Brand New - Science Fiction (August 17, 2017) [ARCHIVED] Album • Page 637

I also think the writing style was very unique for its time and still heavily influences many young bands. The tracks each individually stand out for various instrumentation choices and highlights. On top of that, they structured the album tracks perfectly.

 

lol

 

the songwriting on deja is like, maybe one notch above YFW

 

My least favorite Brand New anything? That weird ass intro into Missing You.

 

-Defended blakebeats
-Songwriting on Deja is better

Blake, is that you?!

 

Although it's in my bottom 3, I could see No Control being a single (hypothetically, of course). The chorus is constantly stuck in my head.

 

It's not only the nostalgia for me (but there's a factor there), it's a connection to the songs that has remained all these years later. They really do resonate with me. They feel like an old pair of jeans, perfectly fitting and comfortable, and something that just feels right.

 

Same. Maybe not best in terms of atmosphere or lyrics and all, but on any given day it could be my favorite

 

Yeah, I totally get where you're coming from! There's definitely a connection with a record that's been so important to you so long. It'll always be an all-time favorite.

 

Yeah, idk if there are any songs on TDAG that resonate with me as deeply as a lot of tracks on Deja. There's clearly amazing songs on both, Deja is like comfort food though. Very few albums have the same effect on me.


With that being said, though, there is good songwriting on the album. Maybe not technically profound or complicated or whatever, but songs like Quiet Things or Boy or Tommy Gun are all well structured and contain really great melodies

 

ridicurous

 

Science Fiction is a really great amalgamation of all of their previous works. Additionally, Jesse's lyrics show how much he's matured, while still incorporating some classically dark themes even though he's in a totally different stage in life. To me this album says, "This is what Brand New is all about." It's very good, great even, and I'm sure it will continue to grow on me. TDAG has the advantage of being able to take me back to high school which was understandably a tumultuous time in my life and it will probably always be number one when it comes to their albums.

 

How did bands profit from music videos before though? From TV channels paying to license the song? At least YouTube videos are direct to that video with possible band playlist on queue (rather than uncontrolled shuffle via TV music channels) and it's easier to promote via sharing. But yeah, I suppose the budget cons outweigh the pros.

Tbf I can't say I watch music videos much myself anymore but it is a shame. Just had a BN video binge too... Gotta love Sic Transit.

 

I'm glad we agree Daisy is the best

 

it just seems like a digitized version of the george lopez theme song for me haha

 

This is hilarious and I hate it

 

"Aaaand it's me, your friendly neighborhood blakebeats"

 

Hey don't get me wrong I thought his opinions were almost universally questionable, to say the least. I just also think that while he did a good bit of calling negative attention to himself, a large portion of y'alls interactions with him were him being ganged up on for having the wrong opinions. To me, he was annoying at his worst, but harmless - the kind of person who might contribute more than just being a punching bag if he was allowed to stick around long enough to "figure it out," so to speak.

As far as TDAG, I really just don't think it's more than "good" - it's darker and the work of a more musically experienced band, sure, but melodically I think Deja is equally if not more respectable. Lyrically you have a few real standouts like Jesus and Limousine, but Deja's lyrics have also been unfairly maligned in this thread as immature and cliche - they're clever enough to make the mid-20s Jesse hubris work, and for the most part are strong. While they're from a perspective that was more interesting to me as a teenager, I don't find that it has lost validity as I've gotten older. I won't go so far as to say the immaturity of the speaker is a feature, but I don't really see it as a bug, either. There's a fondness for TDAG's lyrics here that glosses right over its missteps - nothing on Deja is nearly as bad as Handcuffs or Not the Sun. (That those songs also bring little to the table musically doesn't help). In truth, I think Jesse has always been a solid lyricist with moments of brilliance rather than a consistent genius. The leap between his words on the two records is exaggerated (and even Soco Amaretto Lime holds its own against a considerable amount of his later material).

I won't fault anyone for preferring TDAG, but the badge of honor some seem to wear for putting down Deja as merely good because of nostalgia, or good only for its time is pretty laughable to me. It's a very good pop-focused alternative rock record, which is not inherently lesser than one that aims darker.

 

Can't Get It Out premiered on my local alternative rock station last night on the Fresh New Spin show. I don't really listen to radio that is not satelitte anymore but it was cool to see that on social media. Also I second the fact that it plays on Alt Nation heard it already at least 2-3 times

 

I seriously judge people who like Deja more than devil and God

 

im so glad you picked it for that "scene classics" podcast you drew and thomas did (thanks again for that, i was the one who asked yall to do that topic lol) i loved hearing your thoughts on it especially as someone who was there when it dropped. like you said, it changed the game big time

 

I seriously judge people who judge people over what albums they like.

 

I would agree with this 100%

 

Deja Entendu was the reason I discovered so many other favorite albums that I cant really be mad at it, even if it isnt my favorite anymore. If not for Deja I probably wouldnt have heard The Ugly Organ, Volcano, Trainwreck, Vheissu, plus all the albums that it made me GO BACK and check out like Worship & Tribute. I mean idk obviously its hard to tell and maybe I wouldve eventually discovered these albums but I first heard Deja in like 08 and immediately started looking for albums that sounded like it or at the very least kinda had that same impact.

 

JAY