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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Woah, woah woah...., August 8, 2009
Hang on, guys. Let's not all be so eager to hate on this album so fast, just because it isn't "Tell All Your Friends." Let's face it, not many albums in this genre are. That album was as close to perfection as you can come with one collection of songs. For people my age (I'm 26), and having grown-up on Long Island, that album expressed all the pent-up teenage angst that we didn't know how to get out, and it will always hold a certain sentimental value for me. But I digress: I recently saw TBS at a free outdoor concert near Gov't Ctr. in Boston, and I hadn't listened to "New Again" yet. But after the concert I was more intrigued, because the show was pretty impressive and very energetic. Having given this album a once-over, I first have to say that it's better than "Louder Now," and there's definitely something of a new sound coming through in tracks like "Sink Into Me," "Summer, Man," and "Carpathia." Long story short, it's not old TBS, but it's not the TBS of "Louder Now," either. Overall, it's better than people are giving it credit for, and it may be better appreciated with a little age.
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19 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
unspectacular, June 2, 2009
If like me, you have been a fan of Taking Back Sunday since their debut album Tell All Your Friends, you no doubt have noticed with dismay that the impassioned back and forths and overlapping vocals that they innovated, and which characterize and define their distinctive sound, become increasingly sparse with the release of each new album.
This album continues that trend, and depending on the way you see it, may be construed as "original." Original is fine if improvements are made, and the album is better all things considered, but there aren't really any noticeable improvements, neither in the lyrics department or the music department. Matthew Fazzi, who replaces TBS' erstwhile lead guitarist, Fred Mascherino, lacks conspicuousness throughout, his vocals neither passionate nor powerful enough to match his predecessor's and sounding rather more like an afterthought than something integral to TBS' identity (as John Nolan's and Mascherino's did on former albums).
Granted, there are some stand-out tracks, like "Cut Me Up Jenny," a feisty song with a jaunty beat, and "Everything Must Go," a heartfelt lamentation of unrequited/capricious love reminiscent of "Brooklyn," but New Again is a supreme disappointment nevertheless. The fact that it took so many years to complete adds to the letdown after all the self-promoting ballyhoo (evident in its name "New Again"). Musically, it is less intricate than Where You Want to Be and Tell All Your Friends. Lyrically and production-wise, it is less mature and polished than Louder Now.
For those who prefer seeing some numbers:
1. New Again 4/5
2. Sink into Me 3/5
3. Lonely, Lonely 3/5
4. Summer Man 3/5
5. Swing 5/5
6. Where My Mouth Is 4/5
7. Cut me Up Jenny 5/5
8. Catholic Knees 3/5
9. Capital M-E 3/5
10. Carpathia 4/5
11. Everything Must Go 5/5
As you can see, there are definitely some tracks interspersed throughout that I would fain skip over when playing this CD to friends of mine who are unfamiliar with Taking Back Sunday. However, I would have no misgivings playing any of their earlier CDs in sequence and uninterrupted. Since none of their earlier CDs warranted a full 5/5 grade (Where You Want to Be and Tell All Your Friends come closest, earning a 4.5 in my book), and in all honesty this album isn't better or as good as Louder Now, which I rate a 4, I think a 3 or 3.5 is a fair mark to assign this very mediocre release.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of my favorite albums I own...why all the negavitity?, December 18, 2010
This is the only TBS album I own, and I think it's amazing. I slightly previewed their other songs and I honestly don't think they're as good as this album.
1. New Again- 10/10 One of the best
2. Sink Into Me 10/10- catchy, one of my favorites
3. Lonely, Lonely - 9.5/10
4. Summer, Man - 6/10 my least favorite
5. Swing - 9.7/20
6. Where My Mouth Is - 9/10
7. Cut Me Up Jenny - 8.8/10
8. Catholic Knees - 9/10
9. Capital M-E - 10/10 sooo good!
10. Carpathia - 10/10
11. Everything Must Go - 9/10
BONUS TRACK: Long Time Comin' = 10/10 my favorite one!
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