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Epitaph Records -- Millencolin

With 2002's infamous Tell All Your Friends, Taking Back Sunday set a pretty high bar for the post-hardcore pop-influenced genre that everyone decides to call emo. Their sound, somewhere between Thursday and Saves the Day, caused a figurative explosion within the scene. Cue a dramatic Livejournal-traumatizing split with guitarist and backing vocalist John Nolan and bassist Shaun Cooper, the release of the incredibly underwhelming Where You Want to Be, and fast-forward to the "louder" Taking Back Sunday, debuting on Warner Bros. Records with Louder Now.

I will say that I still stand by my one-star review of WYWTB. When there was talk that the band was returning to their 'roots,' it seemed encouraging. The single, "MakeDamnSure," isn't what I'd call amazing, but certainly has learnings of a day when TBS could construct a wonderful pop-punk song, hopefully being a good introduction of things to come.

The good news is that with the re-recorded "Error Operator," the band has finally delivered a song that can match the bar set with their classics like "Cute Without the 'E'" and "Ghost Man on Third." The re-done bridge and the slight production really put this song into the "Would be fun as hell to see live" category. "Spin" also manages to bring back the energy that the band had with "Blue Channel." "I'll Let You Live" has potential, but is muddled down by never finding out what kind of song it wants to be.

The rest of the album faults the same way Where You Want to Be faulted. For the most part, the lyrics are, once again, incredibly repetitive. The obligatory acoustic song is painfully bad. "Miami" is terrible. To be honest, the first time I listened to this album in full I found myself bored with a majority of it. There aren't any sudden breakout parts like the end of "Timberwolves at New Jersey," and aside from the aforementioned songs, nothing of interest guitar, bass, or drum-wise. The songs, for the most part, involve a couple verses, a few choruses, and a breakdown featuring overproduced or near-whispered vocals for 'effect.' There are big distractions with the production; everything seems like it was played an octave too high, and the usually hard-hitting drums are muffled behind overdriven guitars and too much attention on the vocals.

Part of what made the production on Tell All Your Friends was the constant assault of two guitars, two vocalists, amazing drums and usually changing-up bass-lines. The magnification of the vocals only emphasizes the fact that this album can't hold the weight of its predecessors in the lyrical department. There is a disconnection between the vocals and the music that makes the album hard to listen to.

I'm not saying that Louder Now is always bad, but I am saying it's getting old and pretty boring. Taking their often-compared counterparts in Brand New under consideration, Taking Back Sunday simply hasn't grown. While the last album's lack of maturity could be blamed on the band being re-formed, they've been a single group now for long enough that there should be some sense of growth. Instead, what I'm hearing is the best impersonation of old Taking Back Sunday that the new Taking Back Sunday could put together.

Tell All Your Friends set in motion a plethora of Taking Back Sunday rip-offs whose albums were nothing but plagairized half-screams and lyrics that gave suburban kids a false sense of tragedy in order to justify their silver-spoon lives. While bands like Thursday and Brand New are growing up and out of the trends they were responsible for setting in motion, raising the bar on themselves and the bands around them, Taking Back Sunday seems content to rest in the laurels of their mediocrity, proving the band that was the most successful at ripping them off was themselves.



People who liked this also liked:
Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your FriendsMy Chemical Romance - Three Cheers For Sweet RevengeFall Out Boy - Take This to Your GraveFall Out Boy - From Under The Cork TreeWeezer - The Blue AlbumWeezer - PinkertonPanic! At the Disco - A Fever You Can't Sweat OutAlkaline Trio - From Here To InfirmaryMy Chemical Romance - The Black ParadeBrand New - Deja Entendu



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    Posted by flannagin94 on 2008-03-25 23:00:28

    That is a mean thing to say tommy, tbs is the best bad in the world....... I am sorry I couldn't keep a straight face while typing that. Well siad Tommy that was the best peice of literature I have ever read. Try and beat that Bill Shakespear.

    Posted by TommyPickles on 2008-03-25 22:52:09

    Oh man look at me I am Adam Lazzara I throw the microphone up in the air and catch it around my neck, I am so fucking punk.

    Posted by dieron on 2007-08-06 13:21:59

    i think this review pretty much nailed it.

    Posted by couraegous on 2007-05-27 20:16:24
    My Score:

    ANYWAY.
    this is my favorite album out of all of TBS' work.
    on all the other ones there have been songs i loved and songs i couldn't stand
    but i love just about every song on louder now.

    thank you adam.
    you're amazing.

    Posted by chickswithdicks on 2006-08-23 15:19:03
    My Score:

    there sure are alot of comments for a band that everyone says sucks...

    Posted by larold on 2006-07-28 15:46:29

    i don't really like this cd....it has some decent songs on it but that is few and far between...i used to enjoy their music...now it seems too forced and mediocre

    Posted by Mr_Streetcore on 2006-07-03 16:04:10

    whats the pont of taking back sunday? when you have happy mondays!

    Posted by RBD-biatchh on 2006-07-01 23:21:49
    My Score:

    i love this cd!!!
    TBS is awesome.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 at 8:45 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    taking back sunday are awesome

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, June 18, 2006 at 4:51 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I don't feel this album was fairly reviewed. An extremely bias opinion about how someone feels that Taking Back Sunday don't fit into their lives anymore. I personally think its a great album. Only one song i dislike "Divine Intervention" for it bores me. And as for the repetative lyrics...it seems as if they were listened to incorrectly. At first glance they may seem the same but if you truly wanted to give the album a good chance you would have thought about the lyrics. I thought about the lyrics and found their individual meanings. And also just because you feel TBS arn't Emo enough for you anymore lusten to someone else...if TBS changed think how many fans that love their music that would miss them. Like the comment a few below me; if they are good and successful why do they need to "mature"?

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 10, 2006 at 2:33 AM (EDT)

    Um, to the little bitch three posts below, cheap, ignorant shots at your fellow commenters sexual orientation will not make the album any better, and only impune your intelligence. Though I have to conceed, "TBS rocks!"

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 29, 2006 at 5:41 PM (EDT)

    yes i waste time reading comments about this stuff, they are all pretty much the same, tell all your friends is soo amazing, tbs without nolan sucks. well, ok. most of my friends who have listened to tayf and wywtb didnt even notice different singers and most of them being new to the band liked wywtb better.personally i like tell all yourfriends but where you want to be is not horrible like everyone loves to claim. and if you read other reviews by people who dont normally listen to the band they like the album alot including the terrible miami and twenty twenty surgery. as for this one sounding heavier like the o so heavy tell all your friends your stupid. the blue channel might be the only one considered heavy off of that one. people complain tbs hasnt changed or evolved like brand new has. why should they? they are succesful as what they are. metallica changed and now they suck. if that happened to tbs you all would be like why did they change they should go back to what they were. id consider this my least favorite out of tbs albums but it is not at all as bad as colin says. because they have gained massive amounts of fans since a decade andfrom mds.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 25, 2006 at 4:07 AM (EDT)

    Louder now is not boring..if you could only understand the lyrics of the songs i'm sure you'll find it good.."where you want to be" may be slower than "tell all your friends" but louder now is damnsure loud enough to kick some ass!!!!1

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 25, 2006 at 4:03 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    TBS is the best!!! if you dont like it, well nobody's forcing you to like it!! you're all gay!!!TBS Rocks!!!!if ever i will meet the anti TBS squad, i'll makedamnsure that you can't ever leave...!!! LONG LIVE TAKING BACK SUNDAY!!!!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 19, 2006 at 11:49 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Taking Back Sunday was already one of the best bands ever, but after this album it is a sure thing. Just because there music isn't as emo anymore and all you little punk bitches dont think it relates to your lifes anymore doesn't mean they suck....means they've matured. This band kicks ass.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 19, 2006 at 11:44 AM (EDT)

    i agree with that last comment, TBS owns

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 19, 2006 at 11:41 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    first off, TBS is sick, and adam is a lyrical genius. and for the person who said that adam cant sing live, i have been to several of their shows and im going again, and he definately can sing. the ratings for their cds should go, tell all your friends-9.5, where you want to be-7.5 and louder now-10. best band ever.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 at 3:25 PM (EDT)

    i dont like how this was reveiwed. This is a wicked awesome album and its gay that you don't like it! "Makedamnsure" is the best song i ever heard in my life. And Adam Lazzara is gorgeous.

