Brand New - Science Fiction

Brand New
Science Fiction
2017
Spotify

Brand New were supposed to be breaking up. This tour was their last, they released a record of rarities and unreleased songs which was supposed to be their last all signs were pointing towards moving on from the emo stalwart of a band. Then mysteriously and suddenly within a couple of weeks there was a rumor of an album then bam a new record. The disbanding never felt all that real but it also didn't seem like a stunt either, perhaps just the way the band was feeling at the time, like the project had come to a close, yet this "return" has brought about some of their best music in years. Their last proper album Daisy came out eight years ago and while it was not as powerful as Deja Entendu or The Devil and God are Raging Inside of Me it showed that Brand New are not a band who rest of former successes. Their evolution has been at a glacial pace, but album over album they manage to make enough changes and push their sound in new directions to ensure it is still sounds fresh. This album in particular which took the longest to arrive of any, seems more grown up showing men now in their 40s who have always made music their central focus. The cult of personality around Brand New never felt like their own making, but rather their rabid fans trying to place meaning on every single word. Emo kids are suckers for lyrics and Brand New have always been able to wrap their message up in tons of fascinating language and that trend doesn't stop on Science Fiction. The rage is still there, though somewhat buried with age now, but bubbling just under the surface of this record is the longing that always lived in Brand New's songs.

"Could Never Be Heaven" almost feels like an English Minstrel's type of song furthering the idea that Brand New are sort of shifting into their Radiohead period here. Where Radiohead do their adult, very sophisticated electronic rock and roll, Brand New stick with the Guitars but are able to get some of the same results. They are also able to infuse that punk mentality on songs like "Could Never Be Heaven". Songs like "137" show just how good of a band Brand New have really become, almost spanning an entire history of guitar rock in one song but it is the emotion they put into each track that really sets it apart. The album is not without it's flaws; first, the songs are so damn long. Almost nothing is under four minutes with some songs over six and one over eight. This is not to say a long song can't be good, but with Brand New they tend to really drag things out even when they've already found a nice groove or hook. They can't help themselves but go long which flies in the face of their punk past. The sentiments of dread and death all can get a bit trying over the hour runtime, it is the same existential territory they've always worked in though on Science Fiction it sounds far more refined. The time between Daisy and Science Fiction was far too long, but you cannot argue with the results: some of the best rock and roll we've heard in 2017. Brand New don't need your approval, nor have they ever asked for it, but little by little they've proved that they need to be in conversation of great American Rock Bands.

8.8 out of 10