Brand New Band • Page 493

I got into Brand New about 5 years ago, and therefore don't really have that much nostalgia associated with Deja, and can't really understand what about it is juvenile.

 

It's pop punk Bright Eyes, what about that isn't juvenile?

 

I've never listened to Bright Eyes, so I can't relate to that.

 

On my best day ever, I won't be able to write hooks like that or create a vibe that that album gives people. An album that despite what people have listened to or generally prefer, still clicks and is enjoyable. Jesse's lyricism on songs like Tommy Gun, Sic Transit Glory, Play Crack The Sky, and ..All I Have To Do Is Die is incomparable. I don't love this album because it came out when I was younger, I love this album because it's an album that's easily lovable for being so unique and genre-blending. Then they did it again with TDAG, completely unique and gripping. That was when they became the iconic band in my head.

 

Deja isn't Pop-Punk though.

 

Pop Punk Bright Eyes, right. And now I know this argument is moot.

 

It's pop punk meets Bright Eyes, lol did people read my post? (Also my point was pretty clear and people instead focusing on the semantics of genre labels is so predictable.)

 

Pretty much what I decided when you let it be known that writing great songs is a prerequisite for critiquing any music at all.

 

It doesn't sound like Bright Eyes either

 

Do you really not think so? That's a very commonly used comparison.

 

Considering my two favorite bands are Phish and Brand New, I still can't get over the utter absurdity of this random Reddit thread from yesterday.

 

Can you put it in different terms, though? I'm genuinely interested in hearing your opinion and trying to understand what about the album you dislike, but so far you haven't described it in a way that makes sense to me. It's cool if we disagree about the record, I just literally don't understand what about the album would be considered juvenile.

 

Correct, I truly do not think they sound like Bright Eyes.

 

Big fan of Bright Eyes, never have I thought Brand New sounds like a Bright Eyes.

 

Songs like Sic Transit Gloria and Me vs. Maradona vs. Elvis come across as juvenile/immature thematically, and other songs - for example, The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot - deal with pretty typical themes, but just not in a way that's new or interesting to me. Lyrically, most songs have such a self-important, faux-profound vibe, and musically, it just seems painfully obvious that it's a pop-punk band trying to get "deeper". I should add that I heard this album first in 2012, so I'd already listened to some of the influences at work here and thus didn't consider this album to be anything new or revolutionary. That's why it seems to me that nostalgia must play a large role in many people's opinions of it.

 

I have actually never heard this. Outstanding, brilliant. You have done well in my eyes, much better than Kakarot!

 

i really admire @Raditz commitment to his bit

 

Thanks for expounding on that. I don't think I'd use the word "juvenile," but I'd agree that Deja was very clearly a transitional album for them that only really hints at what they'd go on to do with TDAG and Daisy. I'd venture to guess that I like Deja more than you do, but it certainly has its flaws and is more like the bridge between their origins and (what I consider) their magnum opus.

 

I wouldn't use the word juvenile, or group it with YFW. It's clearly a transitional album.

 

Deja > Daisy

*** lobs grenade and runs away ***

 

It's true though

 

Yeah, I tried for a long time to get into it before giving up and decided that I just didn't like he band before TDAG. I guess I can thank Deja for paving the way for those later albums, but it's just not something I like on its own merit.

 

I get equal enjoyment from both records, depending on my mood.

 

I've preferred Daisy to Deja since the first listen hah

 

Yeah, that's absolutely fair.