Let’s get this straight:
This isn’t emo Brand New. This isn’t punk rock Brand New. And this sure isn’t indie Brand New.
“Daisy,” the fourth studio album from Brand New, is in a whole league of its own.
Just like their band name implies, Brand New has yet again redefined their sound, abandoning nearly all ties to their prior releases.
While being known for a severe degree of emotion and rawness in their music, “Daisy” is a front row seat on a rollercoaster that portrays the agony and struggles of the members of Brand New.
Fans were skeptical in wake of the release of the new album when they heard that guitarist Vincent Accardi wrote most of the music on the album, an assignment that is usually delegated to lead singer Jesse Lacey.
But in “Daisy’s” case, relieving Lacey from songwriting duties has opened up the band’s sound and once again given them an edge over their peers.
“Vices” opens up the album with a haunting sample that is reminiscent of something you’d hear in a horror movie.
“Far away from any road, froze my heart in solitude,” Lacey interrupts and screams as the sample fades away and the assault of drums, bass and guitars ensue.
The band’s first single off the album, “At the Bottom,” sits at the beginning of the record, and while it is slower than other tracks, its lyrical density makes up for any lack of adrenaline rushes.
“And if I wanted to die before I got old, I should have started some years ago digging that hole,” sings Lacey.
“You Stole” is a frantic track that ultimately ends up sounding like Lacey having a shouting match with himself.
A constant back-and-forth of clean vocals and slow tempo chords versus gut-wrenching screams and loud distortion are one of the hardest hitting tracks on “Daisy.”
Brand New wraps up the 11-track album with “Daisy,” “In a Jar” and “Noro”, arguably the three best tracks on the album.
The combination and diversity of these songs accumulate at the end of the album to produce one of the finest musical finales in the last few years.
While most bands usually tend to become more commercial as they release new material, Brand New strays far away from this path.
Their fourth album and running, they have broken every sound barrier and everyone’s expectations, whether good or bad, because these guys don’t make music for you.
They make music for themselves.