Brand New

With their major-label debut, Brand New develops the sophisticated emo templates (think Sunny Day Real Estate, not And the Academy Is...) that were introduced on 2003's Deja Entendu, balancing maudlin touches, such as the goth chorus of "Degausser," with the occasional chuck of power-pop, such as "Archers." But the band's dramatic presentation -- thick with multimovement ballads, gothic production and, of course, enough melodramatic wordplay to fill a teen diary -- is what makes the LP a dark thrill.

On its major-label debut, this Long Island quartet keeps up the mildly nuanced emo sound
trotted out on 2003's pretty good Deja Entendu: There's an eerie choir ("Degausser"), a
power-pop facsimile ("Archers") and a ballad suaver and sexier than most emo slow jams
("Jesus Christ"). But the selling -- and sticking -- point is still dark drama, with shadowy,
shimmery textures, agonized choruses and frontman Jesse Lacey yowling away... More >