    Posted by Monica2424 on 2006-05-17 15:24:45

    i dont like how this was reveiwed. This is a wicked awesome album and its gay that you don't like it! "Makedamnsure" is the best song i ever heard in my life. And Adam Lazzara is gorgeous.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, May 13, 2006 at 8:09 PM (EDT)

    i love this CD!

    taking back sunday is my absolute FAVORITE band.
    they always have the BEST songs, and not to mention adam is damn sure a hottie : )

    I L O V E Y O U T A K I N G B A C K S U N D A Y ! : ) : )

    Posted by md40_07 on 2006-05-09 21:03:10
    My Score:

    nothing special

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 8, 2006 at 11:48 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Disappointing album.
    Bad review.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 4, 2006 at 5:39 PM (EDT)

    'tell all your friends' and 'where you want to be' are both pretty fun albums at times. it's music you can drive around and have your windows down and have it cranked up stuff.

    this new cd is just, not as fun i guess?

    and i caught them on conan the other night, i'm not much of a fan of this band so i've never seen them live..but man that dude cannot sing live for crap! he flat out sucked.

    Posted by domotime on 2006-05-04 15:00:41
    My Score:

    I couldnt agree more with the review of this album. Where You Want To Be was a very weak album, and this album is no different. There is probably 2 or 3 quality songs on the album, the rest being very very borring.

    I'm not a fan of this genre, but i would've given it props for being catchy, fun, or electric...but it's neither.

    Posted by ilovesonny on 2006-05-04 13:29:32

    If poeple hate this band so much then why are they on their review? Why dont they go on the review of the bands that they actually like? i dont get it. Get a fucking life!!!
    Oh and by the TBS is awesome and no one can convince me and the other fans otherwise

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 4, 2006 at 11:24 AM (EDT)

    What are you all talking about i am so lost but i do know that tbs and dwp are the bestest bands in the world well so is soad!!!the all rock

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 4, 2006 at 11:22 AM (EDT)

    This is the best ever i love love love this band the kick ass

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 at 10:42 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Whoever wrote this is a douche and a half. This is the same guy who gave Saves the Day's new one a 4 out of 5. Are you kidding me?
    Why must every review have to be compared with their early stuff? THIS IS A DIFFERENT BAND. This album is straight hard rock... nothing more, nothing less.
    'Spin' and 'Twenty-Twenty Surgery' are the best songs on the album hands down. 'Error Operator', 'MakeDamnSure', and 'I'll Let You Live' are all very solid songs. OK so maybe there's a few weaker songs... so what. I can live with that why can't you???

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 at 6:53 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I love it. Most of the songs at least. I love TBS so much though. I have to agree about the repetitive part though. They do tend to reiterate alot of the lyrics, but it's all good.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 at 6:45 PM (EDT)

    And I like the original version of Error: Operator better. The new one is waaaayy to over-produced.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 at 6:42 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    At least the slow song on this album isn't nearly as shitty as the one on Where You Want To Be.
    Overall not too shabby. I was a little worried before it came out.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 at 5:28 PM (EDT)

    I bought this album because of all the hype everyone was giving it "its the best shit theyve ever done". WTF? This album left me wanting to discontinue listening within the first two songs. It's that bad.

    Posted by Kidswhowearmakeuprgay on 2006-05-03 13:07:56
    My Score:

    Plain bad review.

    Posted by Kidswhowearmakeuprgay on 2006-05-03 12:59:34

    Wow good review like with contents but i cant help it to imagine this reviewer as a lil bitch. Honestly hes prob a faggy nerd. Ive never have heard such a smart review but dumb reviewer. Its def not 1.5/5 Id say 2.5/5 and WYWB 2/5 cuz they have made improvements. TBS wasnever the same when John Nolan left....i miss him. I think u shouldnt review music and review somethingelse. Wow this reviewer is gay.

    Posted by Mr_Streetcore on 2006-05-02 06:09:58

    Slayer fans are going to destroy taking back sundays fans at reading festival this year

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 at 1:28 AM (EDT)

    most of your complaints about this album are somewhere along the lines that it is inherently forgetable. this genere gets more than its share of hecklers calling it "plagued by mediocrity". what we as listeners all too commonly overlook is the role of mediocer efforts. if every record was amazing, no records would be amazing. if every effort from a band was groundbreaking, nothing would stick around long enough for listeners to catch on. without these trends, the entire foundation for this industry would be non-existent and it couldn't exist. without this industry, the volumes of music so easily accessible to you would probably never reach your ears. everything is dependent on these mediocer releases.
    this record is not amazing, but it does serve its purpose as a step in a slightly different direction then their other works. before you complain because this is album is nothing new, remember that if it wasn't for albums like this, those "relationship of command" or for some, "tell all your friends" caliber albums would not be what they are to you.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 1, 2006 at 5:07 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i'm with fritobandito. first 3 tracks are by far the best. makedamnsure is far and away the album standout. the worst song has to be the acoustic one, although the filler 'up against', 'miami' and the painfully boring album closer really make it all add up to mediocrity at its best. I'm starting to think 'where you want to be' is better. but not much.

    Paul

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 1, 2006 at 9:58 AM (EDT)

    thisis a decent album.

    Posted by soulbleed on 2006-04-30 23:06:22
    My Score:

    this review was too harsh, as was the score. this album isn't bad.

    Posted by fritobandito on 2006-04-30 19:13:46

    I gotta say, I was diggin this album quite a bit more than I thought I would for the first few tracks. But then it went downhill INCREDIBLY fast.

    I agree with the reviewer about the acoustic track. Seriously, that shit was just fucking horrible. Considering how often these kids are propped up next to Brand New, I thought the acoustic prowess might be similar (Brand New's acoustic shit is just amazing. all of it.). Alas, I was incredibly disappointed.

    The first three songs are some damn fun pop anthems though.

    Posted by punksxe on 2006-04-30 18:55:55

    first off i am not a emo kid i burned it off a friend she said it was great and since she's kinda hot i gave it a spin. the first thing you will notice is that it there no longer emo or indie but more hard rock the lyric content did not change there still complaining like fucking babies about why there girlfriends dumped them all i can say is SHUT THE FUCK UP. the music is not to bad but i cant get into this music no matter how hot the girl who gave it to me is

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 30, 2006 at 5:58 PM (EDT)

    Anybody having trouble importing this into Itunes to put on their iPod? It keeps rejecting my cd.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 30, 2006 at 1:36 PM (EDT)

    dude below me. it sounds like 'wywtb' part 2, but with glossier and more powerful production, courtesey of good charlotte producer, eric valentine. nothing new lyrically, vocally or musically. eh. its pretty average. makedamnsure and error operator are by far the 2 best songs.

