Review Summary: The boys are back, taking Sunday the way they should have back in the early 2000s.
Obviously after the lows of New Again it was time for yet another grand change and so Taking Back Sunday ditched their guitarist Matt Fazzi and their bassist. And in their place they recaptured John Nolan and the bassist from Tell All Your Friends. Now seeing as the whole gang is back together and considering I didn't like Tell All Your Friends at all, you might think I'd hate this album. But nothing could be farther from the truth. I think this is probably as good as they will ever be again because quite frankly their tract record is pretty terrible. So this may be their last hurray but they sure made it a good one if that's the case, filling the album with stadium anthems and that signature heartbreak that made the first two albums such fan favorites among the teenagers of the times.
The first thing you'll notice upon spinning the album is the heavy almost hardcore intro El Paso. Its a great song don't get me wrong but in all reality, its really misleading. The rest of the album doesn't really sound anything like this at all. I've gotta say though it definitely sounds like a good way to start an album. From here things become more recognizable starting with Faith (When I Let You Down). This is what Jesus Christ from The Devil and God should have been; a touching tale about a guy who has lost faith in himself but hopes his friends can keep the faith in him. It's got some pretty sad subject matter but the song itself is a pretty, anthem of sorts with an awesome vocal soaring bridge and cool half time drumming at the end. The next song The Best Places to Me a Mom is a good song despite it's dumb title and manages to sound like a well produced version of an old Tell All Your Friends type of song. This is the type of song I would and do tell my friends about.
This isn't a perfect album however. Money is pretty boring, as well as It Doesn't Feel A Thing Like Falling, but the album picks way back up at the end with Since Your Gone, You Got Me, and Call Me in the Morning causing an awesome trifecta of good songwriting. Especially Call Me In the Morning where Adam actually sounds like the guy from Counting Crows for a bit, which is kind of a cool new sound for him. But later on in the chorus he gives me chills with those high notes. The whole vocal performance on the album is great and its good to have John Nolan back on guitar and he actually gives some cool guitar lines this time like in This Is All Now. Over all its definitely one of Taking Back Sunday's best albums and it might be the best they'll ever be again.
