Brand New are one of the most inspiring, influential and greatest bands of the decade. So their fourth studio album, Daisy, must be one of 2009’s best albums, right? Well maybe. Probably. Hard to tell really.

For one, Daisy is a bit of a headache. It’s a hurricane of 11 tracks that neither complement nor mesh with each other. Raw emotion that at times feels like the band might just implode on themselves. Take Vices, the opening track, starting off with a good minute of gospel mumble jumble before exploding into Jesse Lacey screeching “we all need vices / well you took my hope and my marriage licence” against screaming incoherent guitars. Brand New have never sounded so loud or heavy.

But then comes Bed, the second track on Daisy and arguably one of Brand New’s most soft and beautiful tracks to date. Proof that Brand New are as inconsistent as ever – heavy? Soft? Who knows? Lyrically this song is pure poetry. Open to much interpretation it appears to re-enact the downfall of the Biblical Adam and Eve with each verse taking the point of view of either Adam, Eve or the snake. Take the second verse which is obviously the snake: “My eyes are lungs / I’m a prophet and I speak in tongues / I know how you’ll die / your sister groans, ‘are you usurper to the holy throne?’ / To me she’s just a dead spy.” It’s hard to describe this song as anything other than lyrical genius.

Equally as delicate is You Stole – another song depicting lyrics about flames and sleep. This entire album worryingly centres on endings and religion. Hopefully Brand New are just taking a leaf out of Matt Bellemy’s (Muse) conspiracy book as oppose to this being the final instalment of Brand New. And to complete the holy trio of soft and gorgeous we have At The Bottom which is as equally as brilliant as the former two.

Be Gone is a track that has to be heard to be believed. Bluesy guitars with vocals so warbled Lacey might as well be singing under water. Listening to it you cannot help but feel uneasy wondering if you’re being brainwashed but for this song it would be worth it. Be Gone is utterly fabulous.

So where does this album go wrong? Well it doesn’t really. Gasoline, In a Jar, Sink – all amazing tracks from an amazing album. The thing is Daisy IS one of 2009′s best albums. This album is quite frankly spectacular but the problem is that when matched to Brand New’s previous albums Daisy just doesn’t seem to compare. Brand New have clearly made an album of the music they want to play – and kudos to them – but when you have been spoiled with such brilliance in the past you can’t help but feel a little disappointed with the outcome.