    Paul

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 30, 2006 at 12:46 PM (EDT)

    I haven't heard this yet so I have no idea what it sounds like. But, some people are complaining that it sounds too much like their old style, and some are complaining that they changed their sound and don't sound like they used to.

    Which one is it?

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 30, 2006 at 11:33 AM (EDT)

    3/10 makes this better than WYWTB. Sorry?

    This is terrible - only Error: Operator stands up with anything else they've done, in the same way the only great track on WYWTB was Slowdance.

    This album lacks the two main ingredients that made TAYF any good - urgency and lyrical talent (take the selection of 'best lines' from the sleeve - uniformly pointless attempts to be clever).

    Overproduced to the point where it throttles any life and passion out of whatever they were trying to come up with.

    Aside from the score I agree with the reviewer. This is a band trying to recapture what made them vital in the first place and failing miserably, perhaps they should rename themselves Taking Back Wednesday because it's the only way it'd be more obvious how hard they're trying to be a TBS tribute band.

    LK

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 30, 2006 at 11:22 AM (EDT)

    for some reason i hear this record.... HOw can a band like this be on warner? it blows my mind!

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 30, 2006 at 3:41 AM (EDT)

    first of all, no band wants to be called "emo," except for those really whiny ones who sings like that to appeal to "scene kids"

    i have been a taking back sunday fan since it started. they had their small shows and were great at playing live.

    its true that tell all your friends is their best album. however, they have grown, matured and realized they cant stick to the same sound. if they did stick to the same sound, everyone would say "they sound the same. nothing change. how boring"

    in louder now, the lyrics truly changed. many people whine about this, that its more repetitive, meaningless etc. i disagree. their lyrics are repetitive and catchy, which is good. also their lyrics are more abstract. (that is why probably all the emo kids hate it. they have no song to cry with)

    im sorry for all the emo, scene kids or whatever you label yourselves, taking back sunday is never in that genre. and as i see in this album, they still have the great sound and awesome lyrics.

    Posted by Scruffy on 2006-04-30 02:26:58

    First, it's amazing that it took this long for the street teamers to show up.

    Second, I'd venture to say that the first so many largest independent record labels are probably world music, jazz and hip-hop labels.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 30, 2006 at 2:14 AM (EDT)

    mother fucker you didnt listen to "emo" in the 90s. shut the fuck up

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 29, 2006 at 11:05 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    jealous much?

    a band writes a good record and you pull a "i dont like saves the day anymore" bullshit.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 29, 2006 at 6:39 PM (EDT)

    no you didnt say this is emo. emo-influenced? slightly. still not emo. It would be much appretiated if you guys would stop throwing that term around like an insult. Emo music was excellent while it stayed true to itself back in the 90's, but I haven't heard much of it since then.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 29, 2006 at 5:46 PM (EDT)

    for the record, taking back sunday arent punk. at all. not even pop-punk. the music itself, without vocals, isnt punk. put in the lyrics, its still not punk. its just emo. maybe u can even dare to call it indie. but its not punk. its punk INFLUENCED, no doubt about that. but not punk. or pop-punk. this album is better than their old stuff, while im not a big fan of the band ill give them that. and the single off the cd is pretty catchy, i actually really like it.

    Posted by RobSeymour on 2006-04-29 15:01:24

    Well-stated. Tell All Your Friends was one of the best albums ever written. Everything since then has been a mediocre at best.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 29, 2006 at 12:17 AM (EDT)

    You suck at life. This CD is great. You're a giant douchebag for expecting them to write another Tell All Your Friends.. well this new sound, which is still Taking Back Sunday rivals the TAYF TBS.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 29, 2006 at 12:05 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I love it!!!!

    Posted by arturoroxmysox on 2006-04-28 21:55:35

    "Can you really call someone a fag for not liking an emo record? That's a tough call Andy. That's a tough call..."

    THIS ISNT AN EMO RECORD.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 28, 2006 at 9:51 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    This review was a joke. The author criticizes Adam Lazarra for "repetitive vocals", but then yearns for more parts like the break-down in TImberwolves vs New Jersey and wants the same formula as the first album. This is a good album. Fashions and times may have changed but TBS remain good at what they do.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 28, 2006 at 1:02 PM (EDT)

    You get the vibe that Lazaar is trying to sound more sophisicated; his voice is so demure it's almost a sexual innuendo in itself.

    But it has an opposite effect. Taking Back Sunday was better when they sounded immature, simply because it went hand in hand with the style of music they played. Oh yeah, and the chorus looping is really overkill on this CD, what the fuck is with that; I'm pretty sure their engineer fucked this album up more than TBS actually did.

    If they could just, go back to making more songs like Bonus Mosh Pit Pt.2, sigh.

    Posted by darkstarm on 2006-04-28 12:28:10

    I hate this band.

    That being said, Tell All Your Friends did influence an entire scene and crop of kids. That is an accomplishment, I suppose, even if the music it spawned is horrid.

    Anyone saying we're being too "critical" is full of shit. Give the first record its props. Ok. What have they done since? Not much of anything. Certainly not topped their first record. People were talking about Weezer before. Pinkerton was good, I feel it's a great compliment to Blue. This band is nothing like that. They put out one good album and have been on a decline ever since, they know it, that's why they do the things they do.

    Out.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 28, 2006 at 10:59 AM (EDT)

    drive thru is definately not higher than Fat. epitaph i'm sure is at least #30. offpsring smach has sold 10 million records, that alone probably puts epitaph pretty fuckin high on the indy charts. not to mention rancid's whole cateloge, bad religeons, pennywises', refused-shape of punk to come, even motion city and matchbook romance have probably combined sales over a million. oh shit, and nofx's cateloge up until 2000, and i believe their best selling album is punk in drublic, somewhere around 800K or some shit.

    yea i'd say epitaph is near the top

    oh and colins line about the screamo kids was great, i'll second that.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 28, 2006 at 10:55 AM (EDT)

    ok I got the album. perfect reveiw. I was a HUGE fan of tell all your friends...i thought wwwtb was pretty average, and so is this. makedamnsure and error operator are awesome. my blue heaven is pretty sweet too. but the majority of it is lackluster, just like the last album. no surprises, no real hooks, mediocre lyrics compared to the first.

    oh and something many arent mentioning...i HATE eric valentines production techniques...it sounds just like his work with good charlotte...so clean and crisp it sounds fake, especially the machine gun sounding snare drum sound he gets. its too overdriven or something. it sounds manufactured, even though i know tbs are competent musicians. it sounds like the new all american rejects or good charlotte (production wise)

    paul

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 28, 2006 at 4:41 AM (EDT)

    Well i'm sad to say this, but after a couple of days listening to this i agree with the review. The production is iffy, and certainly does not have the instant impact of the other 2 records. But hey, i'll give it another few days

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 9:26 PM (EDT)

    Tell All Your Friends set in motion a plethora of Taking Back Sunday rip-offs whose albums were nothing but plagairized half-screams and lyrics that gave suburban kids a false sense of tragedy in order to justify their silver-spoon lives.

    that is THE BEST fucking thing i think i've ever read on punknews. way to go colin!

