Now That’s What We Call Nostalgia! Brand New “Deja Entendu”
by Ryan Pangilinan

The version of Brand New that seems to live in the hearts of most pop-punk fans is the motley crew of brash 18-21 year olds who had made the breakneck and anthemic “Your Favorite Weapon.” At about 40+ minutes, it’s a succinct look into the lives of suburban teenagers who do what suburban teens do: fall for girls who work at Zumiez, get drunk/stoned, fight with their friends, and sing out revenge fantasies. It’s steeped in the same ground as “Through Being Cool.”

So when Brand New followed up with 2003’s “Deja Entendu,” the reaction was very polarizing. The album’s influences – which range from Morrissey to Built to Spill – made it appealing to the Pitchfork set and for many people, this was their introduction to the band. To the people who’d stuck it out with them from their days as an immature quartet, it was a backhanded slap – it represented nothing of their suburban values and the only song about sex was a cautionary tale (“Sic Transit Gloria”).

When the album came out in 2003, I was still running Halftimemag.com (R.I.P.) out of the little punk house that I shared with the guys in my band and other friends and got two copies from the label when I was prepping for an interview with Jesse Lacey (read here).

I loved this record right away, but probably for different reasons. For me, the album is very much a snapshot of being a dude in a hardcore band, who still listened to more indie rock or hip-hop than anything else. “Deja Entendu’s” diverse palate, spoke to frantic music fan in me.

While revisiting the album today, I realized that – having thoroughly enjoyed their subsequent releases “The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me” and “Daisy” – “Deja Entendu” with its emotional writhing core speaks so strongly nearly a decade after its initial release.

These days, “Deja Entendu” is loved a lot more than when it came out, probably due to the fact that most of the kids who shit talked it have grown up and, in essence, grown up to be (fucked over) adults. Not to put it so obscenely, but certainly, this is a heartbreaking album, whether it’s dealing with terminal illness (“Guernica”), lust (“Tatou”), or love lost (“The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot”).

“Deja Entendu” has its flaws in its lack of brevity and, in general, just being a completely stark contrast for the rest of their catalog, and yet, it’s arguably Brand New’s best album.  It’s a standalone work that can be pointed at as a record to listen to when you do discover the band and it so neatly highlights their abilities as musicians, songwriters, and all the quirks that has made them so appealing to their rapid following. But this is stuff you already heard.