lot.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 30, 2004 at 2:08 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    see, i think the vocal harmonies are a lot better on cd than live.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 at 4:09 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    make that 1.5 yrs til there on a major scott since u posted this review

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 27, 2003 at 11:32 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    This record is one of my favourite records i have ever listened ro and dont say i should listen to better music or listen to more! I 23 and have listened to Punk since i was 13. I listen to such bands as OPIV, Rancid, thrice, alakline Trio, Blink 182, The Distillers, The Descendants, Sick of it All, Taking Back Sunday and Green Day!

    And people who think Brand New suck are probably little boys and girls who think that drive thru is the best record label ever!

    fuck im cool!:)

    Shaun!

    Posted by suburbancore on 2003-06-17 15:25:21
    My Score:

    he wrote this review long before the TBS album was even out, so how could any research have been done?

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 16, 2003 at 9:47 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    brand new's nothing original. the only standout track was of course jude law. infectious tune, no doubt. but the rest were your typical pop punk shit. i couldnt really figure this album out. i mean, here's the lead singer who's like what? 24? and here he is singing sappy puppy love high school shit, and it's like dude, your 24 get over it.

    Posted by insinceredave on 2003-03-04 09:21:21
    My Score:

    i was distracted. its good.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 7, 2003 at 9:38 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    yeah dude do some research before u put out a review. Jesse the lead person in Brand NEw wrote the song seventy times 7 for his ex bestfriend the lead singer from taking back sunday becuase that guy slept with his girlfriend. I really think your a moron for saying that, know what your talking about before speak dude. by the way one fo the best albums ive ever listened to

    Posted by plowro on 2003-01-23 22:03:27
    My Score:

    It usually takes a couple of listens before I really get into an album. Your Favorite Weapon is probably the lone exception. I was instantly hooked the after the first listen. I'm a big fan of instrumental talent and creativity. A lot of people seem to think that bands like this have no talent and all sound the same. I disagree greatly. One of the biggest keys to my liking a song is its catchy sound. This band cannot be overmatched when comparing overall creativity, catchy-sounding riffs and lyrics. In my opinion, OUTSTANDING!

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 22, 2002 at 4:09 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Several things...... First of all, Scott, it was kind of out of line to say "most of the user-submitted reviews tend to consist of "dude, this rules, you should buy it cause evry song rox totally." That's offensive to every reviewer who ever puts in the effort to write a thoughtful review. Your website would be kinda empty without them. Nest, to CHOADIUS and bruceless: great comments. "Your friends are faggots" and "your friends suck." That's fuckin insightful. Because his friends were definitely the point of his review. To the anomymous guy who saw these guys in Poughkeepsie with NextIINothing (kinda shitty, although I have the CD cause they're local)... dude, you can't say Fizzlewink (aka "The Getaway") is the best band in the world. You really believe that? The best band in the world?? Finally, about the album -- I've only heard "Jude Law." The song rocks, there's no question, but yes, the harmonies can get really, really annoying. The lead singer is good, but the guy who does the backups it TOO LOUD. He's not supposed to be louder then the lead singer. It sounds unprofessional. --JP

    Posted by bruceless on 2002-08-25 22:10:57
    My Score:

    Your friends suck.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 7, 2002 at 2:57 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    well i bought the album and it kicks ass. nothing groundbreaking, but good newstyle pop punk. mostly like midtown, w/ touches of good charlotte(don't crucify me for that, listen to failure by design).if u ever heard digger it kinda sounds like them. a little. good vocal harmonies, catchy songs, clever lyrics. only problem is the production. if this was mark trombino or ryan green product it would probably get a 9 from me. but its low budget (understandably) production leaves the vocals gasping for more balls....if that makes sense.nothing to original, but if u are a pop punk fan, you'll like it. and taking back sudnay do kick major ass.but teh ataris suckm, mainly cuz of chris's lame ass lyrics in my opinion. NFG rule.and i smoked potw/ them b4. cool guys.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 4, 2002 at 10:34 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i'd like to thank scott, his opinions always jibe w/ mine. so i think i'll go by this, since i love poppunk. scott, u used teh word sardonic. that makes u sound smart, unlike my reviews.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 14, 2002 at 9:51 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i saw them last week with hot rod circuit...they seem talented, but their lyrics remind me of stuff i'd hear on either the radio, or Dawson's Creek. I thought it was pretty pathetic. In fact, i'm pretty sure they are a big joke and are laughing at everyone who actually thinks their band is good. It's a strong possibility.

