You can tell this was more of an experimental album for Taking Back Sunday when you listen to the disc's closer, "I'll Let You Live." It starts with a steady, guitar-based rhythm and some screaming, and then all of sudden there's some Shangri-la whispy hippy-like twist. It's weird. Too weird. The rhythm obviously changes drastically throughout the whole song, and they never seem to find their niche; it's a problem that's symptomatic of the disc as a whole.
Bottom line: Louder Now is just lukewarm. A couple of songs are worth listening to, even on repeat, but some just slide so far off Taking Back Sunday's beaten trail that it's kind of disappointing to listen to them. I have no idea what they were trying to accomplish with this album, nor what demographic they were trying to cover. Maybe they were just trying to cover all bases at once, but it didn't work. This album could spur an entirely youthful fanbase, which is already happening. When a band grows in popularity, a younger, usually more annoying audience follows in tow. That's fine, but when the band starts to cater to these new listeners and, in doing so, leaves their older fans in the dust, there will be some qualms. This is the point in the game where TBS has to huddle, rethink and strategize: a haphazard, aimless CD won't suit anyone.
Reviewed by Laura Misjak
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