Brand New

Brand New: DaisyDaisy (2009)
Universal Music Group

Reviewer Rating: 4

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Contributed by: InaGreendaseBrian
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on September 22nd 2009To say hype surrounds the release of Brand New's Daisy is as inordinate an understatement as the actual record is itself. A little more immediate than 2006's The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me and considerably more economical (talking 14 minutes shorter here), Daisy nonetheless continues further.

To say hype surrounds the release of Brand New's Daisy is as inordinate an understatement as the actual record is itself. A little more immediate than 2006's The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me and considerably more economical (talking 14 minutes shorter here), Daisy nonetheless continues further down the darker, deliberate path set by that monstrous, solemn record. With each passing studio full-length, the number of "upbeat" songs Brand New have respectively placed on their albums has dissipated, and Daisy is clearly no exception (read: there is no happy here).

Compared to Devil and God, the dynamics of the record are much, much more obvious and up front when strangely invigorating opener "Vices" transitions from a curiously long, sampled sermon recording of Bertrand Brown's "On Life's Highway" circa 1922 into an absolutely jarring and jolting, rhythmic blast. Bassist Garrett Tierney and drummer Brian Lane absolutely bring it here, a thumping rhythm section that provides a pleasantly cloying foundation to the noisest, most intense song in the band's canon yet -- vocalist/guitarist Jesse Lacey screaming cryptic musings and creepily singing self-interrogatives while guitarist Vin Accardi adds broken chords and fractured riffs. It's like the Jesus Lizard at their best, informed by (post-)hardcore disc(h)ordance with uncomfortable undercurrents of melody bleeding through it all.

On that note, Tierney is a surprising standout on record. His absolutely ugly, wavering lines in the second half of both Daisy's title track and depressingly anthemic closer "Noro" add a stomach-churning dimension to unwinding momentum, and he blisteringly bubbles below the surface of the abrupt tempo changes and corrosively concussive nature of "Gasoline." His cautious rising and falling motions for "You Stole"'s close add an interesting flair.

Generally, the album is looser, yet more dense than the band have tended to in the past. Producer Mike Sapone provided a hell of a template for Devil and God but largely seems to have abandoned it here, as much as the band's stylistic shift is probably a contributor. Less post-rock sparkly and clean, warm tones, the roomy recording is sometimes raw, otherwise fussily clustered in careful reverb and effects heightening tension.

Though its influences are easy to pick out, Brand New distills them more than well enough throughout Daisy's destructive course. Jagged interpretations of '90s alternative and indie rock are smeared across the board, a livid love of labor longing with subtle experimental motives and stop-start shuttering; it's a bit like an even more wrought yet time-condensed expansion on the self-titled EP released by friends Colour Revolt in 2006. Modest Mouse is a common namedrop ("At the Bottom") for one, but when speaking of the album as a whole, In Utero is a sensible parallel to draw: A couple of cathartic, loud fits of agitation with frequent guitar squalls and a spastic, searing Lacey ("Gasoline," "Bought a Bride") are interspersed among slower restraints coated in a southern drawl and Lacey's quieter discontent ("Bed"), as well as the song(s) that combine them ("In a Jar"). "Be Gone" is a Dixieland blues interlude, a practical Tom Waits nod with Lacey's vocals distorted with the same effect one might get from quickly clapping their hands over both ears.

It's said that for the first time in the band's career, Accardi handled the majority of the songwriting. If that's true for certain tracks, his lyrical foundations sometimes fall short of the band's potential ("Daisy"'s metaphors strangely blunt, curt and a little repetitive), but sometimes perfect for the procedure: "You Stole" is a breathy, somber six-minute conversion of common, crutched phrases into a vague critique of self or otherwise ("I wish that my condition was new, / but I'm old and rusting. / ... / I pretend like I got something to say, / but I've got nothin'. / ... / From the cradles they were robbed in, / you took the first words that they spoke... / yeah, you stole.").