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 9:26 PM (EDT)

    Tell All Your Friends set in motion a plethora of Taking Back Sunday rip-offs whose albums were nothing but plagairized half-screams and lyrics that gave suburban kids a false sense of tragedy in order to justify their silver-spoon lives.

    that is THE BEST fucking thing i think i've ever read on punknews. way to go colin!

    Posted by Marlon on 2006-04-27 21:24:17

    What did Victory do?

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 8:49 PM (EDT)

    obviously its making fun of victory

    Posted by Marlon on 2006-04-27 19:05:15

    Can you really call someone a fag for not liking an emo record? That's a tough call Andy. That's a tough call...

    Posted by Andycazzo80 on 2006-04-27 19:00:10

    The record is cool you guys are fags

    Posted by benz on 2006-04-27 17:30:58

    What's number 1? Epitaph? Subpop? Drive Thru?

    Posted by benz on 2006-04-27 17:30:09

    Did that discourse really take place or is it just someone making it up to make fun of victory. Either way it's funny.

    Posted by Marlon on 2006-04-27 15:02:03

    Really? Fat is only 39th?

    Posted by Scruffy on 2006-04-27 14:41:17

    Fat Mike to Bill Gates…

    Dear Bill,
    Can I call you Bill? I doubt this will ever get through to you because of all the absurd corporate policies that mire your dated company. Here goes nothin’…

    As the part-owner of the 39th biggest independent label I felt that it would be prudent for us to open up a dialog and proctor a mutually beneficial business plan that involves our two companies. After all Bill, we are talking about the 39th biggest independent punk label here. We don’t just peddle CDs and LPs at Fat Wreck Chords, we commodify the underground. Sometimes, with the help of the Black Arts, we go as far as to trap the very souls of our artists and auction off their life essence to interested parties. That’s how we stay ahead of the trends, and that’s what we’re offering to iTunes. For Fat and iTunes to work together it should be something special. Like the final/farewell episode of “Cheers”. Remember that, Bill? That’s what I’m talking about.

    late,
    fatty

    Bill Gates to Fat Mike…

    I’m not sure if you have the right guy. Neither my company, nor any of its subsidiaries is in any way affiliated with Apple/iTunes. Your email is unclear and I’m not sure what you’re inquiring about.

    Bill

    Fat Mike to Bill Gates…

    At least I know that being the 39th biggest independent label in the country (not to mention the 5th biggest in Northern California) means nothing to someone who has absolutely no affiliation with Apple/iTunes. Maybe you should make some calls and start some affiliation. Maybe then you will realize what 39th really means.

    fatty

    Bill Gates to Fat Mike…

    Hello Mike. Thanks for your interest in collaborating with us, but with all the happenings around our launching of Vista, we’re in no position to take on other endeavors. Good luck.

    Bill

    Fat Mike to Bill Gates…

    “Good Luck”. Thanks for the kind gesture Bill, but it wasn’t luck that got me to 39th. One day we’re gonna be in the mid-to-low twenties. Then you’ll be sorry you didn’t jump at this opportunity. You’ll see.

    Sincerely,
    fatty

    I haven't read this on Pn.O yet. If someone posted it elsewhere, sorry for the repost. But this is hilarious.

    Posted by Marlon on 2006-04-27 14:36:03

    "Colin its obvious that you haven't been a fan of TBS and are using this review to smack down a good album."

    As a friend of Colin's I can honestly say that he loves (loved?) the first TBS album, and seems to have been pretty effected by it. I tease him about it endlessly. You sir, are silly.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 2:25 PM (EDT)

    i love this website. it's like a bunch of retards fighting over the red crayon.

    -TOBB

    Posted by plaidical on 2006-04-27 12:55:24

    "the release of the incredibly underwhelming Where You Want to Be, "

    okay. I really enjoyed that album. I dont know how to read the rest of the review now anymore

    Posted by CaptainQuirk on 2006-04-27 12:27:25

    TAYF = great
    WYWTB = good

    this one = weak

    Posted by ejaculine on 2006-04-27 12:12:45

    This one is not great = True
    Nor is TAYF = Debatable (half of this board would
    agree half would not)
    WYWTB is amazing = nominated for dumbest commect of
    the year

    WYWTB wasnt amazing but it's still my favourite TBS cd. But I guess if I don't agree with you that I'm making a dumb comment too. Nice logic there...

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 11:49 AM (EDT)

    This one isnt great, nor is Tell All Your Friends.. Where You Want to Be is the amazing...

    ---> could someone please shoot this person immediately. We don't want the incompetence virus to spread!

    This one is not great = True
    Nor is TAYF = Debatable (half of this board would agree half would not)
    WYWTB is amazing = nominated for dumbest commect of the year

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 11:48 AM (EDT)

    i havent listened to it much, but this review pretty rediculous. towards the biggining theres alot of complaining about how they cant be as good as "tell all your friends" and then towards the end it says they dont mature and sound to much like it.

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2006-04-27 11:15:10

    'Decade Under the Influence' is the best song they've ever done. Besides the semi-ok single, this is pretty bad.

    Posted by Scruffy on 2006-04-27 10:12:32

    If it was a good album, you wouldn't have to already be a fan to like it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 8:30 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Colin its obvious that you haven't been a fan of TBS and are using this review to smack down a good album.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 5:25 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "amazing. great lyrics, songwriting, amazing. album of the year material."

    How about you make damn sure to perform some 20/20 surgery in Miami?

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 3:31 AM (EDT)

    boring...boring boring

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 2:29 AM (EDT)

    they cant top tell all your freinds if they want to keep selling records

    Posted by CaptainQuirk on 2006-04-27 02:18:26

    "not horrible, obviously better than WYWTB besides say 2 songs."

    No. WYWTB is a good album. Definitely better than this. Outside of a couple songs, this is garbage.

    Posted by GreenVandal on 2006-04-27 02:08:34
    My Score:

    Seems I was correct. Still gay.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 1:30 AM (EDT)

    not horrible, obviously better than WYWTB besides say 2 songs. certainly nothing on the level of Tell All Your Friends. that record is a classic and theyll never match up to that again. i think that TAYF probably hurt them because not a single original fan will be satisfied until they top it. solid effort though. if another band had written it, im sure there would be people legions of people acclaiming it.

    Posted by CaptainQuirk on 2006-04-27 00:29:18

    "haha, that was going to be the other song in "really bad songs" that i was going to mention after miami and hte acoustic one. different strokes for different folks. most of the songs i jus treally don't like the vocals in."

    I don't understand it. Seems like most people either dislike it or are just indifferent.

    I stand by it being the best song on there. Most of the album doesn't impress me in the least. Boring and commercialized.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 12:18 AM (EDT)

    This one isnt great, nor is Tell All Your Friends.. Where You Want to Be is the amazing... honestly though, TAYF is annoying, the back up singer voice sucks and the only track that guy has ever did well is Hands in the Sky (Big Shot) from Straylight Run...

    Posted by sleepwalk on 2006-04-27 00:08:07

    100% agree on Error Operator being the best song. By far. One of their strongest tracks ever.

