Something New for Your Ears
Anyhow, back to the mundane stuff.
It's been a long time since I got excited about a new band (or "new to me" band).
I listen to a lot of music with my kids. We exchange mp3s and CDs and try to turn each other on to what we consider good music. Natalie has really gotten into Far (an obscure, broken up emo band that I once loved [check them out in the asv radio today]) and DJ has become obsessed with Queen (you should hear him play Bohemian Raphsody on the guitar).
In return for those "new to them" bands, they've given me Brand New. They started listening to them when my cousin, who went to high school with some of the guys in the band (they're from Long Island) told the kids about them. I've been pretty lucky when trying out LI bands (Glassjaw, VOD, Taking Back Sunday) so I gave them a shot and literally fell in love with Brand New.
It's a combination of nifty hooks and excellent lyrics, made better by the fact that they're emo-ish without the whining voice that usually accompanies that genre.
As a public service, I offer you two Brand New songs to download and try out, both from their 2003 album, Deja Entendu. Lyrics to both below. If you want to check out something earlier, try Jude Law and a Semester Abroad from their 2001 release, Your Favorite Weapon.
I never really get comments on posts like this, but I always hope that someone out there has discovered a new band to love.
I'm always open to suggestions from the masses for new music for my ears.
This has not been a paid ad.
Brand New - I Will Play My Game Beneath the Spin Light
Brand New - The Quiet Things No One Ever Knows
[update: downloads expired. If you would still like to hear the songs, email me]
The time has come for colds and overcoats.
We're quiet on the ride,
we're all just waiting to get home.
Another week away, my greatest fear.
I need the smell of summer,
I need its noises in my ears.
If looks could really kill,
then my profession would be staring.
Please know we do this cause we care
and not for the thrill.
Collect calls to home
to tell them that I realize
that everyone who lives will someday die
and die alone.
And we won't let you in.
Though we're down and out.
We won't let you in.
You win.
I wrote more postcards than hooks.
I read more maps than books.
Feel like every chance to leave
is another chance I should have took.
Every minute is a mile.
I've never felt so hollow.
I'm an old abandoned church with broken pews
and empty aisles.
My secrets for a buck.
Watch me as I cut myself wide open
on this stage. Yes, I am paid
to spill my guts. I won't see home till spring.
Oh, I would kill for the Atlantic,
but I am paid to make girls panic
while I sing.
And we won't let you in.
Though we're down and out.
We won't let you in.
And we won't let you in.
We don't want what isn't ours.
We won't let you in.
You win.
And the coastline is quiet.
While we're quietly losing control.
Yes, we're silent but sure
we inventened the cure
that will wash out my memories of her.
"The harpoon is loaded. The cage is lowered.
The water is red."
Like you.
---------
We saw the western coast
I saw the hospital
Nursed the shoreline like a wound
Reports of lover's tryst
Were neither clear nor descript
We kept it safe and slow
The quiet things that no one ever knows
[Chorus: x2]
So keep the blood in your head
And keep your feet on the ground
Today's the day it gets tired
Today's the day we drop out
Gave up my body and bed
All for an empty hotel
Wasting words on lower cases and capitals
I contemplate the day we wed
Your friends are boring me to death
Your veil is ruined in the rain
By then it's you I can do without
There's nothing new to talk about
And though our kids are blessed
Their parents let them shoulder all the blame
[Chorus: x2]
So keep the blood in your head
And keep your feet on the ground
Today's the day it gets tired
Today's the day we drop out
Gave up my body and bed
All for an empty hotel
Wasting words on lower cases and capitals
[Bridge: x2]
I lie for only you
And I lie well...
Hallelu...
[Chorus: x2 (words from bridge in the background)]
So keep the blood in your head
And keep your feet on the ground
Today's the day it gets tired
Today's the day we drop out
Gave up my body and bed
All for an empty hotel
Wasting words on lower cases and capitals
Comments
I saw far in a little bar/club called the Main Event in Toledo, Ohio back in the mid-90s with two other bands, My Head and The Hunger. All 3 bands were great...I actually have Far's CD they were selling at the time. I should dust that off. Thanks for a good memory!