This album is not the game-changer critics and fans may have expected, but it's an unquestionably forceful, potent and cohesive effort all the same. While arguably short of the sky-high marks set on previous endeavors, Daisy is a nonetheless great album and compelling addition to an already devastating discography.

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Daisy

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

boba_fett (October 28, 2009)

i suppose if you like random noise, then you'll like this.

that said, i think it's balls.

insinceredave (September 29, 2009)

iJackSparrow: You are wrong

iJackSparrow (September 27, 2009)

This record is not half as good as people pretend or invent. I like the how the same reviewer who wrote this did a New Again review next, like shitting over New Again would make this record become any good.

Guess what, I'll take Taking Back Sunday's New Again over Brand New's Daisy any day.

smits (September 25, 2009)

Glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks this band blows.

ffwoodycooks (September 24, 2009)

its still blasphemy.
theyre nowhere near as good as Jesus Lizard were/is

inagreendase (September 23, 2009)

Chad: Good thing this is an album and not live review, then.

Chadreligion (September 23, 2009)

Blasphemy on saying this could be The Jesus Lizard at their best.
Have you ever seen the Jesus Lizard live?
I've seen both of these bands live, and the Jesus Lizard would eat these guys up. shit them out, and eat them again.

branden (September 23, 2009)

i kinda like it. don't really dig all of the lyrics, but there's some good noisy melodies here.

damnitsderek (September 23, 2009)

I saw these guys at the Puyallup Fair, and am still wondering how Coheed and Cambria got billed as the headliner over them.

And why Jaguar Love was opening for both bands.

And why people listen to Jaguar Love.

shawnlw (September 23, 2009)

Well this review just about hits the nail right on the freakin' head. Not the gigantic leap forward I had come to expect from the band, but exciting, addictive, and jarringly defiant of expectations all the same. No one can say they haven't lived up to their name.

keith19 (September 23, 2009)

It took me a few listens, but this record grows on you. I still think Deja is their best though.

scientistrock (September 22, 2009)

I was never into Brand New, but I am digging this so far.

Misanthropee (September 22, 2009)

When the first paragraph of an article is mostly adjectives and adverbs, you know someone's trying to pull wool over your eyes.

I know how wack this is, and even the most turgid review won't change my mind. God damned fanboys.

TeaEssAre (September 22, 2009)

i'll always love this band, and Daisy is pretty good, but i wish they didn't rely so much on being "raw" for this album. there are moments of brilliance, but the intentional sloppiness (see all nirvana comparisons) really gets kind of annoying/just isn't that good.

on a side note: i'd like to see how long it takes them to write their next record (...if there will be one)

RedElephant (September 22, 2009)

got this on a leak about a month ago.. first couple songs, really did not think it was Brand New whatsoever.

good album.. still don't know how it ranks with the rest of theirs though.. they're one of those few bands where it's near impossible to rank their albums just because each bring something new to the table, and each seems so drastically different from the other.

eatdogs (September 22, 2009)

i liked this more than TDAGARIM.

colin (September 22, 2009)

lol @ seldom does all the time in the world to record and experiment in a thousand dollar/day studio ever materialize into anything fruitful

they recorded the whole thing in a basement over the course of like nine months.

also, this band has always done what people don't really expect to hear. this is nothing different. it's pretty great for that reason alone. but kids on this site seem to have a standing hatred of this band so whatever.

Michael_Jackson_Jordan (September 22, 2009)

I'm pretty indifferent towards this album. I thought the first track was kind of cool because it was noisy and was something I hadn't heard from BN, yet. The rest kind of drags and sounds like they're trying to get over the hill they started climbing during TDAGARIOM, but just can't. That Modest Mouse ripoff song is kinda upsetting now, too, because I would've rather them just done an entire album that sounded like MM so at least I could make sense of why they did so in the first place. Now that song sounds like they are just trying to make a quick grab at indie rock fans since that's the trendy genre of the moment.

And just to throw this out there, while I feel TDAGARIOM was an okay album, it sounded to me like forced pretension for the sake of "growth", and this does, too. While its songs were about young love and all that bullshit, I think Deja Entendu was BN's best and also served as one of the last real "emo" albums put out before "emo" totally went off course.

