Yeah, I'm really not overly impressed. I think it's possibly what is to be expected as the band get older and there is such a big gap between the last release. A few good songs but mostly I just feel it's a bit flat or 'samey'. As if these could all be songs intermixed on various BN albums but all taken out and stuck on their own album and it's a bit... boring?
It's not even as if I don't like slow or softer songs. Apart from my youth roots in rock, metal, pop punk, punk and so on a lot of what I listen to today is post rock, instrumental and ambient. Plenty of slower tunes. Heck, Carrisas Wierd are a band I love, as well as Band of Horses. Brand New usually deliver great acoustic or minimal songs too, so, yeah.
I'll need to see if it grows on me, but for now this isn't the Brand New I wanted, I don't think. Maybe it doesn't help I've spent the last 24-48 hours spinning through the old albums.
On a completely unrelated note Google Chrome Android beta has moved the tab bar to the bottom and it's doing my head in getting used to it lol.