EastScene

Back in the day, when Tell All Your Friends was the only thing spinning in my discman, it was a time where the word “emo” was slowly making its way into our everyday vocabulary. Guys started wearing girls jeans, dyeing their hair black and slicking it forward so that it covered 90% of their face, and sometimes going as far as wearing eyeliner and black nail polish. As for girls, they also dyed their hair black, wore big giant bows, painted eccentric makeup on their faces, and got piercings that I’m sure their mothers didn’t approve of. It was a notion that took over the hearts of teens all over, drowning them in the ballads and the catchy gut-wrenching lyrics and voice of one Adam Lazzara. 

Taking Back Sunday are known for putting on wild shows, with Lazzara swinging his microphone around his neck or jumping to his knees and singing until he can no longer breathe. Regardless of the song, the album, the year, that is one thing that always remained constant with the band.

New Again is the follow up to 2006’s release Louder Now, which is the most successful TBS album to date. No pressure, right? Of course not. This album is the first album without ex-guitarist Fred Mascherino, who left the band in late 2007 to pursue other musical ventures. The departure of Mascherino left a hole in some fans, questioning what the next album will sound like without Mascherino’s signature voice serving as backup vocals. However, new addition, Matt Fazzi, steps up and fills in the blanks pefectly.

One word can describe my thoughts on this new album, incredible. They’re back, and they’re back with a vengeance. They’ve picked up where they left off from Louder Now, maintaining the same style and sound, but improving it and adding new twists. Lazzara pushes his vocal limits on Cut Me Up Jenny, assuring us that he’s still capable of hitting all the right notes. He sings a ballad in Where My Mouth is, and the instruments compliment the lyrics in true TBS fashion. Sink Into Me is a classic rock anthem, along with Swing, and they both revive the sound from Louder Now.

I give the album 5 broken hearts out of 5, two giant black nail polished thumbs up, and five dudes in girls’ jeans out of five.

rock anthem – sink into me