R3vengeTherapy (September 22, 2009)

I knew this review would bring out the hilarious trolls. You guys seem so convinced that calling this band and this album "dog shit" (highly original) will actually sway someone who cares about music.

I like to think that it never would, but you know, you might convince some of the less intelligent people.

Devil and God was a tremendous record, and this, well. This hasn't done it for me. But maybe with time. I will say that I absolutely hate "Vices" and I wish they'd never recorded it. I can't stand it. But then it settles into a rhythm that reminds me of an old Lawrence Arms record. ANGRY FAST / relaxed / ANGRY FAST / relaxed...etc. Not sure that dynamic works for Brand New. I'll continue to spin it for the songs I really enjoy and maybe the rest will follow. Stranger things have happened.

telegraphrocks (September 22, 2009)

"hang it up guys (and take thrice with you)"

I'll support that.

taargus (September 22, 2009)

i can't think of too many bands on majors that make good music once they reach 'the big time.' the same can be said for afi. i dig these guys, but i think they should stop making music, for now at least. i'm not at all saying go back to past albums (that were good) and rehash those songs, but this isn't anything i would even download or waste hard drive space on, as a fan or a consumer. this is an album that a dying band would make. the fucking modest mouse rip off is so beneath these guys, seeing as i regard modest mouse among the dumbest of bands that idiots once gave cred to. seldom does all the time in the world to record and experiment in a thousand dollar/day studio ever materialize into anything fruitful. hang it up guys (and take thrice with you)

deadxlast (September 22, 2009)

Great album from one of my favorite bands. Lol @ the comments. I don't even feel like I need to defend the band; the attacks are all so inane.

Awesome how people throw bitch fits about how lame their old stuff was because it was just whiny pop-punk, and then bitch about this because it's masturbatory and "experimental", and THEN say that Deja Entendu was the best even though it was arguably the most genre-derivative sound they ever had.

Anyway; album rules. The guys' influences show through more recently, I think.

thewayitshouldbe (September 22, 2009)

Very disappointing. Not even half as good as the last album.

telegraphrocks (September 22, 2009)

I loathe this band, but I still listened to this so I can justify being an asshole (self-justify... suck one ball).

This albums sucks.

drugmoney (September 22, 2009)

This is not that good at all, I don't even listen to it anymore. After hearing this and the new Thrice, I don't think I will be going to their show on Halloween night. Still this is better than the new Thrice.

HankScorpio (September 22, 2009)

And to be clear, I'm not trying to start anything, I just really can't stand that band.

HankScorpio (September 22, 2009)

"Says the guy who has heard two of their eighties albums and judged an entire ridiculously varied accomplished career. Stop trying so hard to "mature". I accept if people genuinely don't like Bad Religion, but anyone whose reasoning is that "everything they do sounds the same" clearly have not actually listened to enough of their music to make a judgement.

Also, ripping off Modest Mouse on one song and mewithoutYou on another does not equal talent. The Devil and God was an amazing album, and this one is a piece of trash."

In actuality, I've heard every single album they've put out, and while there are subtle differences (and admittedly an album or two that are out of step), the formula pretty much stays the same. I'm not trying to be mature, don't say things you don't know. I honestly do not like Bad Religion at all, if only because their sound bores the shit out of me. The only good thing to come out of Greg Graffin are his lyrics and views on atheism. Sure, they're accomplished, but so is Nickelback for that matter.

mikexdude (September 22, 2009)

I think I'm actually going to agree with KevinJames for once.

KevinJamesSuperFan (September 22, 2009)

...Or Nirvana for that matter, but saying anything these guys do sounds "like Jesus Lizard at their best" is fucking absurd.

scruffy (September 22, 2009)

"Says the guy jocking the band that makes the same exact boring album for 30 years.

I know, I know, there are some "different" sounding ones, but come on... Bad Religion is awful, I don't see how anyone likes them, let alone thinks they're better than Brand New.

