It culminates in this, the absolute apex of their perennially superlative songwriting. After nearly two decades of providing rehabilitative stories for their devotees, Brand New close their book with one for themselves.
Regardless of the odds, Science Fiction is a bold, legend-making statement well worth the eight year wait. If it ends up being their swan song, then we can rest assured that Brand New is going out on their own terms: in peak form, bearing no regrets.
Fans should take comfort in the fact that, despite often feeling out of control internally, Brand New were able to go out on their own terms and in such a way that proudly and effectively honors not only the humans and musicians they’ve become, but their career as a whole.
We’re probably never going to get another Brand New album, but it’s reassuring that Science Fiction is the way the band chose to go out. After 17 years of trying on new skin, it’s comforting to know that they managed, at long last, to find something that fits them this perfectly.
If Science Fiction is truly the end of the Brand New experiment, it is difficult to imagine a more rewarding conclusion. Lacey and company leave us both satisfied and wanting more. They’ve met our expectations of growth and, somehow, leave us still curious about how they might’ve grown further.
Science Fiction doesn’t provide much joy beyond its mordant humor, but using the acidic feel of “old Brand New” as a counterpoint, it resonates longer, has more gravitas, and carries the weight of earned wisdom.
Science Fiction feels like the culmination of the journey the band began just over a decade ago.
Science Fiction is a flawed yet beguiling record that keeps you hooked without offering the emotional payoff that we've come to expect.
Jesse was always scared of his past catching up to him, all the things he’d done reaching the surface and everyone hating him… and then it did.
Brand New are a sad story from front to back. We all know what happened to Jesse, and what he did in the past, and everyone hates him now. I’m not here to protect what he did, it was sick and messed up. He sexually manipulated minors when he was very much an adult, and that’s inexcusable. But I’m not here to talk about ... read more
This is emo alt rock at near perfection, if only this album wasnt downplayed due to Jesse being a cyber-rapist :/
9/10
My favourite tracks: Lit Me Up, Can't Get It Out, Waste, Could Never Be Heaven, Same Logic / Teeth, 137, Out of Mana, In The Water, Desert, No Control, Batter Up
My least favorite tracks: none
1 | Lit Me Up 6:16 | 93 |
2 | Can't Get It Out 3:42 | 92 |
3 | Waste 4:36 | 91 |
4 | Could Never Be Heaven 3:16 | 87 |
5 | Same Logic / Teeth 5:34 | 93 |
6 | 137 5:01 | 93 |
7 | Out of Mana 5:14 | 91 |
8 | In the Water 6:52 | 91 |
9 | Desert 3:36 | 89 |
10 | No Control 3:55 | 85 |
11 | 451 4:52 | 86 |
12 | Batter Up 8:27 | 91 |
#8 | / | The Daily Beast |
#11 | / | Sputnikmusic |
#83 | / | Louder Than War |