Thursday Tunes for 10/8/2009

Good Morning, Faithful Readers!!!

Well it's Thursday - and you know what that means - tune approval time.

Back by popular demand is the top-ten format,... with a bit of a twist.

This week, I'll be dishing on my all-time TOP-TEN songs by...

BRAND NEW

Now for those of you unaware of this band.... hmm... well I guess there's really nothing more I can do for you. They've been around since 2000. If it's been 10 years and you've managed to not even hear OF the band, we can no longer be friends. Chances are, we weren't to begin with, so it all comes out in the wash.

For those of you who'd like to see what made it to the top ten, or have only heard a select few from this revolutionary quintet and would like to find more suggestions to illegally download, here ya go:

10) Me Vs. Maradona Vs. Elvis - off Deja Entendu (2003) - First off, just go BUY Deja Entendu. Other than the fact that downloading is stealing (haha), it'd save you the time, and it's an all-around outstanding musical acheivment. There's literally NO WAY you could POSSIBLY be disappointed. But back to this song in particular - this laid back homage to the REALITY of the late-night hook up will shake you to the core. With the stereotypical quiet beginning the Brand New fans have become quite familiar with, the song builds in intensity and outright viciousness. "I will lie awake, lie for for fun and fake the way I hold you. Then you'll fall for every empty word I say." Hey - at least he put it on the table to begin with. Some guys won't even give ya that much!

9) Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don't - off Deja Entendu (2003) - FANTASTIC lyrical work on this track set to a seemingly innocent, quiet beat... until approxmiatley 2 minutes into the piece when the characteristic craziness kicks in. Need something to jam out to after a long day? You're welcome. "I hope you come down with something they can't diagnose, don't have the cure for..." Love it! But I'm also a vicious bitch.

8) The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows - off Deja Entendu (2003) - A definite pump-you-up single from their second album (that you should've purchased at this point,...). Brand New takes over with their hard chord changes and quick lyrics including my personal favorite "I lie for only you, and I lie well..." An uptempo classic.

7) Failure By Design - off Your Favorite Weapon (2001) - Whoaaaa - oldschool, I know! The first album Your Favorite Weapon was DEFINITELY one of my favorites, but left a much different taste in your mouth. Most fans either LOVE or HATE the first album - and usually feel the opposite about the following albums as they're so verrrrry different. This little diddy has a very "self-fulfilling prophecy" feel as it slams through lyrics like "I'm sick and sunk, and I blame myself because I make things hard and you're just trying to help." Definitely the closest to the other albums in terms of sound, but also showcases the young naivity of a band on the rise.

6) Jaws Theme Swimming - off Deja Entendu (2003) - I seriously heart this song like mucho. There's just something about the beat and melody that literally seem to sync up with your heartbeat...or at least that's my perception. Brand New showcases their storytelling techniques in this laid-back number that's sure to affect you in one way or another. "Some rules are made with all intentions to break, and she defends it with a warped rationale..." If you don't have it, get it now. Like stop reading, open your limewire or whatever the kids use these days, and get it. But then come back for the top five. Don't worry... I'll wait.

(you all set? let's continue...)

5) Limousine (MS Rebridge) - off The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me (2006) - One of their slower songs with unique melodic bridges. The beginning of the song sets you up for the sweeping repetition of the rebridge that's made this song such a hit...as the track builds, you fall into this back and forth rhythm, similar to waves on a shore, hitting you with line after line of "Well, I love you so much - but do me a favor, baby, don't reply. 'Cause I can dish it out, but I can't take it..." Any true fan knows this is one of the only saving tracks of their 2006 release, and well worth the purchase price.

4) Jesus - off The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me (2006) - the OTHER song that saves the EP. This song is so amazing you find an array of people with it on their IPods... from the "emo" punk kids, to alternative junkies, to pop-loving tweens, to strippers (you're welcome, girls). Amazing melody and harmonics? Check. Fabulous lyrics? Check. Fantastic beat? Definitely. There is literally NO ONE out there that could NOT fall in love with it immediately. While I find some of their other tracks take a bit to wear you down and become a favorite, this intensely heavy conversation with the messiah is sure to rock your socks off. "Well Jesus Christ, I'm alone again, so what did you do those three days you were dead? 'Cause this problem's gonna last more than the weekend." It's so hard to pick a lyric or part in the song as your favorite, the whole damn thing is THAT good.

3) Daisy - off the Daisy EP (2009) - The title track off their latest EP that dropped this past September, this is EASILY becoming one of my favorites. With a hauntingly beautiful and simultaneously creepy intermission that only Brand New can deliver, the song's beginning immediately pulls you in and keeps you held hostage til the slamming guitar chords at the end. I haven't quite figured out why I'm so obsessed with it, but I will say I played in on repeat my entire way to work. Give it a shot - see if it's your cup of tea. If anything, give it a listen to hear the creepy child in the middle of the song - and try to figure out what's being said... 2 points for those who comment first with the correct answer and DIDN'T Google it..."I'm a mouth that doesn't smileI'm a word that no one ever wants to say..."

2) At the Bottom - off the Daisy EP (2009) - The first single released off the newest album took me a bit to figure out. When I first came across this track, I wasn't all too sure it was for me. Don't get me wrong, Brand New could never "go wrong", but this particular track didn't speak to me that others had...until one day, after about the 6th or 7th listen, it hit me, as it will the rest of you. With swift melodic changes and the typical "scream-sing" chorus, this uptempo, guitar-driven single will definitely get your blood pumping. If anything, give it a listen for the creative upsteam guitar hooks leading you to the final chorus. You won't be disappointed. "Cause I make little lies and then I pull them apart; think something dark's living down in my heart..."

1) Sic Transit Gloria (Glory Fades) - off Deja Entendu (2003) - It had to be done. When I pondered and pondered the order in which this list would go, I couldn't see a way in which this track would NOT end up at #1. Unfortunately for the dedicated fans out there, this track had a mainsteam sound that caught up with the rest of the nation and produced the quasi-Brand New-fan nation. Regardless of it's popularity and radio play, the song itself is fantastic. The beat, melody, and lyrics come together to form an intensely sexual, yet honest, track sure to become a favorite if you haven't discovered it yet. Again - if nothing else - use it as a background for your next sex-capade. I don't have the space (or ability) to pick my favorite line from the track -- so figure it out for yourself. =)

Well... that wraps up the countdown,...

Ugh. I guess I should do work now, eh?

Lata gatas!
J