Just my opinion."

Says the guy who has heard two of their eighties albums and judged an entire ridiculously varied accomplished career. Stop trying so hard to "mature". I accept if people genuinely don't like Bad Religion, but anyone whose reasoning is that "everything they do sounds the same" clearly have not actually listened to enough of their music to make a judgement.

Also, ripping off Modest Mouse on one song and mewithoutYou on another does not equal talent. The Devil and God was an amazing album, and this one is a piece of trash.

KevinJamesSuperFan (September 22, 2009)

I just hate to hear a band like this get compared to the Jesus Lizard.

HankScorpio (September 22, 2009)

"This record and this band really fucking suck!
Do Not waste time, money, computer space, or pot on this turd!"

Says the guy jocking the band that makes the same exact boring album for 30 years.

I know, I know, there are some "different" sounding ones, but come on... Bad Religion is awful, I don't see how anyone likes them, let alone thinks they're better than Brand New.

Just my opinion.

Chadreligion (September 22, 2009)

This record and this band really fucking suck!
Do Not waste time, money, computer space, or pot on this turd!

acris (September 22, 2009)

it's okay, which is pretty disappointing for a band that put out such awesome releases like deja and devil and god.

SydBarrett420 (September 22, 2009)

No use in taking anything out of SydBarrett's comments anymore, as we all know he's the douche in the cowboy hat and pickup with the windows down blaring 311 singing every word as loud as he can

Sorry, I have never owned a cowboy hat or a pickup truck and this album is indeed dogshit. It's not chaotic, it's not experimental, its just shit.

Oh and fuck you because Grassroots/Transistor = Anything Brand New has ever put out and that is a fuckin fact, Jack,

Piata (September 22, 2009)

It's good but it's not great. It feels very scattered and unorganized; one minute amazing, the next bizarre.

pufferfish (September 22, 2009)

Brand New and Thrice? Apples and Oranges.

I haven't listened to Daisy enough to really judge it...so I won't.

Dante3000 (September 22, 2009)

aw matt, it's like you're a little scoot heisel 2.0. how thoughtful.

So, the enemy of your enemy IS your enemy.
-Dante

HankScorpio (September 22, 2009)

I don't think there should be a BN vs. Thrice debate at all, they're two very (good and) different bands who just happen to be good friends...

Jeffernator (September 22, 2009)

Really bad. They've always been that way.

thatsyouth (September 22, 2009)

Here we go with the never ending Thrice vs Brand New debate.

nocigar (September 22, 2009)

No use in taking anything out of SydBarrett's comments anymore, as we all know he's the douche in the cowboy hat and pickup with the windows down blaring 311 singing every word as loud as he can.

This record is fucking chaotic and awesome. really grown on me, in fact, this is one of my favorites this year. "Bought a Bride" is insane.

colin (September 22, 2009)

aw matt, it's like you're a little scoot heisel 2.0. how thoughtful.

mattramone (September 22, 2009)

Are we still making Modest Mouse jokes? Cause those were fucking spot on.

I wish these guys, Thursday, and Thrice would break up so Colin would finally go away.

switcharoo (September 22, 2009)

I nothing this album, much like devil and god

ddb43 (September 22, 2009)

So far I'm not digging it. Maybe w/ a few more listens if I give it that much more time.

And this statement: "Better than the latest Thrice at least." is blasphemy!!

HeresLookinAtYou (September 22, 2009)

"This was disappointing on first listen but has definitely grown on me over the past couple of weeks. I especially enjoy the second half of the album. This is a little bit more understated than Devil and God but a pretty good. Better than the latest Thrice at least."

This. Except that I've really been digging the first half ("Vices","Gasoline", "At The Bottom") more than the second so far.

inagreendase (September 22, 2009)

They could release any pile of crap and their fans would still defend it as 'different' and experimental'

Well, for the band, it's inarguably different. But compared to other bands (i.e. the ones I mentioned), not so much.