    On another note, I'll take this chinsy acoustic track ANYDAY over the obviously-written-to-be-high-schoolers'-cheesy-prom-theme acoustic track on the last cd.

    Posted by Big_Guy on 2006-04-26 23:27:41

    the single is alright, but maybe 2 other songs grabbed my attention.

    this is pretty crappy

    Posted by SLADE775 on 2006-04-26 22:16:24
    My Score:

    amazing. great lyrics, songwriting, amazing. album of the year material.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 9:55 PM (EDT)

    this is for the ignorant punk bastards who throw the word "emo" around.
    SHUT THE FUCK UP
    nothing is emo anymore, that word should be nowhere near a TBS review. emo is basically gone. sunny day and mineral are gone. rights of spring and heroin are long gone.
    HH, FFTL, MyCHem, are nowhere near emo.
    Look the word up somewhere. until then remove it from your minute vocabularies.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 9:52 PM (EDT)

    i've got a bad feeling about this (i've got a bad feeling about this)

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 9:52 PM (EDT)

    i've got a bad feeling about this (i've got a bad feeling about this)

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 9:27 PM (EDT)

    "u want punk? listen to NOFX, pennywise, bad religion, dead kennedys, ramones, clash, exploited, GBH, casualties, a global threat, unseen, rancid, the virus, cheap sex,black flag, anti-flag action, discharge, the misfits, minor threat, the vandals, the offspring(OLD STUFF), AFI(OLD STUFF), even green day can be called "punk". but taking back sunday? no."

    BWAAAAHAAAHAAHAAHAAHAA!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Posted by feeeding5000 on 2006-04-26 20:18:33

    Being as how I don't listen to this band, or really care how "talented" they are, I'm just gonna say that they suck. If they used to be on Victory, and now they're on a major, it's like a big pile of dog shit soemhow creeping from MTV2 to MTV.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 8:07 PM (EDT)

    Um, to whoever said they're emo:

    Hahahahahaha. I bet you classify HH as emo as well.

    Posted by colin on 2006-04-26 19:59:37

    Don't like the album much as a whole, but the song "Twenty Twenty Surgery" is f'ing fantastic. Anybody else think this is the best song on the album?

    I think it's far and away better than the rest, but most of the reviews/fan comments I've read don't even mention it.


    haha, tha was going to be the other song in "really bad songs" that i was going ot mention after miami and hte acoustic one. different strokes for different folks. most of the songs i jus treally don't like the vocals in.

    but i will say that error operator totally wrecks anything else on this disc. i love it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 7:53 PM (EDT)

    they arent punk. or pop-punk. they are emo. EMOOOOO. u want punk? listen to NOFX, pennywise, bad religion, dead kennedys, ramones, clash, exploited, GBH, casualties, a global threat, unseen, rancid, the virus, cheap sex,black flag, anti-flag action, discharge, the misfits, minor threat, the vandals, the offspring(OLD STUFF), AFI(OLD STUFF), even green day can be called "punk". but taking back sunday? no.

    Posted by CaptainQuirk on 2006-04-26 19:49:20
    My Score:

    Don't like the album much as a whole, but the song "Twenty Twenty Surgery" is f'ing fantastic. Anybody else think this is the best song on the album?

    I think it's far and away better than the rest, but most of the reviews/fan comments I've read don't even mention it.

    Posted by benz on 2006-04-26 19:16:44

    "If you can't understand the hate it is because you are young and new to the "punk" genre."

    And because punk rock is a club that you you have to pay dues by listening to the right music. Taking Back Sunday is not the right music, so you are low in the club's rankings. If you invest more time you can climb the ladder. It's kinda like scientology.

    Posted by refusedpartyprogram on 2006-04-26 17:28:04
    My Score:

    This review is pretty accurate, except that I thought Where You Want To Be was amazing. Not as good as TAYF, but still pretty damn good. I don't think they lost anything with the new lineup at first, so I'm not quite sure what went wrong here. There's still a few good songs, but most of them lack that intensity their old stuff has, and there's not as many cool parts with memorable lyrics. There isn't as much vocal interplay either. And TBS have never had the song titles sung in the lyrics, what's up with that?

    Posted by KirbyPuckett on 2006-04-26 16:45:02
    My Score:

    I gave this a shot..

    booooooooooooring.

    - Kirby

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 4:12 PM (EDT)

    If you can't understand the hate it is because you are young and new to the "punk" genre.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 2:59 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    This CD is honestly amazing. Better than any of their older CDs if you ask me. I really don't understand all this fucking hate surrounding Louder Now. It's a solid CD through and through.

    Posted by SuperRad on 2006-04-26 14:48:37
    My Score:

    man, I love northstar. score is for them.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 1:55 PM (EDT)

    northstar and tbs used to play together. someone in tbs said during an interview that northstar was the best band ever, and northstar used that quote as a sticker on their record. tbs came out first and they had a following by then so i guess northstar thought it would help them sell records.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 1:34 PM (EDT)

    I didn't really like the previous album, but I dig this one a lot.

    Posted by colin on 2006-04-26 13:17:11

    My question is, as a stand alone record, is it any good?

    no.

    Posted by historypeats on 2006-04-26 12:57:26

    inagreendase: I could be wrong, since I never bought TAYF, but I think they had something in the liner notes along the lines of "Northstar is the greatest band ever." The release date for TAYF may have been earlier, but as far as direct influences go, I think Northstar was TBS' biggest one.

    Then again, I could be completely wrong about this. Does someone who owns a copy of TAYF want to check on this?

    Posted by sirens on 2006-04-26 12:30:25

    Harsh colin, but damn good review.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 11:55 AM (EDT)

    It seems like the reviewer has gone out of his way to be harsh.

    Most of the reasons he marked down the band seem to relate to their past efforts and the not the record itself, and don't really tie into what should be a 'review' of the album. of course i dont expect him to ignore the bands past, but i feel that colin has made of point of making sure we know what tbs used to sound like, when there is completely no need as i imagine 99% of the people on this site already know.

    My question is, as a stand alone record, is it any good?

    Posted by InaGreendase on 2006-04-26 11:34:32

    Uh...

    Northstar - Is This Thing Loaded?
    Released: Oct. 22, 2002

    Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends
    Released: March 26, 2002

    What was someone saying about ITTL influencing TAYF?

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 10:52 AM (EDT)

    if the oilers take out the detroit swedish euro's, i'll be happy.

    same way if the devils take out the new york czechs.

    i'm hopin montreal pulls of that upset. most people in carolina are wondering 'where are the cars'

    Posted by VStoriesFallen on 2006-04-26 10:26:44
    My Score:

    This album fucking sucks.

    Posted by benz on 2006-04-26 10:20:04

    oh wait, that link is wrong. my bad.

    here's the real one

    http://wevegotheadsonsticks.blogspot.com

    Posted by benz on 2006-04-26 10:18:46

    Hey Tobb, I have a blog about whatever, and my most recent post addresses this topic.http://wevegotheadsonsticks.blogger.com

    Posted by Scruffy on 2006-04-26 10:14:16

    "I love it when people say "kids" to give them a sense of superiority to people they disagree with."

