Classic & Current Contemporary Non-Schlock-Rock Metropolitan Music

New Again (Jun. 2, 2009) - Taking Back Sunday

« Taking Back Sunday

When I first heard of Taking Back Sunday in the mid-00s, I dismissed them as a generic band not worth checking out. I can't say why. It's not like I had actually listened to their music, watched any Taking Back Sunday videos, or read anything about them. Part of this was because I was too pre-occupied with other bands and just did not have the time to find out who they were.

Fortunately I did get to find out who Taking Back Sunday are when I attended two of the 2007 Projekt Revolution shows. My primary interest in the event was My Chemical Romance and fortunately I was there early enough to catch Taking Back Sunday's set at both shows. What I heard was upbeat driving rock with a classic pop undertone. The energy level was on par with bands like The Alarm and The Replacements. Adam Lazzara (who used to live in North Carolina not far from Deaconlight HQ) shared lead vocals with guitarist Fred Mascherino. Adam twirled his microphone cord around while Fred sang lead. I have heard that one time while he was doing that he bashed bassist Matt Rubano in the head with the mic.

Fred eventually left Taking Back Sunday to put together his own band called The Color Fred. When I interviewed Fred at Warped Tour 2008, he told me he wanted to focus more on recording and performing his songs the way he created them rather than having them changed through Taking Back Sunday's songwriting process. I detected there had been some tension during the latter part of his tenure with Taking Back Sunday and that having his own band was working out much better for him. Fred was very diplomatic about the way he explained all this, however, being careful not to say anything specifically negative about his former bandmates.

The next time I saw Taking Back Sunday play live was December 2008. After Fred's departure, guitarist and vocalist Matt Fazzi came on board not so much to replace Fred as to add a new dimension to the band's sound. Taking Back Sunday were doing a small tour to get more practice with their newest band member and practice performing songs from their forthcoming, New Again.

A few days prior to the gig, Deaconlight interviewed Taking Back Sunday bassist Matt Rubano. Matt explained how the addition of the other Matt enhanced the band's ability to take off in new directions and kick things up a notch. Like Fred, he was diplomatic in explaining the lineup change, just noting that everyone was happier and more relaxed. His excitement about the new album was infectious so I was very anxious to hear the new songs.

As much as I like Taking Back Sunday's earlier songs, I found the new tracks they played at that December gig to be even better. That began the long, long wait for the release of New Again. The band offered a free download of the title track in April and released the single "Sink Into Me" a few weeks later.

Taking Back Sunday are touring the USA this summer to support the album. Check them out if they are in your area.

-- 10 June 2009 (DDT)

Taking Back Sunday - New Again Original Album Tracks

1. New Again
2. Sink Into Me
3. Lonely, Lonely
4. Summer, Man
5. Swing
6. Where My Mouth Is
7. Cut Me Up Jenny
8. Catholic Knees
9. Capital M-E
10. Carpathia
11. Everything Must Go