Taking Back Sunday just released their latest album, New Again, their first release since Louder Now, which was released in 2006 and was the bands most success commercially. This album marks the first effort without band member Fred Mascherino, who played guitar and provided back up vocals on several tracks. Mascherino left the band in 2007 to pursue his solo career The Color Fred.
In the Past - Taking Back Sunday in the 2000s
Taking Back Sunday first shot to fame in the early 2000’s as part of the emo scene, alongside bands like Brand New and Fall Out Boy. They are known for their heavy guitars, melodramatic lyrics and off-stage dramas. (A highly publicized feud with the musically superior Brand New, in-group fighting and members leaving, and a couple of high-profile relationships with other members of the scene were responsible for a lot of talk about the band).
Despite this, TBS had managed to release two albums, Tell All Your Friends and Where You Want To Be, which were popular in the alternative rock and emo circles, with Where You Want To Be even charting on the Billboard 200.
TBS have left those beginnings behind and headed towards a new sound, a little less “emo” and a little more mainstream.
New Again Emo and Culture
It was natural for the band to change their sound. Although successful in the past, loud guitars and heartbroken lyrics like “you could slit my throat and with my one last gasping breath I’d apologize for bleeding on your shirt” sound dated in a world that has already built up, and tore down, emo bands and culture. However the energy and intense passion found only with youth are gone from the band, and what remains is an attempt at a more mature sound.
This all being said, the album actually isn’t that bad. It’s a decent record, with modern rock anthems where Adam Lazzara’s swinging microphone and biting words are as obvious as ever. The songs have a more multilayered sound, and the shrieking vocals are used more sparingly, but the edge that makes it Taking Back Sunday is still there. The melodies are catchy and have a sing-along ability the fans love.
Whether you prefer the old sound of Where You Want To Be or can’t get enough of New Again, the Long Island rockers have offered up an interesting album definitely worth a listen.
New Again is out June 2.
Stand Out Tracks:
Capital M-E – Lazzara recently stated this song is about ex-member Fred Mascherino.
Sink Into Me – Catchy and fun first single
Carpathia – a more aggressive, modern rock sound than the band has attempted previously.
Tracklisting
- New Again
- Sink Into Me
- Lonely, Lonely
- Summer, Man
- Swing
- Where My Mouth Is
- Cut Me Up Jenny
- Catholic Knees
- Capital M-E
- Carpathia
- Everything Must Go
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