Returning with their original line-up, and recording their first album together since 2002’s seminal Tell All Your Friends, Taking Back Sunday sound like a band with a lot to prove on this latest record. Their previous offering New Again was hardly life-affirming, and was without a doubt the worst album they had released in what had been a stellar career to that point. With that in mind, a lot is on the line with this release, and with Shaun Cooper and John Nolan returning to the fold, expectations are high for this eponymous release.
And it doesn’t disappoint either. Opener El Paso sounds to me like latter day TBS, and although I am sure it will get better with further listens, it doesn’t feel representative of the strength of the album which subsequently follows. Faith (When I Let You Down) and Best Places To Be A Mom sees Taking Back Sunday returning to the sound on which they made their name with irresistible vocal interchanges between front man Adam Lazarra and the returning Nolan, and some excellent choruses and melodic hooks.
From that point forward, “Taking Back Sunday” as an album is a cracking listen, bringing back memories of their earlier material, whilst never once sounding regressive in the slightest. The band are as tight as ever, and Lazarra’s vocals are in fine voice throughout, often pushing his technical boundaries and range to fine effect, done more so than on the likes of album closer Call Me In The Morning.
Before we get to that stage though, the likes of Since You’re Gone, This Is All Now, It Doesn’t Feel A Thing Like Falling, and Who Are You Anyway are true highlights, each track being anthemic, and a platform for the singer’s emotive lyrics, pained vocal delivery and returning some of the bands early “emo” influences. to solid drumming.
Overal this a great record, which with some added familiarity, will undoubtedly score higher in the future, and get better and better. This hints to a bright future, and the poster boys of emo have grown up gracefully into a world class band, ready once more to take their crown back from their peers.
A welcome return.
8.5 / 10
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