Album of the year

Brand New: The devil and God are raging inside me.

I think Brand New are a tremendous band, and this album, their third, could be there 'breakthrough' album. This record is a real progression from 2004s 'Deja Entendu' which was tremendous, and 2001s 'your favourite weapon', which i really like, but isn't anywhere near as good as the latter two. Emo is a much maligned genre, and sometimes rightly so, but when done right, as these guys show, it can be a beautiful thing. If anything marked Brand New's last album it was the distinctive style of the vocals and the fine balance between loud and quiet. If anything on this album the balance is even finer, but works even better. Brand New are also known for their personal lyrics, and thats another thing that makes this album stand out. Thier first album told the story of a break up ('have another drink and drive yourself home/i hope there's ice on all the roads) their second about the tedium of life on the road ('i would kill for the atlantic/ but i am paid to make girls panic whilst i sing) and this one about the decline and recovery of singer Jesse Lacey into and out of alcholism ('i used to be the glue that held my friends together'). Brand New's music has meant a lot to me over the last few years, and this album promises to be no different. Stand out tracks for me are 'Sowing Season (yeah)' and 'Degausser' both of which capture and make great use of the loud/quiet dynamic that i like so much.

Here are some of my other favourites from 2006.

In The Fishtank-14: Isis/Aerogramme
From Under The Cork Tree: Fall Out Boy
A Fever You Can't Sweat Out: Panic! At the disco
Saturday Night Wrist: Deftones
The Back Room: Editors
Wilderness Is Paradise Now: Morning Runner
Happy Hollow: Cursive
The Sound of Girls Aloud: Girls Aloud
Stop The Clocks: Oasis