Brand New — The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me

It's been three years since Brand New topped punk critics' year-end lists with the genre-defying Deja Entendu, and the New Yorkers have kept its follow-up well under wraps. It looks like "low key" is the order of the day as The Devil is even more sullen and moody than its predecessor, and Jesse Lacey seems to be further indulging his Morrissey infatuation. This lets the quartet continue to distance themselves from the Long Island screamo scene which bore them. Though the disc loses some momentum in its mid-section, the rousing opener, "Sowing Season," and the seven-minute "Limousine" prove why the band are so highly regarded by teen girls and jaded critics alike. It may not top Deja Entendu, but The Devil more than upholds Brand New's shining reputation.