    "If you were a phone you'd still be off the hook." -Brand New
    what the fuck is that all about?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 19, 2002 at 11:57 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    after downloading the mp3 for "jude law and a semester abroad" i had to get this record...suprisingly it was pretty easy to find at my local best buy...it's amazing...i don't listen to it that much but i get it stuck in my head a lot...about 2 or 3 songs have lead vocals like New Found Glory and it's a little annoying but i love the rest of their vocals with their other singer screaming...um it's cool

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 18, 2002 at 10:59 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    brand new is an amazing band and they are some of the coolest nicest guys. and taking back sunday is also an amazing band and they are awesome guys. they both rock so hard.

    Posted by Aubin on 2002-02-18 15:30:27
    My Score:

    I agree with you Scott. This is a great record, except for "The No Seatbelt Song" which is way too goth-rock for me.

    Posted by evildeadalive on 2002-02-16 19:08:00
    My Score:

    Alabama Worley is hot.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 15, 2002 at 4:08 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    alabama lol

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 14, 2002 at 12:05 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    http://www.ipackedmybags.cjb.net go there and listen to "I Packed My Bags a Year In Advance" the new album from Huntsville, Alabama's very own: Curbside Service!

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 13, 2002 at 8:13 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    I saw them live @ the chance in Poughkeepsie, NY back maybe 2 or 3 months ago. They played a kick ass show with Taking Back Sunday, Next II Nothing, and The Getaway(best band in the world), any ways They guys were cool at the time I met them. But, now I hear they talk shit about all the bands at that show. So, in my opinion Brand New Sucks as people. But, the cd is ok.

    Posted by maverick on 2002-02-11 13:38:11
    My Score:

    Actually, we all kinda think Mike is gay. If he ever comes out of the closet, I'll be sure to let you know, so you can feel better about yourself for calling random people "faggots." Deal?

    -Scott

    Posted by CHOADIUS on 2002-02-11 02:44:18
    My Score:

    your friends are faggots.

    Posted by savesthedaypunk on 2002-02-10 19:25:38
    My Score:

    If you guys wanna hear a good underground band get " fifth hour hero" i havent heard a better band then them. i was the one who said the thing about moshing while playing (i dunno why it came up anonymous) but fifth hour hero played that same show to and they were termendous, Breaking Pangaea's pretty good to.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 10, 2002 at 5:50 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Taking back Sunday blows brand new right out of the water. Cant wait for the new album. This one is well, alright i guess. Song 3 is just the most blink 182ish song I've heard.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 10, 2002 at 1:29 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    How come when I reviewed this album about three months ago everyone replied said they hated this band, now everyone loves them. Good review my friend. Everyone keep a lookout for another great band from Long Island New York called Taking Back Sunday, they have a debut lp titled "Tell All Your Friends" coming out on Victory Records.

    Posted by Josip on 2002-02-10 08:46:13
    My Score:

    i like this album a lot but didnt ANYONE notice, that "the shower scene" starts exactly as "the signs" by i against i?

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 10, 2002 at 3:02 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    I enjoy this alubum.. Some times.

    I always skip song 4 (mixtape) just because, well, it reeks crappyness. There are good songs, but there are also shitty ones.

    I'd buy it, in fact, i did.

    Posted by maverick on 2002-02-09 22:56:34
    My Score:

    To Chimerical Burst:
    Dude, I give bad reviews all the time. Click on my "View All Reviews" link above and take a look at all the albums I've given low scores to. I didn't give this a low score because it's good. At least I justified myself, whereas most of the user-submitted reviews tend to consist of "dude, this rules, you should buy it cause evry song rox totally."

    -Scott

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 9, 2002 at 10:48 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Theres nothing wrong with the ataris. any way, I saw these guys in a basement show before anyone knew of them a while back and they were great. The bassest was moshing in the middle of songs. Great band, great album, great people.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 9, 2002 at 7:21 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i know this isn't buddyhead, and this certainly isn't the band nor the record, but does this site ever post bad reviews? or am i only interested in bands that get good reviews? or am i a self-indulgent asshole?

    -chimerical burst

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 9, 2002 at 6:16 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Just to nitpick and be a scene asshole, Drive-thru is basically a major. Drive-thru is a feeder label to MCA.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 9, 2002 at 6:00 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    this albums off the hook
    I dont know how to classify it but as just a plain out kick ass record

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 9, 2002 at 5:02 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I was going to blast these guys, assuming you were exaggerating how good they are. They're alright, nothing too spectacular though. Still they're not painful to listen to like New Found Glory or the Ataris.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 9, 2002 at 4:39 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    The more I listen to this, the more I think it is an excellent album. It definitely warrants a rave review. Your friends sound great, Scott, but you don't need to justify how good the album is by saying that they like it.