Review: Iceage- New Brigade

So about a week and a half ago, broseph stalin and I went to a small sweaty club in Austin to check out Danish punk heroes Iceage. In no way did I think the visceral sounds that came from their debut album "New Brigade" could translate or be as brutal. Not only was I wrong, I was glad to be wrong, all while I feared for my life, mainly because the crowd was as rowdy as I've seen and someone threw a trashcan. But back to the album, have I mentioned it's brutal? Because it is. It may be weird to see a bunch of kids who wouldn't be able to drink, if they lived in the U.S., make such amazing music, but here we are and I hope we're in for the long haul.

Punk rock has been kind of a laughable genre as of late, the bastardization of it in the states has been supremely annoying because bands have forgotten the spirit of it (brosephstalin's take: Kind of true, but bands like No Age, Titus Andronicus, Screaming Females, Ted Leo, OFF!, etc. have been doing a good job of reminding people that punk is more than Fall Out Boy, Vagrant Records and Hot Topic.). "New Brigade" has the spirit and a smidge over 20 minutes, it's hard to remember the fact that most of these records didn't try to make three minute pop songs. Each of these tunes has a point, with only one reaching your average three minute length time. Tunes like "Remember" and "Collapse" are relatively short, but they prove their point in such a way that at a tad bit longer, it would not only over stay its welcome, but you'd be way too tired to even go on to the next tune.

There's a few duds in the mix, album closer "You're Blessed" would've been right at home with Drive Thru Records (brosephstalin's take: Uhhhh, what? That sounds nothing like Drive Thru Records), and "Eyes" cuts off before it gets real interesting, but it's all neatly packed to where it's not exactly weighing down the album, after all, you could probably finish listening to this album while watching an episode of South Park without the commercials, it's quick and to the point and doesn't make you think any less or any more of what it should teach you. After all, if this were any longer, it would probably burn you alive.

But back to that concert last week. I may have feared for my life (brosephstalin's take: You should have no fear, when you are with brosephstalin) all thanks to some kids who are younger than me and look weaker than I am (I'm not exactly a tall or muscular gentleman) (brosephstalin's take: I am though. Ladies???? I'm kidding. I'm totally taken.), which is why it's all the more enjoyable. Not a fuck in the world was or should have been give, because it's all fun and dangerous and for the people. Oh, and these kids are 18 and 19 and have only made the best debut album of the year and play their shows with enough energy to have you spent. I hope to God I have to pray to him many more times because of these kids.



**** 1/2 out of *****

brosephstalin's take



I have NEVER added anything to reviews, in the short history of TheGrandeBurrito (that's bro sport's job), but this album and the sheer joy that it brings me has led to this moment (Savor it. I might never do this again).

I have to admit. I am a little biased when it comes to music like this. I love discordant, noisy, no wave-influenced, hardcore music. For a good part of my college years, all I listened to was the No New York compilation, Big Black, and Lightning Bolt. (Those were rad times! Shout out to Kennedy, McNutt, Yee and Coach Fran!) But, I am getting off topic, so let's get back to Iceage.

Anyways, even if you are not a fan of music like this, you will love this album. It's urgent, it's chaotic, it might be hard to digest (due to the no wave influenced sound), but the pop sensibility is there. It's an album not built on months of internet hype (*cough* Cults *cough* Odd Future *cough* Puro Instinct *cough*), but built on the product itself. Although the songs are very short, they're filled with passion, intensity, and complex noises that grab your attention with no intention to let go, until the album is over.

I highly recommend you pick up a copy of this album. This is the best album of year, so far, and a potential modern classic.

***** out of *****
(On the Pitchfork Scale, this would be a 9.81585268423684365)

Bonus Post: brosephstalin's top 5 albums of the year, so far (in order):

• Iceage - New Brigade
• The Weeknd - House of Balloons Mixtape
• Yuck - Yuck
• Wugazi - 13 Chambers
• Woods - Sun & Shade