Problematiclogic (September 22, 2009)

They could release any pile of crap and their fans would still defend it as 'different' and experimental'

They just did.

wearestillalive (September 22, 2009)

Every other review of this album has been kind of negative and whining that it's just not as good as Devil and God. Finally a review that makes me excited to hear the record, judges it on it's own merits and doesn't say stupid things about the band's history. I was pretty sure that Brian would post a better review of this than most others, and I can't wait for my copy to show up. Resisting all the streams and leaks is hard work.

sexualsunshine (September 22, 2009)

I actually like this a lot. Fuck me. I really didn't want to like this band. Some parts sound like Frodus to me.

sexualsunshine (September 22, 2009)

Never gave a shit about this band before... but listening to the stream right now and this album sounds kinda cool. I like the huge post-hardcore influence that i'm guessing is new for them.

insinceredave (September 22, 2009)

Good review, its got me looking forward to the record now.

SydBarrett420 (September 22, 2009)

This record is complete garbage. The songs all meander around for 3:00 and then end.

The experimentation, if you can call it that, is shit.

What a boring useless album. This dogshit makes the new Every Time I Die album seem like a masterpiece.

HankScorpio (September 22, 2009)

This is very, very good. Not as good as The Devil and God (but then, how could it be?), but as good as Deja, in a completely different way. I agree about "Bought A Bride" being better acoustic, but other than that, very few missteps.

LeightonESmith (September 22, 2009)

This was disappointing on first listen but has definitely grown on me over the past couple of weeks. I especially enjoy the second half of the album. This is a little bit more understated than Devil and God but a pretty good. Better than the latest Thrice at least.

theproblemwithfire (September 22, 2009)

i bought this at target today. i guess they put it out too early. still warming up to it...

conebone69 (September 22, 2009)

I'd call this Brand New's best release to date.

It's essentially "Devil and God..Pt.2" but refined

"Deja Entendu" much like Against Me's "Reinventing Axl Rose" is good but severely overated.

Dante3000 (September 22, 2009)

Brand New?! But Heisel had this like two months ago. More like "Stale Debate".
-Dante

colin (September 22, 2009)

also the acoustic version of bought a bride on the myspace stream KILLS IT.

mikexdude (September 22, 2009)

Not a huge Brand new fan, this is pretty good though. The last album was better.

Blackjaw_ (September 22, 2009)

The only album of theirs that's at all special in my opinion is TDAGARIM.

colin (September 22, 2009)

solid review.

i will add that this is brand new's best album. it's the only record (and i am pretty sure time will hold this up) that there are no blatantly skippable tracks (some might disagree with me on "be gone"). however there are no individual songs that can really hold up to the best tracks on "the devil and god."

i find the dual lacey / arcadia lyrics to add to the almost paranoid / schizophrenic nature of the album. it's two very distinct voices paralleling each other song after song. however i do miss lacey's complete storytelling style. although i wonder if it really would have fit in on most of these songs.

"bought a bride" is tremendous - the drumming is fantastic in that.

probably album of the year right here.

thus_spoke_sean (September 22, 2009)

"livid love of labor longing "

....love it.

thepopeofchili-town (September 22, 2009)

Album of the year. Reviewed it, forgot to submit it, I guess now I don't have to.... Great review.

saint_jake (September 22, 2009)

Don't love it, don't hate it.

pop_wreck (September 22, 2009)

I don't know, I just don't know. I love this band and always will, but... I don't love this album. "Be Gone" is the best track here, and that's saying something (it's an interlude). "At The Bottom" is one of the best they've written, and there are a few others that reach as high, but the lack of melody and structure does not suit them. Brand New were always a band that could take despair and make it catchy, and this record is not catchy. And when it sounds like it's about to be, you want it to be, and then it isn't, which is disappointing. It's a good album, to be clear, but it simply does not match The Devil and God, Deja Entendu, or YFW in terms of replay value. An EP of the five or six amazing tunes would have been better.

24hourpriapism (September 22, 2009)

score's for the saetia reference.

deja entendu is the best album brand new will ever make.