Brand New - Science Fiction
Critic Score
Based on 16 reviews
2017 Ratings: #21 / 940
User Score
2017 Rank: #51
Liked by 120 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

100
The 405

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.

100
Sputnikmusic

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.

91
Consequence of Sound

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.

90
The Line of Best Fit
It's one of the rock albums of the year, and if it is the case - as is rumoured - that it's their last, then it's also a perfect swan song.
90
Spectrum Culture

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.

90
The Young Folks

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.

83
Pitchfork

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.

83
A.V. Club

Science Fiction feels like the culmination of the journey the band began just over a decade ago.

80
Drowned in Sound
The result is a slow-burning, highly confessional album (the therapy session clips that litter the record are no accident), which contains the most tightly constructed batch of Brand New songs yet.
80
AllMusic
A lifetime away from the Long Island quartet's emo and pop-punk origins, Science Fiction is a complex and nuanced beast of introspective indie rock and detailed production.
80
The Skinny
This is easily the Long Island band's most mature album, in that it acknowledges and improves on many of the band's past misdemeanours.
80
Kerrang!
These are great songs. And this doesn't sound like a band with no road left to walk down.
80
Classic Rock
Seething with anxiety and frontman Jesse Lacey’s trademark sarcastic self‑flagellation, and with a gorgeous production that gives the music space to breathe, it’s an emotional, intelligent work of grace and beauty.
80
Q Magazine
There is much to savour here. If this is a swansong, it's most definitely a worthy one.
70
Exclaim!

Science Fiction is a flawed yet beguiling record that keeps you hooked without offering the emotional payoff that we've come to expect.

70
The Needle Drop
Brand New returns with a chilling, despondent sound.
FearFlour
15

Giving it a 15 cuz that's Jesse's favorite number.

Supertartory
100

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

zachthesnack
96

This is emo alt rock at near perfection, if only this album wasnt downplayed due to Jesse being a cyber-rapist :/

MrXilias
90

A more melancholic and quite emotional sound, it's incredible.

cloyo09
98

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

Darthtreyder3
80

Pretty good. I like the folksy vibes

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Track List

1Lit Me Up
6:16
93
2Can't Get It Out
3:42
92
3Waste
4:36
91
4Could Never Be Heaven
3:16
87
5Same Logic / Teeth
5:34
93
6137
5:01
93
7Out of Mana
5:14
91
8In the Water
6:52
91
9Desert
3:36
89
10No Control
3:55
85
11451
4:52
86
12Batter Up
8:27
91
Total Length: 1 hour, 1 minute
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Added on: August 17, 2017