Grade C-

When Alternative Press magazine ran its “most anticipated album list of 2005,” it included Brand New. Yet the New York-based quartet’s LP was released just last week — the band’s first since 2003’s.

There are several changes with the dark-toned band. A new musician serving the role of rhythm guitarist has joined the band. Derrick Sherman is the touring guitarist who is reportedly part of the band as of this year. Interscope Records has also recruited the band to its roster, diversifying the label’s already extended family of mainstream and once indie label supported bands.

After some online leaking of demos, the band has compiled several recordings drawing from as far back as March 2005 and ending with this year’s blossoming month of April. The collaborative end result is 12 tracks that sound briefly the same and hint writer’s block.

Is it emotional? No not really. Is it passionate? No not really. Is it good? Well, good in what sense?

Most of the guitars are heavily processed with delay and other sadness-evoking manipulations. Chord arpeggios serve as melodies among the range complacent vocals. Songs such as “Millstone” and “Handcuffs” serve as fine examples of the album’s enjoyable recording quality. The live nature of amplifiers is faintly heard above the squeaks of acoustic strings and the wetness of vocalist Jesse Lasey’s throat.

The time it took to write these songs seems wasted.

Adrian Finiak is a music critic for the Northern Star.