Like most of Louder Now's tracks, leading song "What's It Feel Like to be a Ghost?" does provide a great beat and kick-ass vocals. There are some good riffs and some cheeky sassiness. But the song slows down about two minutes in, and Lazzara's expressive voice winds its way in, showing a change of pace within the first song that we haven't seen much of in their earlier work. Of course it picks up intensity, but then it levels off with a meager repetition of the title. "What's it feel like to be a ghost / What's it feel like to be a ghost / Louder Now / Louder Now." If that's the inspiration for the album's title, then we're in trouble.
"Liar (It Takes One to Know One)" follows "Ghost," and just by the title I think we know the lyrics are going to be a bit childish. They are. Lazzara's and Mascherino's voices continue to tag each other, and the song's catchy chorus would've been less embarassing if the lyrics hadn't been written by my 12-year-old brother. "Liar" is the second sign of a sweeter, lite-version of TBS, and usually the lite entrees aren't as filling and never as good as the original.
Songs to skip altogether include "Twenty-Twenty Surgery" and "Miami." "Twenty-Twenty" is a slimy little bastard. It starts kind of like one of their older songs would, and then slowly builds up to a point where Lazzara's vocals promise an intense chorus. You might even feel a sigh of relief that maybe TBS found their ground again, but no. All of a sudden, out of left field, "twenty-twenty surgery, twenty-twenty surgery for cheap" swings into the song, and it just doesn't belong. The chorus reeks of a shallow skin, and it's strangely reminiscent of Rooney. Yes, Taking Back Sunday sounds like "Blueside" Rooney in this song. Plus the chorus sticks in your head all day, and that's not a good thing. Avoid this track at all costs.
Meanwhile, "Miami" starts with luscious vocals, promising, just like "Twenty-Twenty." It's a bit slower and a bit more seductive, but the lyrics reek of such childishness, it's hard to stand. "Miami" crawls along, and at two minutes we hear a guitar riff that's straight out of an '80s hair band and absolutely doesn't flow with the rest of the song. The lyrics make me want to vomit. Most ralph-inducing lyrics of the entire song, and possibly the CD: "Unhand me, Miami / God damn me, Miami."
Article comments
1 - dellis
wow,you are the first to tell it like it is when it comes to this album...
i whole heartedly agree.
they aren't being true to thierselves anymore and have starded producing music for the industry rather than theirselves...
can you say sellout?
i knew you could....
2 - Cait
Your the first one i've read that knows what there talkin' about.i agree about the hole album.....it's great love it!
3 - Mike
honestly i think you are trying way to hard to find things wrong with this album. yes some of the songs are childish but you are also missing the amazing playing skills showed by them. maybe they are trying to reach to a younger fan base but dosnt that make more sense they will have the young audience and the true tbs fans. because if your a true tbs fan then you will find the good qualities of the cd
4 - louis
your review is a piece of shit. this album is much better than their last two and it does sound like you are trying to point out faults instead of finding the good points. i know that not every body likes every cd ever released, but this is pathetic what youve written.
5 - thepersonwhoshldbwritingthis
Fuck you Twenty twenty surgery is kick ass! and so is adam lazzara and TBS!!!!!! go fuck urself ur dead wrong asswipe