Loading ...Hell if we know, because our asses are staying warm by chain smoking blogging next to our radiators, but Idolator videographer Alex Goldberg found out when he discovered a clutch of fans parked outside a New York gig by the Long Island emo band hours before it was set to begin. Discussed: Brand New are totally not generic emo, and neither are their lyrics. In fact they might not be emo at all? They are almost as good as both Radiohead and Vanessa Carlton. Also Brand New is encouraging our children to skip school, which they might end up regretting when they realize Brand New is, like, totally generic emo.*
* Says the dude who likes Motion City Soundtrack.
How dare you send Alex out to cover mall emo without me?
My conspicuous absence aside, this is fantastic. Love it. Love how most mall emo fans insist that they are above the genre.
What always bewilders me is the sheer number of female fans that Mall Emo has. It’s extremely misogynistic and sexist, more so than hip hop and traditional rock is. Except it masquerds behind this mask of “meaning” or “deepness” or whatever. But seriously listen to the lyrics. Beyond being objectified, women are also villified in mall emo. That one girl who said “They’re lyrics aren’t just ‘my girlfriend left me’” or something to that effect really doesn’t listen, because Brand New’s lyrics are actually much more emotionally shallow. Take a listen to that “Jude Law” song and you’ll see how the girl in the song not only left our intrepid song writer, but also is a major league slut for doing so. The entire Deja Entendu album is about being on the road, hooking up with girls, and then hating them later for it. Mall emo is very much a boys club (despite that Paramore line from last week). So why exactly are so many teenage girls going ga ga over some turds from Long Island?
It’s because their stupid. And ugly. Quite a shame. Not a looker in the bunch.
And yes, I’m well aware that I completly invalidate my previous points, but a Sumpsons’ quote is a Simpsons’ quote, right?
@Dead Air ummm Dead Air: how do you know so much about emo? is this a case of takes one to know one?
@Dead Air ummm Dead Air: Emo–getting ugly, misogynistic assholes laid since 1996. (That includes you, Rivers.)
Most blog commenting tends to be criticism based to some end. Not today, though…at least not from me. To give credit where credit is due, I have to say that the “On The Scene” stuff could be my favorite feature you guys do on this site. Having recently begun to lose understanding of what the kids are up to, this helps me feel better. I still don’t get it, but at least I can look in on it a little bit.
@steven_scareplanes: I’ll admit it. 6 years ago I was farily emo. Not makeoutclub, live journal, argyle sweater emo. But I was big into the DIY NJ scene and was a slave to whatever Victory, Drive Thru, or Vagrent released.
And it’s not much a general hate I have for it or anything. It’s generic now, big deal. I just happen to take issue with how much these kids misunderstand what they are claiming to “be above.”
Mostly though, I just want to write long winded diatribe to trick people into think I’m smart though.
@Dead Air ummm Dead Air: “Deja Entendu” still has some great songs on it. “Quiete Things” still totally gets me. I won’t pretend that it isn’t, fundamentally, a douchebag record; However, it embraces the fact, which is sort of punk rock (though Cursive did it better). Plus, as Jessica Hopper pointed out in her essay a few years back on misogyny in emo, if you have an issue with one-sided girl hate, you pretty much have an issue with the past 50 years of blues based music.
@Dead Air ummm Dead Air:
Jessica Hopper called, she wants her argument back.
I am oddly charmed by those kids. I’m so jaded at this point that fandom shocks me. I can never rip too much on those bands, because despite their generic sound, shitty lyrics, and total disdain for women, something about them speaks to kids in a way Bands of Horses never will.
In weak defense of Brand New, I interviewed them a year ago and they seemed to be pretty smart, thoughtful dudes. It’s the old Ultragrrl defense — “sure, everything she touches sucks, but she’s so NICE.”
The answer to the question?
Major league assholes.
@CortneyH: they sound pretty sometimes, sure, but does Band of Horses speak to anyone??
@aluberalles: Apparently WalMart thought so.
Also, I’ll second Cortneyh on it being nice to see sincere fandom. Maybe not wanting to carve band names into my arm is a sign of maturity (hence, a good thing), but there’s definiteley a certain magic that this bullshit brings that I really do miss… Who else here owns “Tell All Your Friends” on a funny color of vinyl?
Emo-as-misogyny is as old-news as the Brand New records you are talking about. You all do realize that Deja Entendu came out four years ago, and Your Favorite Weapon two years before that, right? (Not that it’s not a good point and a fair issue that should be brought up more often, and yeah, these superfans love the old records, but The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me is not as bad an offender. Get with the times.)
Besides, Brand New may be a mall-emo band nationally, but in the NY metro area they’re a total bro band. I was thankful to be surrounded by a mall-emo crowd when I saw them in New Orleans.
Credit to God and a Bottle who put into words a number of things I’d been noticing/feeling.
I love these videos of superfans. Although, I don’t remember being allowed to even attend a concert before I was sixteen, let alone skip school to wait in line.
Admitted: I loved Deja Entendu. And I like Motion City Soundtrack. A lot.
You all should re-examine Brand New. Check out their new album. There is some brilliant stuff being done there. It’s light years away their first album, which unfortunately people like you will be basing them on for the rest of their career. No, they aren’t indie-pop or Radiohead, but they grew beyond what you call “emo mall punk” years ago.
Just sayin’
Brand New is not mall-emo, God & the Devil is a really fucking great record, and if I had known about this show I would have been waiting in the cold right along with them. I have a much, much better time when I’m reviewing teenage emo shows than I do when I’m exiled to indie rock land because, at least the teenagers are fucking excited to be there.
I never paid a whole lot of attention to Deja Entendu, but there’s not really anything sexist going on on God & The Devil. Says the guy who actually writes ‘God & a Bottle.’
brand new never completely conformed to the trashy emo (i thought) but their first album was recorded when they was in high school, obviously not going to have a whole lot of depth. but they’ve grown and matured a lot, and i think their last album really shows it.
they were*