    I'm 24 this year. I know that's still young, but it's the first year that it really kicked me in the head and said "You're getting old." I'd like to still see myself as a "kid". Some of the time, when people say that, it's just a term like "the guy" or"the gang". Some of the time, it's sour grapes. Once you're old enough to buy booze, you should be able to stop getting older.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 8:21 AM (EDT)

    interesting outlook benz. were gnr a good band? i mean, in their prime they skated around all the other faggy hairmetal bands because they had that "something" about them. now lazarra is no rose, lets not get that twisted, but i see what you're saying. tbs, for what they do and what they helped "define", might be the gnr of this time. interesting. i mean, gnr had a tough-guy image that tbs can't touch, but i definitely see where your head is at with that comment.
    -TOBB

    i also agree that nolan without tbs is awful. straylight run is fucking prom music at best. complete rubbish.

    Posted by Eddy-Is-Fuckin-Dead on 2006-04-26 04:17:23
    My Score:

    I thought it wasn't too bad.
    An improvement on the last album for sure, but obviously it can't be as good as the first album.
    I just hope they still put on a good live show, although aparently it can be rather hit and miss.

    Posted by historypeats on 2006-04-26 04:16:19

    I just checked the Cassino site (because I had forgotten the band existed), and it looks like they played a few shows with As Tall As Lions later this spring. No concrete news on an album, but I'd guess we'd see something somewhere down the line...

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 4:13 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Oilers suck. Stupid trapping team. Cheer for Habs, they're gonna pull an upset.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 3:34 AM (EDT)

    how about those oilers?

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 1:16 AM (EDT)

    On that note. Does anyone have any idea if Cassino has any plans for an album. Those demos are ace.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 1:15 AM (EDT)

    "historypeats" brings up an interesting point.

    TAYF drew heavily from the influence of Northstar's "Is this thing loaded".

    Both albums are great. But Northstar's follow-up "Pollyanna" kicks the hell out of WYWTB.

    RIP Northstar.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 12:40 AM (EDT)

    ...Error Operator was written by John Nolan....

    Posted by tylerdurden8136 on 2006-04-25 23:50:31
    My Score:

    louder now just seems like all the songs that didn't make it on WYWTB.

    and it isn't that horrible, colin.

    Posted by Marlon on 2006-04-25 23:36:49

    Why do people on this site hate quality reviews so much?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 11:16 PM (EDT)

    if you want BULLSHIT reviews...goto pitchfork.....fuck those bitches

    Posted by arturoroxmysox on 2006-04-25 21:19:04

    I love it when people say "kids" to give them a sense of superiority to people they disagree with.

    But anyway, this is a bad album.

    Posted by colin on 2006-04-25 19:59:35

    maybe if colin was better at pool he would enjoy this album.

    if i remember correctly i beat you at pool when last we played, regardless of how long it took.

    Posted by Scruffy on 2006-04-25 19:56:35

    "Stupidly pretentious overly verbose review. There's no doubt the reviewer has a better command of the english language than most on this site - now you just have to work on being less of a snob."

    I'd like to know exactly when being able to string a sentence together and use words longer than two syllables became "pretentious" and snobbish. Seriously. Just because some of the words confused you, AND because the reviewer disagrees with you doesn't make them pretentious. Not everything has to be dumbed down to eighth-grade level to be down to earth. This stigma in punk rock against actually being functionally intelligent needs to go.

    Posted by rkl on 2006-04-25 19:51:27

    taking back sunday has classics?

    Posted by chadthehawkpizza on 2006-04-25 19:51:05
    My Score:

    maybe if colin was better at pool he would enjoy this album.

    Posted by ILOVESCOTT on 2006-04-25 19:19:57

    colin, your last paragrah was brilliant.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 7:12 PM (EDT)

    I think that Scott had a good sense of things. TAYF is a fun album, but I think that WYWTB is a bit more interesting and this seems to be a step better. Overall a better album.

    Posted by kindofalongwaydown on 2006-04-25 18:27:12

    Yeah, talk about long winded. I would rather read your review than that fuckers comment.

    Posted by colin on 2006-04-25 17:45:51

    Stupidly pretentious overly verbose review. There's no doubt the reviewer has a better command of the english language than most on this site - now you just have to work on being less of a snob.

    i liked this comment so much i'm just re-posting it. the first sentence is what really makes it gold (read: irony).

    Posted by historypeats on 2006-04-25 17:23:28

    Also, in case anyone forgot, "Tell All Your Friends" sounded almost identical to Northstar's "Is This Thing Loaded?", only the TBS CD wasn't as good. I would have much rather have seen Northstar hit it big.

    Northstar > TBS

    Also, TBS without Nolan isn't that great, but Nolan without TBS is terrible.

    Finally, I think people exaggerate a lot when comparing TAYF and WYWTB. TAYF's good songs are better than WYWTB's, but a lot of the album was forgettable...maybe it would have affected me more if I had listened to it when it was first release, but I've always thought it was boring.

    Posted by benz on 2006-04-25 17:23:09
    My Score:

    I love the small undercurrent of posters who think this is the best TBS album to date. I agree.

    Their other albums weren't really that good and this is the first cohesive record this band has made. I really think that a lot of the flak against them has to do with the fact that they are very popular.

    I was thinking earlier, that Taking Back Sunday is today's Guns n Roses, not stylistically, but what they represent.

    Was Guns n Roses good? Not particularly, but they still had some solid albums. That's Taking Back Sunday. They're a solid band, but nothing artistically great. They just write rock songs.

    -benz

    Posted by historypeats on 2006-04-25 17:19:22
    My Score:

    Really mediocre, but still not quite as bad as reviewed; it's probably closer to a 4, or a 5 if you're still really into this stuff.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 5:14 PM (EDT)

    "Stupidly pretentious overly verbose review. There's no doubt the reviewer has a better command of the english language than most on this site - now you just have to work on being less of a snob. I love this record...shit, then again I really liked WYWTB so i must be an idiot, right?"

    the fact that you used the word pretentious makes you the blathering idiot. you loving taking back sunday is your prerogative and inconsequential to any insinuation of idiocy or bufoonery.

    Posted by TK on 2006-04-25 16:58:50

    This review is extremely well written and better than this will be. Great points from both sides. But I do think the compare and contrast with WYWTB is a bit off. I feel like if you switched when the 2 cd's were released, people would be saying WYWTB was a big step back. Louder is way better produced and the music does seems to have grown. It is a step forward even if it is a small one. Another star or so better than what was given. Next, I realize you used Brand New because they are always compared but Brand Who??? Deja Entendu came out in 2003. They grew up between Favorite Weapon and Deja and then what let 3 years go by. Also, giving suburban kids something to feel bad about is the whole Deja Entendu album. They are way more guilty of that than TBS. Oh yeah, the silver spoon feed bit. Come on man, we are all reading this on the friggin Internet. So even if you were born on 123 Fake St. on the wrong side of town, you seem to be doing alright. You have DSL or wireless or some crap. Well back to my palatial estate. By the way I am having a bit of a get together later. How would you like to mow my lawn. Hmmmm. Hmmmmm..

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 4:58 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Stupidly pretentious overly verbose review. There's no doubt the reviewer has a better command of the english language than most on this site - now you just have to work on being less of a snob. I love this record...shit, then again I really liked WYWTB so i must be an idiot, right?

