Brand New

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8.6

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Brand New surprised fans and critics with its 2003 breakthrough, Deja Entendu, demonstrating that the band was capable of more depth and maturity than anyone would’ve ever guessed from its prior pop-punk sound and “boy meets girl, boy gets dumped, boy hates girl” subject matter. While not as great a leap in style or maturity, The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me showcases more of what’s great about the grown-up Brand New: strong melodies, solid musicianship, stylistic variety and lyrics that demonstrate a more troubling kind of heartbreak, as evidenced by lines like, “I used to know the name of every person I kissed / Now I’ve made this bed and I can’t fall asleep in it.”