Are we still talking about dick picks? I've received like 15 of them without my permission when I was underage, I don't see what the big deal is. Also yeah, this is a Brand New thread, please talk about Converge or begone.

bro

Album Rating: 4.0

yeah converge is really bad too

Album Rating: 4.0

Yup. Harrrible band

Album Rating: 5.0

There's no doubt that plenty of people would still listen to Brand New if they dropped another album (I would), but I sorta hope they don't? The graveness of the allegations is something that shouldn't be discarded in favor of idle theorizing about a will they, won't they comeback, but since we're on the topic anyway, here's how I'd personally see it going:

With the band's previous albums, they were all heard in context. That allowed us to form a super tight connection with the music, sometimes even spilling over into our personal lives - helping us through depression, loss of a loved one, whatever. The allegations came out afterwards, which seems like a minor detail but it's super important. To a casual fan, it was probably easier to discard their collective work/contributions to the genre than it was for someone like me who spent decades forming memories around their music (TDAG got me through the death of my best friend). My inability to let go of that is of course nobody's problem except for my own.

Looking at it from the perspective of a new album, however -- let's pretend the band drops a surprise comeback LP this summer. First of all, I think my initial reaction would be one of dread instead of elation. It would be much more difficult to listen to Brand New knowing what I know now. I'm less likely to relate to music from someone who I no longer see as a decent, humble man. I'm sure I'd still like the music, and could probably find plenty of redeeming qualities should I choose to look for them -- but that special, intangible connection simply won't return now that the truth is out there. To quote Vices, "those days are dead."

All in all, they could probably pull off a comeback. They can still write great music, and people would buy it - right or wrong, it's the truth. But that mystical allure, that illusion of hidden genius and poeticism - you know, all the stuff that made Brand New into these godlike mythical figures in indie-rock - has vanished. I'm not sure if personal redemption is possible for Lacey, but it would be a necessary precursor for a BN comeback to feel anything other than empty. I'd need to believe that he's owned up to his mistakes like a man before approaching any new music with anything other than hesitation, trepidation, and slight embarrassment. My attachment to their old material was born out of ignorance because nobody knew what was going on. While I'd still listen to a new album of theirs if it came out, I could never look up to Lacey/BN in the same way or idolize their art to the point that it'd become a cathartic vessel, which for a band like Brand New, sort of destroys everything that made them special in the first place.

Album Rating: 4.0

I think that's what makes it different from, say, Chris Brown. No one had an emotional connection to Chris Brown's music, it's dance music. Brand New got people through depression, gave them a voice and a friend where they may have thought they didn't have one, etc. Hearing that your hero, your friend, the only one who seemed to understand and voice your situation was actually a shitty person is devastating.



Me, on the other hand... I had no personal connection to Brand New. I just liked the music. He's not my hero, I never thought he was a particularly good person to begin with (I actually saw him as a person who very clearly saw his flaws, with the lyrics he wrote). So when I heard it, I just didn't care that much except feeling bad that that girl had been harassed.



If Brand New dropped a record, I'd listen to it if the music was good. If it wasn't, then I wouldn't. That's all I would care about. Contrast that with AILD, who I DID have an emotional connection with--I'll probably never listen to them again.

Album Rating: 5.0

I love Brand New's music, but I don't want to support new music if they ever decided to come back. I loved this music before the stuff came out, and I still enjoy it (though it is a bit tainted). I don't listen to it nearly as much as I used to, but I knew he was a messed up guy. The music helped me through some dark times.



Best thing I can say is don't make people your heroes. Almost all of these people are messed up. I love Nine Inch Nails and believe that Trent Reznor is a good person now, but I know he probably did some fuck shit in the 90's when he was an addict if any of my friends who are now sober have mentioned is any indication.

Album Rating: 5.0

I mean didnt David Bowie literally fuck underage groupies

I have no problem separating the art from the artist

People get so mad when I shit talk Bowie lmao

Dude was a notoriously prolific kid diddler, and 1000% worse than Lacey

Album Rating: 5.0

yer fond of me diddling children! Yer fond of me fucking kids, I seen it!



Fuck it this might get removed but I’m sorry slex I can’t not make Lighthouse references when you pop up in a thread

Lighthouse references yes angsty whataboutism no

yer fond of me diddling children! Yer fond of me fucking kids, I seen it!

alright have it your way I like your diddling

Album Rating: 4.0

damn sowing sounds like a teenage girl who got her heartbroke and is talking to her best friend all night about it figuring out what went wrong and what could have been and so on. poor guy must be wrecked by how the legacy of brand new has evolved

Album Rating: 3.5

LMAOOOOOOOO

Album Rating: 5.0

dude it’s not angsty whataboutism when I acknowledge both are pieces of shit.

I like Jesse Lacey’s work, and I like David Bowie’s work. Both did heinous shit, I enjoy both of their art despite knowing they’re both dickheads. End thread

That was mainly directed at Slex mboi. take no prisoners whataboutism > angsty whataboutism if we're picking them bones here

Album Rating: 4.0

well actually it was 50/50 of his 50 wildcard was receiving positive reinforcement that he turned into snappy anger issues =0

are you suggesting we need another Purge

Album Rating: 4.0

wildcard will just come back as a new user even with a purge. can't kill hepkat.

only hepcat can kill hepcat. one day he will walk into the wrong thrift store and that will be that forever