    Posted by kindofalongwaydown on 2006-04-25 16:47:49

    Kids, Make sure to not forget your hot topic discount card.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 4:46 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Louder Now is strong beginning to end. The band sounds tight and their songs are more dynamic than anything else they've done. If you wanted them to make TAYF again, it's not happening and that's a good thing. I'm actually frusterated at the stupidity of some of the comments on this... ie:

    "Tell All Your Friends is a really really good record. I haven't heard this, but I'm assuming that it's not."

    Also, people are criticizing TBS for writing melodic songs... what do you think they were trying to do on TAYF?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 4:45 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Meh. I think there's been way more growth in their last two albums than their first one. Through the writing style, and the actual music.

    Oh well.

    /goes back to new Tool album

    Posted by thirtyseconds on 2006-04-25 15:56:14

    Shit band, shit album. All I can say is I´m reasonably drunk in sunny Spain rocking it to the new NOFX. xxx

    Posted by mcgregor107 on 2006-04-25 15:48:51

    wow i must say.. this review is pretty fantastic.. good job colin. the last paragraph is the best part.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 3:36 PM (EDT)

    Download*

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 3:36 PM (EDT)

    Downloaded Error Operator and bang your head against your desk because the band you fell in love with when you were twelve years old has failed again.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 3:33 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    OK, I will usually agree with 95% of the reviews on the entire site...this is just another one to add to that 5%. Like many posters, prior to this album being heard, I despised TBS, They are truly the fathers of this soon to be dying scene. However, this album completely shreds things up. Please, think of them as a new, harder, edgier and fundamentally better band. If 'Spin' isn't the best song I've heard this year, then I don't know what is.

    Come on guys listen to me, I'm a jawbreaker fan for fucks sake!

    Posted by greyicewater on 2006-04-25 15:15:16

    he didn't call the band emo. he called them a post-hardcore pop-influenced band.

    Posted by steveman on 2006-04-25 15:09:53

    Calling TBS emo voids this review.

    Posted by lookmommyididit on 2006-04-25 15:00:49

    dissapointing

    Posted by somegirl on 2006-04-25 14:56:14

    Damn, you're sheltered. When I was 13 I had heard PLENTY of albums that were "incredibly well done". And I'm not even talking underground.

    Nirvana
    Beastie Boys
    Faith No More
    NWA
    Public Enemy
    Metallica
    Stevie Wonder

    I could go on...


    I knew about these. I don't know though, in my school, Nirvana was so played that after a year, a good half of the student population hated them, same with Beastie Boys and Metallica. I probably should've worded that differently.

    Posted by colin on 2006-04-25 14:34:57

    They're still playing songs with a similar structure and singing about car crashes and other tragedies that most of you emofags won't experience.

    yeah, and fuck any artist who doesn't sing / paint / create something in regards to everyday heartbreak that is a sure seller in the industry. last i heard thursday had what, two songs about a car crash? a majority of their songs are political and social commentary.

    also, do your research. there were 6,328,000 car crashes in 2003 in the united states. there were 281,421,906 citizens of the us as of april 2000. chances are a car crash involves at least 2 people, but if it's just 2 we'll say it's 12 million people in the us were in a car crash of some kind in 2003. i hardly say that is something that people "rarely experience."

    while you might have not enjoyed thursday to begin wiht, or don't enjoy where they're at now, you can't deny by simply listening from the transition between "waiting" and "a city by the light divided," there is an obvious change. next time use a better example.

    Posted by sickboi on 2006-04-25 14:26:31

    Damn, you're sheltered. When I was 13 I had heard PLENTY of albums that were "incredibly well done". And I'm not even talking underground.

    Nirvana
    Beastie Boys
    Faith No More
    NWA
    Public Enemy
    Metallica
    Stevie Wonder

    I could go on...

    Posted by somegirl on 2006-04-25 14:20:58

    This review was great, and I agree. For me, the issue is that Tell All Your Friends was one of the first records I heard that I thought was incredibly well done and just all around good. Take into account, however, that I must've been 13 or so when this happened. If TAYF was to be released today, I don't think I'd be as into it was I was then, and the reason I like it so much now are all the things I associate with it. It seems that TBS, instead of trying to grow and evolve, is trying to make another TAYF for a new group of 13 year olds to love. If that works, then good for them, but a lot of the people that got into them years ago are going to be alienated.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 2:16 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

    Thursday hasn't grown in 6 years. They're still playing songs with a similar structure and singing about car crashes and other tragedies that most of you emofags won't experience.

    All major record label debuts suck. Death Cab For Cutie and Saves the Day would agree.

    Posted by dusticles on 2006-04-25 14:14:53

    "anybody who thinks TAYF wasn't one of the most influential records in this scene in the last 5 years is an idiot."

    yah influential for more shitty bands to produce cookie cutter albums we can do without. THANK YOU Taking Back Sunday!

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 2:10 PM (EDT)

    anybody who thinks TAYF wasn't one of the most influential records in this scene in the last 5 years is an idiot.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 2:06 PM (EDT)

    did you even read the review? i never mentioned it being not punk enough, and i certainly would not associate a band capitalizing on their fame for dramatic internet breakups with punk rock. i could give two shits what mtv thinks of bands. i'm sure thursday will be all over mtv pretty soon and i still love that band because they've shown artistic growth that merits support; they've evolved while maintaining their sound. taking back sunday has only become more generic, more repetative, and more predictable. it seems like you're using hte fact it is nothing more than radio rock as a reason to not say, "sorry, this is just bad." i tried giving the band the benefit of the doubt, but fool me once, shame on you. fool me twice... you can't get fooled again.

    dunno why i just quoted the prez... makes sense somehow.

    When I said that there was an overarching theme of not being “punk enough” etc. on punknews I was not specifically referring to individuals using the terminology in reviews. Nor was I specifically speaking about your review, rather as a theme on punknews any poster boy pop punk band is labeled as such and quickly disregarded. (Examples being Panic at the disco, Fallout Boy and Taking Back Sunday.) And to be honest with you, I despise most of what these bands do and their following as much as the next guy. I remember going to TBS shows where there were small crowds and avid fans. Then one time I went and it was abercombie and 13 year old girls whining about mosh pits. Thats when I stopped going. I agree brand new has evolved and a friend let me have a listen to their new disc (sounds good very smiths / elliot smith esque). But this record is not the atrocity you make it out to be, and by giving such reviews I feel that you are merely furthering this attitude amongst punknews readers. This is not an attack towards you Colin, you seem like a good fellow, I just see things moving in this direction and it sickens me. I stand by my statement that this record is at least a 3 (and I will post a review if I have a chance as soon as my exams are done). You say they have not grown, but this is substantially better than last years offering, which to me is certainly a sign of growth.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 1:59 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    So basically, what you're saying is since the band went out of their way to write catchy hooks and lyrics, they suck...and since they're a good band, they can't possibly be as good as they are, so therefor they suck? What the hell are all of you people talking about? It's a good CD don't take into account a bands body of work, just take into account the CD you are reviewing

    Posted by boba_fett on 2006-04-25 13:46:15
    My Score:

    i just busted out tell all your friends after reading this review, and even though my tastes have changed considerably since i bought that album, its still pretty good.

