Brand New – Deja Entendu (2xLP)

Deja Entendu by Brand New marked a bold artistic leap for the band, distancing them from their pop-punk roots and embracing a more mature, emotionally nuanced sound. The album is layered with introspective lyrics, textured guitar work, and dynamic shifts in mood and energy. Tracks like "Sic Transit Gloria... Glory Fades" and "The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows" showcase the band’s ability to merge poetic vulnerability with powerful instrumentation. This record reflects a band unafraid to evolve and challenge expectations.

Critics praised the album for its depth, ambition, and significant growth from their debut. Deja Entendu doesn't settle for genre conventions—it explores themes of alienation, heartbreak, and existential confusion with honesty and grit. The production by Steven Haigler enhances the album’s sense of space and emotional weight, offering clarity to both the softest moments and the most explosive crescendos. It remains a landmark release in early 2000s alternative rock and emo.

Reviews

"an emo masterpiece if ever there was one, applying the intensity of post-hardcore and oddly sexy grooves to sophisticated and impassioned songwriting." – Rolling Stone

"isn't all about bitter breakups and doesn't fall into a permanent punk-pop hole. Produced by Steven Haigler (Pixies, Quicksand), this sophomore effort finds Brand New maturing, reaching for textures and song structures instead of clichés." – AllMusic

"Brand New's new album for Razor and Tie, Deja Entendu, is produced by Stephen Haigler, engineer of the Pixies' Trompe le Monde. This and the album's postmodern cover art hint at something more substantial than 2001's Your Favorite Weapon." – Pitchfork

"From its memorable hooks to Jesse Lacey's raw and compelling lyrics, Deja Entendu was a record that gave listeners something to hold onto in a shifting genre landscape." – The A.V. Club

"The album is deeply personal, yet universally resonant, and Brand New’s commitment to artistic growth makes it a defining moment of 2000s alternative rock." – Sputnikmusic