WK23 - Brand New - Daisy (8.5)

Released - 9/22/09

Label - DGC Records

Blurb - This comes at you hard. Very Hard. Just listen to the opening track. There's just a piano and female singing and then BOOM! The best and most aggressive song on the album, 'Vices' explodes into your headphones. Yet, this isn't a sign of things to come. This record is very dark, yet musically varied. Brand New does a great job evolving and transcending genres here. 'Daisy,' if predictably, is not your standard emo release. There is a certain grunge and alternative feel to this recording, awakening a genre that was all but dead. Is it there best release? No - 'Deja Entendu' holds that title, but this is definitely up there.

Rating - 8.5 out of 10

Full Story - Angst-ridden and very down tempo, 'Daisy' is the very sought after fourth release from emo-rockers Brand New. The band burst on the scene the better part of a decade ago as an energetic pop-punk band that relied on lyrical connections to their audience and a full throttle live show. As the years have past, Brand New have altered their sound and image, and never relied on producing something that they were supposed to produce. The reason that Brand New is still relevant and successful today, is the same reason that Thursday and Saves the Day aren't. Adaptation and expression.

The new record, 'Daisy,' exploits this feat brilliantly. When I first listened to it, I was like...woah...is this Brand New? There is such a classic feel to this record, not sounding of this decade. The tracks sound something like Nirvana meets Pearl Jam meets Thrice. A very odd formula. Obviously they didn't set out to create this record with the soul intent of appearing to be, 'grunge' now. This is just what is coming out.

With all Brand New records, the focus point tends to be the lyrical content. With this particular release, I feel Brand New did an excellent job providing a more genuine musical tapestry for their lyrics to rest upon. With 'Your Favorite Weapon' and 'Deja Entendu,' when the band wanted to really express themselves, the music was generally either very polished or acoustic. Not the case here. On 'Daisy,' melancholy songs sound melancholy, aggressive songs sound aggressive and uplifting songs sound uplifting. You get the picture. 'Gasoline,' 'Bought a Bride' and 'Bed' are all great examples of their music finally supporting their lyrical content.

For all you old school Brand New fans, I'm not sure if you're going to enjoy this. There aren't any true singles on this disc and the album as a whole is very interpretive. However, if you are open to change and evolving your musical palette, this album is definitely for you. It might take some patience and an open mind, but 'Daisy' is for the music listener that 'gets it.'

Tracks

1.) Vices

2.) Bed

3.) At the Bottom

4.) Gasoline

5.) You Stole

6.) Be Gone

7.) Sink

8.) Bought a Bride

9.) Daisy

10.) In a Jar

11.) Noro