    Posted by colin on 2006-04-25 13:40:37

    All things said though... this record is not a 2 star record, now this is just another pretentious punknews review.. and i see it happening more and more. This is "not punk enough" or "not indie enough" or "not (fill in the blank enough)". I feel like I am reading a pitchfork review with the elitist attitude being exhibited. To be honest, I have listened to this record numerous times and I do not hate it. It is no "tell all your friends"... but it is tolerable and certainly deserving of 3 to 3 and half stars. If this did not say Taking Back Sunday on the label I am sure it would have recieved at least this grade. The stigma Taking Back Sunday has generated in the music industry has created this extreme loathing by the underground crowd, and I can certainly understand why. But still, come on now, lets give out accurate reviews not slanted or biased by our extreme hatred for MTV. Otherwise we are no better than Mr. Tate and believe me nobody wants to be Mr. Tate.

    did you even read the review? i never mentioned it being not punk enough, and i certainly would not associate a band capitalizing on their fame for dramatic internet breakups with punk rock. i could give two shits what mtv thinks of bands. i'm sure thursday will be all over mtv pretty soon and i still love that band because they've shown artistic growth that merits support; they've evolved while maintaining their sound. taking back sunday has only become more generic, more repetative, and more predictable. it seems like you're using hte fact it is nothing more than radio rock as a reason to not say, "sorry, this is just bad." i tried giving the band the benefit of the doubt, but fool me once, shame on you. fool me twice... you can't get fooled again.

    dunno why i just quoted the prez... makes sense somehow.

    Posted by rinjonjori on 2006-04-25 13:37:22

    I liked:

    # "Make Damn Sure"
    # "My Blue Heaven"
    # "Miami"
    # "Error Operator"

    yes, Miami, but for themost part this didnt' move me at all. i like the guy who said "I will probably agree with you but buy the album anyway" Warner Brothers loves you guys. Hopefully TBS will benefit from you benefecance(?)

    HTTP://rnanothersunnydayinpop.blogspot.com

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 1:14 PM (EDT)

    great review, I'm going to go get the album now and see if I agree with you, but I have a feeling I will.

    paul

    Posted by leifkills on 2006-04-25 13:08:41

    Great review.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 1:01 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "All things said though... this record is not a 2 star record, now this is just another pretentious punknews review.. and i see it happening more and more. This is "not punk enough" or "not indie enough" or "not (fill in the blank enough)". I feel like I am reading a pitchfork review with the elitist attitude being exhibited. To be honest, I have listened to this record numerous times and I do not hate it. It is no "tell all your friends"... but it is tolerable and certainly deserving of 3 to 3 and half stars. If this did not say Taking Back Sunday on the label I am sure it would have recieved at least this grade. The stigma Taking Back Sunday has generated in the music industry has created this extreme loathing by the underground crowd, and I can certainly understand why. But still, come on now, lets give out accurate reviews not slanted or biased by our extreme hatred for MTV. Otherwise we are no better than Mr. Tate and believe me nobody wants to be Mr. Tate."

    Bravo. This is a very good rock album.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 12:40 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    This records's pretty damn good, and I'm pretty surprised.
    I picked up their first record used for like $5, and after listening to it, I broke it. It really sucks.
    Their second album was given to me by a friend, and I got through about 3 sounds before taking it out of my CD player and throwing it out the window of my car.

    This CD, I listened to last week when it was streaming. I was pretty embarassed ( and still am) to admit that I really like it. So, I listened to it again, and copied the stream. I haven't listened to it again since.
    However, if I do listen to it again, I may hate it. So...

    the 8 is for that first day, though I'll probably never listen to it again.

    I'm an asstard.

    Posted by CUAPUNKRADIO on 2006-04-25 12:39:50

    "Tell All Your Friends set in motion a plethora of Taking Back Sunday rip-offs whose albums were nothing but plagairized half-screams and lyrics that gave suburban kids a false sense of tragedy in order to justify their silver-spoon lives."

    one of the best lines ever written on this site

    Posted by inagreendase on 2006-04-25 12:38:20

    To the guy 2 posts below: Pitchfork wouldn't have given any credit to Tell All Your Friends.

    On one listen of this and several of that 4-song sampler, "Liar" is awesome and the single is decent. Seemed to be a lot of filler but I'll give it another chance later this week. I don't think it'll be as bad as the score implicates.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 12:31 PM (EDT)

    i keep thinking of that "party" song that goes, "a little bit softer now" and "a little bit louder now"

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 11:23 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    True Taking Back Sunday with out Nolan is like a Angelina Jolie without breasts.
    True their last cd sounded like an Ashlee Simpson record.
    True their lead Adam is trying way to hard.
    I refused to listen to their last cd more than once (and regreted that one ear bleeding session) and cut all ties I ever had with Taking Back Sunday. Burned the T-shirts etc.
    All things said though... this record is not a 2 star record, now this is just another pretentious punknews review.. and i see it happening more and more. This is "not punk enough" or "not indie enough" or "not (fill in the blank enough)". I feel like I am reading a pitchfork review with the elitist attitude being exhibited. To be honest, I have listened to this record numerous times and I do not hate it. It is no "tell all your friends"... but it is tolerable and certainly deserving of 3 to 3 and half stars. If this did not say Taking Back Sunday on the label I am sure it would have recieved at least this grade. The stigma Taking Back Sunday has generated in the music industry has created this extreme loathing by the underground crowd, and I can certainly understand why. But still, come on now, lets give out accurate reviews not slanted or biased by our extreme hatred for MTV. Otherwise we are no better than Mr. Tate and believe me nobody wants to be Mr. Tate.

    Posted by colin on 2006-04-25 11:18:33

    i love how this kid is talking about "tell all your friends" like it was the pinnacle of modern music.

    no, i'm talking about tell all your friends as what it is - a ridiculously influential album in the modern pop punk / pop core scene. it set a pretty high bar as far as that type of music is concerned, and there is no way that anything this band has done since has been able to really match it.

    Posted by branden on 2006-04-25 10:55:22

    the cover art is fucking hideous. i havent seen anything that lame all year

    Posted by sickboi on 2006-04-25 10:25:25

    And now I feel REALY stupid....not only for fucking up the first post, but then reposting it IN THE WRONG THREAD.

    Posted by sickboi on 2006-04-25 10:21:13

    SHUT THE FUCK UP ABOUT HOW HARD IT WAS TO TOUR, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT FUCKING BLACK FLAG. PUT OUT A REAL DVD, FOR FUCK'S SAKE.

    Seriously. I think any touring band needs to read Get In The Van before they bitch. And even Ginn said it wasn't that bad...

    Posted by sickboi on 2006-04-25 10:20:53

    SHUT THE FUCK UP ABOUT HOW HARD IT WAS TO TOUR, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT FUCKING BLACK FLAG. PUT OUT A REAL DVD, FOR FUCK'S SAKE.

    Seriously. I think any touring band needs to read

    Posted by maverick on 2006-04-25 09:45:05
    My Score:

    Well-written review, but unnecessarily harsh. In all honesty, most of this album sounds like a Breaking Pangaea album, and I'll back that any day of the week. "Liar (It Takes One To Know One)" is one of the best songs of the year thus far, and while "Miami" and "20/20 Surgery" are complete filler, "Spin" and "Error Operator" more than neutralize that threat.

    Best, most cohesive record this band's made to date.

    -Scott

    Posted by danperrone on 2006-04-25 09:42:11

    this album sucks sucks sucks sucks sucks, and i even gave it a full, open-minded listen

    i can't stand listening to a band that goes out of their way to create the mos