Your Favorite Weapon

Back in the days of high school there were certain bands that could touch every emotion you felt. From crushes and parties to heartbreak and betrayal, these bands knew how to take exactly what you were feeling and write them into lyrics with a melody. Certain bands became dull after a while, but there are a rare few that still hold up on their own. These albums are hard to come by, with most people looking back at their Simple Plan collection with disappointed eyes. Among the rare gems people don't regret sits Your Favorite Weapon, an ode to the angst filled teen in everyone that still holds a strange taste of familiarity.

Written by the ever redefining alternative group known as Brand New, Your Favorite Weapon came out in 2001. The band is from Long Island, New York and this album is the first in their four album discography. Brand New has continually evolved in musical styles through out the years, so all their albums are worth checking out.

Your Favorite Weapon is in essence the life of a teen boy, filled with break up angst and parties. The album feels like some parts were taken right out of angry phone conversations and other parts feel like they were whispered to empty bottles at three in the morning.

The only single to ever hit the radios from this album was "Jude Law and a Semester Abroad." This song seeps of the fresh wounds of a break up. It is also one of the better examples of the layered verses Brand New does. At the end of the song the chorus comes in over the bridge melody and a secondary melody. Most bands wouldn't balance these elements well but Brand New does it with style.

Second up is the smooth regret filled "Last Chance to Lose Your Keys." The song is relatively simple in structure, with quick verses and a slow chorus, but it is in these moments that the vocals come through. The bridge hits the listener with layered vocals like I mentioned earlier. It might pay to mention that it isn't just the lead singer singing, its all the members of the band contributing.

Of all the angry songs on this album "Seventy Times Seven" is by far the angriest and most angst filled. The lyrics are more shouted than sung, lending to the feeling of anger and betrayal the song carries. Everything goes along until the bottom falls out for the bridge, which contains only a bass line, vocals, and a sparse rift from the guitar. Then as if there is an explosion, all the raw emotion comes flooding out and flows through the remainder of the song.

The final song on the album is something completely different, "Soco Amaretto Lime" is simply acoustic guitar and vocals. Sounding like everyones Senior year anthem, this song is epic for an entire different reason. The simple guitar melody accompanies smooth vocals that carries the album out in a haunting way. There is no need for drums or electric guitars, only emotion and chords.

The feeling of nostalgia this album gives most listeners is one felt through all demographics. Who doesn't remember staying up late, being heart broken, or having a crush on that one hot teacher. Everyone can relate to those feelings but few bands can take all the emotions and put them into one album. So in short, go give Your Favorite Weapon a listen to.

Always Listening

Nick