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8. Science Fiction - Brand New (2017)

Alternative Rock

One of the trademarks of Brand New’s remarkable evolution has been a commitment to pushing themselves, both musically and thematically. This commitment drove their success in large part and set them apart from the crowded pack of post-punk and emo bands in the mid-2000s. 2006’s The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me was a definitive moment for the band and for the scene in general. It flipped the genre on its head, forgoing tried and true formulas in favor of a new approach which embraced robust emotionality while approaching it with maturity, restraint and level-headedness that steered the creative process. Largely introspective, contemplative and dark, The Devil and God became a landmark album and established Brand New at the forefront of whatever would inevitably rise from the ashes of the emo scene.

Daisy took things a step further in 2009, doubling down on everything that made The Devil and God great. Admittedly alienating to casual listeners, Daisy was a gift to the die-hards. It further distanced the band from the scene they were born out of and found them settling confidently into a new sound and mindstate they’d created. Tough to nail down categorically, it was another level-up out of the decidedly adolescent mentality of the old scene. Some angsty energy remained, bubbling well below the surface, breaching rarely, but precisely and dramatically. Sadly, in the years after Daisy, Brand New retreated into a tour-heavy routine which left them without either the time, energy or desire to break ground on something new. After essentially pioneering a new genre of “post-post-punk”, the prospect of a follow-up became increasingly unlikely.

Then, in August 2017, against substantial odds and with the weight of an eight year hiatus hanging over their heads, Brand New released Science Fiction. The years of touring that followed the release of Daisy had kept them busy but left fans wanting more. One-off singles like “Mene” and “I Am a Nightmare” were mildly satiating, but never really convinced anyone that they were the beginnings of a new album. When Science Fiction was somewhat surprisingly released, following an intriguing and mysterious marketing campaign, fans’ anticipation was at a fever pitch. The risk of delivering a massive disappointment seemed precariously high.

But that was not to be the case. Science Fiction is Brand New’s biggest statement by far. It finds them at their absolute best on every front. Singer and primary lyricist Jesse Lacey flexes a poetic prowess that plays perfectly with his dynamic delivery. Lyrically dense and thematically cryptic, the album explores a range of subjects while rarely telling you outright what those subjects are, instead presenting them to be slowly unpacked over repeated listens. The band illustrates their intimate knowledge of each other’s strengths, crafting their deepest and most complete sonic environment ever. Similarly numerically titled tracks “137” and “451” are the most forward-thinking on the album. They feature the band in uncharted waters, but navigating with unshakeable confidence as they produce two of the best songs in their entire catalog. On the provocative “Desert”, Lacey assumes the role of an older character defined by his fundamental values as he struggles with the permeation of progressive ideologies. Thought-provoking, challenging and as comprehensively unique as ever, Science Fiction is a fitting swan song for one of the most ambitious bands of the 21st century.

*image; cover art for the album Science Fiction by Brand New