Musings and Music: Deja Entendu

As I have done with all of the other reviews on this blog, I will continue to review albums that have had some effect on me. Deja Entendu by the band Brand New is an album that I grew up with that has given me such enjoyment over the years and still does to this day. This album is heavy on the conceptual side and it is first seen with the deliberate title of “Deja Entendu” which translates from French to “already heard”. The contrast of the album title to the band name shows the ironic awareness that is present within the lyrics, song names, and even the actual music. This conceptual decision alerts the listener as to what the band is trying to achieve and to where the band knows it place within the contemporary music scene. The band’s intent is not to create a breakthrough work of art. Rather, they are trying to create an honest album with honest intentions.

Brand New is composed of lead singer Jesse Lacey, guitarist Vin Accardi, drummer Brian Lane, and bassist Garret Tierney. The four members converge their creative talents to create a well rounded and iconic sound that can properly be described as alternative rock music. The sound never quite leaves the room but I still find that it has a deep emotional impact, which is probably due to the poignant lyricism and affecting vocal work of Jesse Lacey. The song structure is simple yet it always seems to go unnoticed because of the artistry that the band seems to instinctively have. Essentially, the band embraces traditional music methods and attitudes and creates from them something beyond itself. This is why this album has always stood out from the rest. It’s the type of album in which every song seems a classic and every lyric a memory. This album will continue to grow with me and it will always have that special place in my life.

Sappynostalgia etcetcetcetc.

Although every song on this album is classic, these are a few of my favorites.