TBS sounds more genuine in "Error: Operator," where the intensity that was lost on the rest of the CD finds its way back into this song. There's a long guitar riff here too, and if you're looking for stuff that sounds more like the original, this would be the choice track. "Up Against (Blackout)" chimes of older material also, but I didn't warm up to it like I did "Error: Operator" and "MakeDamnSure." It's very repetitive, like most of the album, but slows down at parts that completely lose the listener. Variable rhythm is usually something TBS tends to master, but not with "Up Against." Fellow track "Spin," on the other hand, pounces you; it's crazy-fast and loud. Once again, the lyrics are repetitive, but they get away with it. The problem is that "Spin" is so high-strung, it kind of drains you of energy.
Lighter sounds can be found in "My Blue Heaven" and "Divine Intervention." I actually love "My Blue Heaven" to an extent. Lazzara starts slow and soothing, and picks up the fervor eventually. Background vocals are super-high, and it's a side of TBS I haven't seen. It's not so soft that it resembles Rooney. More devout followers of TBS might hate it, but if "My Blue Heaven" were a person, I might hug it. The vocals blend with the instrumental whimsically and displays Taking Back Sunday's strong points without the screams. "Divine Intervention," on the other hand, is the token acoustic song of the CD, and begins soft like "My Blue Heaven." It comes off as embarrassingly feminine, however, with Lazzara whispering "these are a few of my favorite things," as I think a tambourine and maybe even a triangle accompany his guitar's tap.
The beats grow, becoming weirder and weirder. It's easy to stray from the song to figure out what sort of instruments they were actually using. Maybe they made their own maracas with dry rice and empty butter containers. Still, the song is entirely too fragile to enjoy on its own merits, and the lyrics add to this unfortunate delicacy: "if you're calling me out, then count me out." Lines like that might show more strength in a harder song, but in this context, they add to the wimpiness of "Divine Intervention."
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