Good morning everyone. It's Friday once again! I hope everyone's weekend is off to a great start. I've got some great news for all you readers of Reel Reviews this morning. I'll be filling in for one of my co-workers this weekend. So if you stay tuned Saturday, you might just get some new editions of Reel Reviews to check out. So make sure you stay tuned for that! But in the meantime, we've got some new music to tackle this morning. And I couldn't be happier to present this morning's brand new edition of Reel Reviews. Just recently I had the honor of reviewing the fourth album from NY-based rockers Brand New Sin. That album was released back in 2009. Well, today, I get to offer to you, fair readers, Brand New Sin's fifth album, "United State". This album was released via Goomba Music only a few months ago (October 2011 to be exact). After showing audiences back in 2009 that Brand New Sin was stronger than the adversity, which it faced, the band has proven even more so with "United State" that it has no plans at all of going anywhere any time soon. So this morning, I present for your consideration, Brand New Sin's "United State".
Ten years ago, a little band out of Syracuse, NY made some huge waves in the world of rock & roll. In that time, this little band that could has shown the world that after going through a "distillation" in 2009, it truly is in a "United State" on its fifth album. The band sounds stronger than ever, building on the success of its independently released fourth album, "Distilled". This time out, the band has added some firepower to its arsenal, growing to a four-piece with the addition of guitarist Tommy Matkowski.
Musically speaking, "Untied State" reminds long time audiences of Brand New Sin's past and present on the first half of the record, before introducing some material with a somewhat different feel throughout the second half of the record. One of the primse examples of that comes in 'Goddess of War'. It still bears the same musical intensity of older BNS songs, especially when it breaks into its amazing guitar solo. But the change in direction is pretty obvious. There's also "Your Song and Dance". It takes that classic BNS energy and really builds on it. What it (and the other songs on the second half of the album) does it it helps to give Brand New Sin its won identity separate from the old Brand New Sin. In layman's terms, it reminds audiences that it hasn't lost its roots. But under the watchful eye of frontman Kris Weichmann and his bandmates--drummer Kevin Dean, bassist Chuck kahl, and guitarist Tommy Matkowski--the band has grown, and developed its own identity separate from what it used to be.
Coming from a lyrical stance, "United State" is just as strong as ever. One of the album's most powerful tracks, lyrically speaking, is 'Elbow Grease'. While its a largely acoustic piece, the lyrics are blistering and defiant. [Kris] Weichmann sings here, "I've gotta collect myself/I've gotta keep it together/It takes a toll on me/It takes me forever to get right back up and spit back in their faces and say..." It's a powerful piece aobut never giving up, and pushing on through all the negativity in life. 'Your Song and Dance' comes across as a scathing attack on people who just want to drag others down around them. Weichmann sings here, "You take pride being born to lose/Scorned, abused, and rejected/Shut up and don't tell me/I know it's your same old song and dance". This self assured, defiant theme runs throughout the album's songs. And combined with its music, this album has officially put the music world on notice that once again, there's a whole Brand New Sin in rock and roll!
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Philip Sayblack can be contacted at psayblack@wnct.com
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