I remember a few years ago I used actually get slightly excited when Taking Back Sunday would come out with a new album. TBS’s last release, Louder Now was pretty much as far away from what I was expecting to hear from the band. Even though Louder Now wasn’t a bad album, it had a few songs but really sounded like it was made for the radio. We all know that one guy (Fred Mascherino) who left TBS to put all his effort into his boring emo band, The Color Fred. I’ll be honest I never really liked Fred, though some would even say that Fred was the backbone of the band. I competely disagree, the one former member who now has proved to me that he sure was a major part in the band’s sound is John Nolan.

John Nolan left the band after the first (and best album) Tell All Your Friends, and I think this is the sound I was hoping to hear for New Again. I mean hey, that guy (Fred) is finally out of the band, maybe we can take that old approach. That’s what I thought, anyway. However, frontman Adam Lazzara seems to disagree. As disappointing as it is, New Again, instead of sounding anything like NEW Taking Back Sunday, pretty much offers the same sound as Louder Now. Striving for radio play is this album’s biggest flaw. I guess maybe I was a fool to expect that raw, powerful Taking Back Sunday.

Songs “New Again” and “Sink Into Me” play as the singles from the album, one of which is worth listening to if you’re a fan of any past Taking Back Sunday, especially Louder Now. “New Again” would be the song I’m referring to; the song totatlly relies on Lazzara’s vocals, which are the same as they have always been, which is something that never changes about Taking Back Sunday. “Sink Into Me” is track two off the new album, and the second single as well, and this one is just bad. Some of the most basic song-writing on the entire album. Once again, what happened to the TBS that didn’t sound manufactured or over-produced?

It’s almost sad to me to see this band turn and totally rely on basic mainstream sound and technique to succeed. Every song is laid out the exact same I feel like, once again basic verse followed by an alternately catchy or shitty chorus. One song that doesn’t follow that layout is “Where My Mouth Is”, the sixth song on the album. Unfortunately even without its pop format, it is somehow still trapped inside of it. The song is based on Lazzara’s lyrics than the music more than anything. I want to like it, but I can’t.

The album has a very selective couple of songs that set themselves apart from the rest. Being a fan of the last album, Louder Now, it wasn’t hard to like some of these songs. “Cut Me Up Jenny” is one of the better songs from the album and features some of that old school Adam Lazzara singing. But it seems now the band has adpoted a new bassy, and basic sound, and I’m schocked at how bad the drumming has become. Honestly, if you’re a fan of past TBS albums like Louder Now, you will most likely enjoy this album, but for any of those TBS fans looking for that old sound and that new-age kick you will most likely be disappointed. A couple of songs make this album worth a listen but surely not worth your hard-earned 15 bucks.