Cougar Microbes

So this is something to look forward to in 2011; The Movielife will be reforming their original lineup and performing at Bamboozle Festival in the summer. I saw The band play some blistering sets every time they passed through London so this is exciting news.

Their album ‘This Time Next Year‘ remains one of my go to records for shouty early 00′s punky/post-hardcore/emo (whatever you want to call it).

TRACKS:

Brand New‘s 2006 release the ‘The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me‘ was seen as a natural evolution by many fans including some Cougar collaborators yet it left me slightly disappointed.

Having witnessed the bands incredible progression from their pop punk routes to the masterful ‘Déjà Entendu‘, an album that easily features in my top releases of the decade, I expected the band to revolutionise their sound at every attempt. Hindsight being 20-20 I have now come round to that release. Though it lacked a strong single like ‘The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows‘ it worked very well as an album on the whole showcasing a much matured band.

This year’s (poorly titled) ‘Daisy‘ takes on from where the previous releases left off. The Long Island band have recorded a stripped and lean set of songs and a delivery that is as agressive as they have ever been.. There are attention grabbing instrumentals and a few hand picked balads and fortunately Jesse Lacey still delivers the same cynically observed well strung sentences.

The band will be performing at Wembley Arena early next year and the fact that they have grown organically and on their own terms is remarkable.  ’Daisy‘ is further proof of their talent.

TRACKS:

Brand New – At The Bottom

NEXT: #06 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009: Cursive – Mama, I’m Swollen

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Being a helpless romantic music nerd I, somewhat oddly, view relationships with music and women as comparable beasts. If the catchy song I whistle along to compares to a one night stand; viewed in retrospect with puffed out chest or a twinge of embarrassment, and the album which catches my attention reflects a date in which I cautiously test the water in case of ugly crocodiles lurking beneath the surface, then it follows that the artist I fall for is, in some shape or form, a soul mate. Ultimately this relationship is guaranteed to leave an impression for the rest of my life.

In my early 20s, despite opening my mind to an ever-increasing array of musical styles, I was still lurking around the teenage rock market and its various stalls; pop-punk, ska-punk, post-punk, post-hardcore; basically the various posts and punks. Almost from left-field, when my flat mate’s younger brother came to stay, clutching CD in hand, I stumbled across a band whose eloquence and style pointed to a future of bigger and better things. I was immediately drawn to Brand New.

The New Yorkers’ debut album ‘My Favourite Weapon’ spilled over with youthful exuberance. In ‘Jude Law and a Semester Abroad’ you could almost picture the spotty kid wiping the snot and tears from his face as his sweetheart moved away from home and away from him. The album was bitter, catchy, energetic, but above all it irrefutably demonstrated raw potential.

The ever-illusive follow-up album, ‘Deja Entendu’ didn’t so much reaffirm the band’s talent as blow their debut release out of the water. The youthful disillusionment of their debut was replaced with self assurance, the melodies fleshed out with hooks, and the energy complimented by greater dynamics. Indeed it was hardly surprising when they announced in ‘I Will Play my Game Beneath the Spin Light’ that they:

“do this ‘cause [they] care, not for the thrill.”

All in all, musically, lyrically, strategically it appeared Brand New had poured their hearts and souls into ‘Deja Entendu’. With the release of this album all doubts subsided and I fell for them in a big way.

On November 21st 2006, after three long and frustrating years, they released the hotly anticipated ‘The Devil and God are Raging Inside of Me’. By this time I was familiar with every wrinkle and freckle that ‘Deja Entendu‘ had to offer. Despite having to return to the drawing board after nine demos for the album flooded onto the internet, Brand New delivered a cohesive release that further affirmed their maturity as a band. The darker, philosophical lyrics contrasted interestingly with the catchy hooks I was anticipating. The likes of ‘Not The Sun’, ‘Jesus Christ’, ‘Degauser’ and ‘All the Archers Bows Have Broken’ pointed to a group preparing a final sprint towards recognition beyond their already dedicated fan base.

It has been reported over the end of 2008 and beginning of 2009 that the band have recently been in the studio putting the final touches to a new album, scheduled for a summer 2009 release. Perhaps having been stung last time out the Long Island boys are keeping things low key for now, but this looks set to change as tour dates have started spilling out of the Brand New camp including two UK summer shows.

A while has passed since we last spent some quality time together. Three years is a long time in any relationship. I certainly hope to catch up again soon, even if just to reminisce about the good old days.

Buy it now on Amazon

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This is a second guest post on Cougar Microbes by K. More to come from him.
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