Much like having a Coldplay cd at #47, I'm sure it may be a little surprising that a TBS entry is so far early. Well, let's get the bad out of the way. There are a few tracks that are forgettable and you can hear the new direction without the dual vocals with Fred Mascherino out of the band (however, I'm not 100% against the new sound, but more on that later). Personally, one of the tracks I still skip over for the most part, "Capital M-E" which is a direct shot at Fred. I just don't really like "drama songs" in general, but when it's my favorite band I just wish they would have taken the high road.
But this cd made the countdown for a reason, I didn't just put them there because of who they are. Let's see why.
As much as their sound has changed, I like it. Maybe I came at just the right time, but I feel I am growing with Taking Back Sunday. I would actually be put off if I heard songs like they were still in high school because I'm not, and neither are they. This cd was definitely a step in the direction of them becoming more of a rock band and less of an emo band. And I like this type of stuff. The other day I put this cd on while I was cleaning my room and listened to the whole thing because I was jammin out.
Some of the "good, but not great" tracks include include the title track, the first single "Sink Into Me," and what seems to be a lot of people's favorite "Summer, Man" which I also kind of don't like because there are a couple of lines in there that also take a shot at Fred. But even in these songs there are some amazing lyrics: "I'd like to be a note / The kind / You could sing but don't because you're shy / That way I'd live inside your throat / ...and hang from every word you spoke." Their second radio single "Where My Mouth Is" is a good slow track for them and this time I appreciate him being heartfelt as he sings "Where I lost not one, but two friends" referring to his early music feuds. Unlike songs like "Capital M-E" he is just baring his soul, not trash talking. I can't emphasize it enough, I could have done without that song haha.
But what shines here are when the band just go all out. My favorite tracks are "Lonely, Lonely" "Catholic Knees" "Cut Me Up Jenny" "Carpathia" and "Everything Must Go." Whenever "Lonely, Lonely" would come on in my car, I would just about blow my speaker system. The other songs are great and read like poetry, but "Everything Must Go" is the track that shines. Now, I am going to sound contradictory because this song is basically a huge F U to his ex, but it came at a time in my life when I could really relate to it. Plus, I have seen him perform it live twice and you can tell it is a song that he put a lot of emotions into.
So this cd, though mixed, deserves a spot on the top 50. And here a few songs that got it there.
**Editor's Note: Actually, youtube is sucking for these songs. They are there, but the voice sounds distorted and I can't do that injustice. So check out the cd, it is pretty good. But till then, check out this:
