How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Outstanding
Value for Money
Excellent
Advantages:
Fantastic lyrics
Disadvantages:
A bit emo?
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
The fantastically named "Deja Entendu" is the second album from Brand New, a band which not everyone will be familiar with, but a band you should get to know. Building on the good work of the debut album, "Your Favourite Weapon" this album sports similarly brilliant lyrics.
It starts with a short intro named "Tautou" which sets the scene for the rest of the album. Something a bit different and very powerful.
Following this is the song which introduced me to Brand New "Sic Transit Gloria... Glory Fades", a fantastically fast paced, well written and beautifully song about a boy being forced into a sexual relationship which he isn't ready for. Reading past this it can be taking to mean different things, and can be applied to many situations and problems.
The next song "I Will Play My Game Beneath The Spin Light" is a track with some fantastic lyrics such as "Collect calls to home to tell them that I realize that everyone who lives will someday die and die alone". Songs like this build up the reputation Brand New have for being an emo band. Personally I don't think they are - but many of their songs like this can be depressing. One of the songs best moments is the line "I am paid to make girls panic while I sing" leading into the corus. Fantastic.
"Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don't" is another fantastic song. This album is just packed full of them - I can't emphasise this enough. Uplifting lyrics such as "I hope this songs starts a craze, the kind of song that ignites the airways, the kind of song that makes people glad to be where they are with who ever they're there with" show just how mature this band are.
"Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows" is one of my favourite songs on the album about a doomed relationship- a more fast paced uplifting song. A fairly angry song - this deserves to be replayed over and over.
"The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot" is, like every other song on this album, fantastic. Describing each song individually is so difficult as they are all so brilliant - this one sports a strong corus: "Call me a safe bet, I'm betting I'm not" and the lyric of "it hurts a whole lot and its missed when its gone".
Moving swiftly onto "Jaws Theme Swimming" - good lyrics from the offset: "Some rules are made with all intentions to break" and is about making bad choices. Listening to this it is so easy to apply to your own situation, which is why this album is so good.
#8 - "Me Vs Maradona Vs Elvis" is possibly my favourite song on the album, about taking advantage of a girl in a bar and the remorse that is felt because of this. A nice slow song, which to me ephasises what Brand New are all about - awesome songs, brilliant lyrics and fantastic song meanings - often, but not in this case, hidden.
The pace is then picked up with "Guernica" before being slowed down with "Good To Know That If I Ever Need Attention All I Have To Do Is Die" a depressing song about not having anyone to talk to about it.
The album finishes strongly, and slowly, with "Play Crack The Sky" which lends time for reflection on the rest of the album.
I can't really stress how good this album is. If you don't feel like buying it - you are a fool. Go and buy it now.
More details
How does it rate alongside the competition
Outstanding
Cover / Inlay Design and Content
Good
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