Posted by: Pauly | October 23, 2004 06:37 PM
Anna's been into Brand New for awhile now, and I have to admit I haven't really paid much attention to them. Guess I should given them a listen.
Posted by: Trish | October 23, 2004 07:06 PM
If you like fairly good radio rock, I'd suggest Shinedown. Their first single, Fly From The Inside, is one of my current favorites.
But then, I listen to both ELO and Disturbed, sometimes in the same sitting.
Posted by: John Irving | October 23, 2004 10:04 PM
You know, there are whole blogs dedicated to posting music in the public interest like this..
MP3blogs.org
Good place to hear great stuff shared by real music fans, like this post.. :)
=darwin
Posted by: Darwin | October 23, 2004 11:54 PM
Always great to discover a new band!
I "discovered" Fury in the Slaughterhouse a few years back and became a huge fan. Like a lot of other bands I like, they have good albums (Mono)and weak albums (The Color Fury), but overall I love those guys.
Will check out Brand New.
Posted by: Toren | October 24, 2004 01:49 AM
Try Tres Chicas "Deep As Your Pocket". It's Americana, which I would guess would be new to you.
Posted by: levendus | October 24, 2004 03:04 AM
I love you for loving Brand New. My Chemical Romance is another good band in the Brand New/Taking Back Sunday group.
Posted by: Gwen | October 24, 2004 03:44 AM
Fire up your favourite P2P and look for "The Libertines"
"Don't look back into the Sun" or "I get Along" are a nice start.
Posted by: Rich | October 24, 2004 05:11 AM
Brand New rocks. Another band I love is Fall Out Boy. I can't get their damn cd out of my cd player.
Posted by: mace | October 24, 2004 05:50 AM
My 14 year old is, I say with no fatherly pride whatsoever, an expert on local bands, especially the ones cropping up here on Long Island. Brand New, Taking Back Sunday, etc fill my home, and their T-shirts make up most of her wardrobe.
I'm officially old. Hell. I've been officially old for a while. I enjoy some of it-- lots of it, though (see Rancid, etc) is a bit much for me.
I've broken down this generation's music into 3 categories:
"I wanna kill your dog!"The screaming, angry white suburbanite Nirvana-wannabes that's what I think they are singing
"I wanna kill your ho" That would be the gangsta rappers, and
"I wanna kill myself"-- that's what I think when I hear the Brittanys, the Christinas, the Justins, and every other kid named after a bad soap opera character from the '80's.
Posted by: Tony Iovino | October 24, 2004 08:12 AM
"Mundane" in so far as Mundo Michelle?
Posted by: jcwinnie | October 24, 2004 08:36 AM
Growing older has presented a challenge for me, musically (i'm not that old, but still....) - it feels weird to continue to follow emo and punk and whatnot.
Given that, I've found a bunch of great music that fits in what I'd consider the lazy-and-pleasant-sunday-afternoon genre.
It's music that tends to the mellow side, but still has cool elements of math-rock, and I still get to keep some indie cred.
Examples of such: Unwed Sailor; Aloha; and the big daddy of the genre, Pullman.
Link to Pullman site with audio stream:
http://thrilljockey.com/bandpage.html?artistnum=9
Posted by: jpe | October 24, 2004 10:23 AM
Wait. There's a song called Jude Law and a Semester Abroad?!?!
Damn, I'm old.
Posted by: Faith | October 24, 2004 10:28 AM
I'm not new to Brand New, I've listened to them for a while now, but it's nice to see that there are other people over the age of 18 that still appreciate music like this. Granted, some of the lyrics are geared toward a younger audiance, but the emotion in the songs is great.
Posted by: Bob | October 26, 2004 12:33 AM