It's been three years since the release of their self-titled album and now, Taking Back Sunday are back. Their 2014 year so far has been filled with touring, festivals, one off shows and acoustic in-stores before the anticipated release of Happiness Is...which, with three years of ideas brewing, should've been one of their best albums yet.
For the first time in TBS history, the album begins with an instrumental/Preface, suggesting a new beginning and a new approach for the band. This has certainly been reflected throughout the album too. First single and technically, first track "Flicker, Fade" doesn't resemble a typical Taking Back Sunday song, there is not a lot or depth nor meaning behind it. The idea of changing sounds is predominantly a positive one amongst bands but this doesn't seem to be the case and in fact, the album sounds like a completely different artist. "Stood a Chance" seems like it could almost be a song by The Strokes and "Better Homes and Gardens" and "Like You Do" delivers a 00's pop punk vibe, something that the band have never done before. There are a couple of standout tracks for me, being "It Takes More" and "We Were Younger Then" yet the others are nothing more than a standard pop rock song. It's difficult to tell whether the fact that these songs, being nothing like before, show creativity or are simply playing it safe.
There is no particular theme or distinct sound throughout the album. Each song changes yet still somehow remains the same. The album is not great but not bad either. It is most certainly an easy listen and has the potential to be a 'grower'. Sadly, what isn't doubted is that this is not the best thing Taking Back Sunday have done.
Have you heard the album? What did you think?
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