Since forming back in 1999, TAKING BACK SUNDAY haven’t necessarily been the most stable unit, so to speak... Whereas commercially, they've done very well finding chart success in America, having hit the Top 10 of the Billboard charts on multiple occasions, the inner structure of the band itself hasn't always been so solid. Numerous members have come and gone over the years, with creative differences often being the catalyst for change, but right now in 2014, the band have released their sixth studio album, “Happiness Is” with a line-up unchanged from their previous self-titled record and a new found sense of stability, so with that, let’s see what, according to TBS, happiness really is…
The album starts off rather melodramatically, “Preface”, full of layered strings and an intense orchestral feel rises in intensity over its brief length, before first track proper, “Flicker, Fade” gets the album under way. A sharp burst of drumming comes and goes all so suddenly, before the whole thing turns into a soft, mellow indie-rock track. Adam Lazzara’s vocals warm and, welcoming one minute, forceful and passionate the next.
“Stood A Chance” takes things in an altogether happier direction. It keeps the indie-rock vibe but sounds more pop driven, a great summer festival song, you can’t not enjoy listening to this track. “Beat Up Car” is slightly more stripped back, very much driven by drummer Mark O’Connell, and aside from the chorus, it’s a really easy going number. The longest track on the album, “It Takes More” strips things down further still, delivering this sweet, ambient rock ballad, providing ample relaxation mid album, before “They Don’t Have Any Friends” and “Like You Do” bring the album back to life.
“Happiness Is”, as it so happens, does a pretty good job of summarising what, well, happiness is after all (musically at least) combining elements of radio friendly pop melodies and clear vocals with light rock and acoustic guitar, this is a real feel-good album from start to end, and while it may not have any tracks that immediately jump out at you as instant hits, it’s all the better taken in slowly over a period of time, allowing opportunity to absorb and appreciate each track. A great album. Who needs Pharrell when you've got Taking Back Sunday to cheer you up? [7]
Download: "Stood A Chance" and "We Were Younger Then"
"Happiness Is" is available on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/happiness-is/id786667823
The album starts off rather melodramatically, “Preface”, full of layered strings and an intense orchestral feel rises in intensity over its brief length, before first track proper, “Flicker, Fade” gets the album under way. A sharp burst of drumming comes and goes all so suddenly, before the whole thing turns into a soft, mellow indie-rock track. Adam Lazzara’s vocals warm and, welcoming one minute, forceful and passionate the next.
“Stood A Chance” takes things in an altogether happier direction. It keeps the indie-rock vibe but sounds more pop driven, a great summer festival song, you can’t not enjoy listening to this track. “Beat Up Car” is slightly more stripped back, very much driven by drummer Mark O’Connell, and aside from the chorus, it’s a really easy going number. The longest track on the album, “It Takes More” strips things down further still, delivering this sweet, ambient rock ballad, providing ample relaxation mid album, before “They Don’t Have Any Friends” and “Like You Do” bring the album back to life.
“Happiness Is”, as it so happens, does a pretty good job of summarising what, well, happiness is after all (musically at least) combining elements of radio friendly pop melodies and clear vocals with light rock and acoustic guitar, this is a real feel-good album from start to end, and while it may not have any tracks that immediately jump out at you as instant hits, it’s all the better taken in slowly over a period of time, allowing opportunity to absorb and appreciate each track. A great album. Who needs Pharrell when you've got Taking Back Sunday to cheer you up? [7]
Download: "Stood A Chance" and "We Were Younger Then"
"Happiness Is" is available on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/happiness-is/id786667823
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