Here's a fun fact: I sometimes get anxiety at the thought of discussing my favorite albums. It's just hard to convey the effect they have had on me. With that being said, I'm going to talk a little bit about the new Taking Back Sunday album. Their last album was powerful. The energy was electric and palpable, and I was nervous that it was a product of their reunion. Fortunately, this new album is no different. It pulses with loud guitars and heavy drums, but it leaves room for soft reflection.

It is odd to compare it to an album that came out over a decade ago, but "Tell All Your Friends" is undeniably influential. TBS maintains the TAYF energy on Happiness Is... but the themes have changed. This album is filled with a lot more nostalgia and an acceptance of oft-unfortunate events. Don't worry-- TBS has not gone soft. They still do angry really well. Also, the back and forth singing of Adam Lazzarra and John Nolan will always warm my heart in a way that no other pair of singers could. They have a give-and-take that is often only possible between siblings.

I love this album. I shared the videos for "Flicker Fade" and "Stood a Chance" but every song is great. A couple of my favorites include "It Takes More" and "Better Homes and Gardens." "Beat Up Car" calls to mind the Used, which makes sense since they are pretty close with that band.
This album really solidifies the new generation of the band as a music staple. Enjoy.

Taking Back Sunday always lifts my mood. Their new album Happiness Is... comes out in eight (8!) days, and they just released their second single from the album. The song is "Stood A Chance." Watch the video below:

Taking Back Sunday released a new song! It is called "Flicker Fade," and I love it (in case anyone had any doubts). It has all the energy of the last album with something else. It feels tight. It feels like Taking Back Sunday is supposed to feel: compassionate, empathetic, frustrated, hopeful, youthful, questioning, and old. It is no Tell All Your Friends, but it does have that same chemistry. Something was missing from the three albums while John Nolan and Shaun Cooper were gone, although I loved all those albums.

The album before the original gang got back together was called New Again, but that name would arguably be more appropriate for the new era of the band, which would include the self-titled and the upcoming album. This is newTaking Back Sunday, but the "again" comes into play with the energy and chemistry of the songs. The new song doesn't disappoint. Enjoy this video from their show at Starland Ballroom and look for their new album next spring.

Taking Back Sunday is in my top 5 favorite bands of all time, so I was naturally excited (see: ecstatic, crying, in shock) when I found out that they are embarking on a tenth anniversary tour in honor of their album Tell All Your Friends. This album was the defining album of my youth or teenage years, I guess. My friends and I listened to it non-stop. One night, my best friends and I walked down Junipero Serra Boulevard and sang the whole album from start to finish. When most of our friends were at Warped Tour, two friends and I stayed home (not by choice) and listened to the album all day long. This album was and is very important to me; to me, this is an album about friendship.

In addition to that, I have never seen Taking Back Sunday's original line-up, as John Nolan and Shaun Cooper left the band in early 2003. The first time I saw them was October 2003 at the Warfield in San Francisco. Anyways, they all reunited a few April Fools' Days ago, making everyone everywhere who cared think it was a joke. This is a big deal. October 13th in Lawrence, Kansas.