Customer Reviews

Where You Want To Be [Vinyl]

5 star:		(113)
4 star:		(60)
3 star:		(28)
2 star:		(21)
1 star:		(33)

 

 

After reading through a lot of these reviews I've come to one conclusion. People need to stop trying to rate TBS for the band they used to be and need to start accepting the fact that this is a completely different TBS.

I'm sick and tired of seeing "Oh man this album isn't even close, and will never surmount to what TAYF accomplished", or "This is crap, I refuse to accept a band that's re-emerged after a massive lineup change". Boo-hoo. I think TBS deserves a little bit of leigh weigh here after being able to release a second record to begin with. It doesn't take a stoke of genius to realize, OF COURSE this is not the same band, its evident in the sound, its evident in its singers, so what's the problem? Did they "sell-out" to the pop-punk/emo crowd, well I don't remember these guys suddenly becoming a staple for MTV or the mainstream media after the album came out. I don't remember it skyrocketing to #1 on the Billboard 200, so clearly little kids aren't eating this stuff up because its so "radio-friendly". Some of the material on this album has weak lyrical content and the redundancy of a relationship gone bad, but so what, what band in this genre doesn't.

I never understood why the sophomore album has to equal or surpass the first one, meaning it's the same sound, just more of it. I didn't want another TAYF, and who wants to hear two albums that are practically identical to each other. No, this album is not perfect, I agree with most people on that, and sure there are few songs I don't mind skipping--but these flaws only go so far, and it's also these flaws that keep most from realizing that TBS did a pretty decent job.

Say what you will, stop complaining about what this band used to be. If that's not possible then so be it, my opinion shouldn't force others to change theirs. Just listen to the record in its entirety a couple times, and base some criticism on the band's member circumstance, not a previous album that's composed of different people from over 2 years ago.

Probably the best from WYWTB:
- A Decade Under The Influence
- Bonus Mosh Part II
- This Photograph Is Proof
- New American Classic
- One-Eighty By Summer

Many Taking Back Sunday fans were disappointed with their favorite band's second album, "Where You Want to Be," after two years of playing the unquestionable classic album "Tell All Your Friends" over again. What these fans were likely hoping for was sounds that sounded exactly like those songs found on "Tell All Your Friends," but were horrified when they found that TBS had left their initial sound behind and forged a new, more melodic and darker band, with a few replacements in members.

I was among these fans, but I gave the album another chance... and another chance... and another chance. It took a week or so before I realized it, but I now LOVED the new album. While "Where You Want To Be" falls short of it's classic predecessor, it's a solid and much more mature album.

STANDOUTS

1. Set Phasers to Stun- Starts off with a band, the vocals are piercing and the guitars are driving. Good song.

2. Bonus Most pt. II- It may take a while to grow on you, but this is one of the gems, finding it's strength in melodic and poetic lyrics

3. Decade Under the Influence- The catchy first single, which can now be considered an anthem for angsty teens; it has a different sound then the rest of the album

4. This Photograph is Proof- Another single, which finds it's strength from the catchy guitar lines and Adam's rare but passionate screams

6. New American Classic- First official TBS acoustic song, and it is a success. Adam and Fred combine their sweetly sad voices for this ballad about the never-ending and repetitive cycle of love.

8. One-Eighty By Summer- Tied with "Slowdance..." for best song on the album. The guitar is frantic and furious, Adam's vocals are desperate and angsty, making for an energetic and vengefully heart-wrenching song.

10. Little Devotional- You'll be deemed a liar if you say you can listen to this song without singing along

11. ...Slowdance on the Inside- Quite possibly the most beautiful TBS song, complete with a serene instrumental which Adam showcases his vocal diversity over. He croons his cocky and ironic verses (with lyrical jabs at Straylight Run and Brand New) and builds up to a yelping scream at the climax of the song and the album, making it the most worthy album closer I have ever heard.

9 out of 10

Honestly, when i first listened to Taking Back Sunday, I didn't like them. I thought they were too screamy, and I just couldn't get into the music. But, after I listened to them more and more, I realized how amazing they really are. This new album, is one of my favorites.

1.Set Phasers to Stun - 9/10 I love the lyrics in this song. This one always gets stuck in my head.

2.Bonus Mosh, Pt. 2 - 9.5/10 One of my favorite songs on the album. This one also has great lyrics, like.. "Well it's love make it hurt" I love how TBS can take the upsides and the downsides of something, and combine them into something great.

3.A Decade Under the Influence - 8.5/10 Definitely a good choice for a first single. When I first heard it, it was one of those songs that I wanted to know the lyrics to.

4.This Photograph Is Proof (I know) - 9/10 I love the intro. It starts out kind of slow, and then gets a little faster, then slow again. A really good song.

5.The Union - 8/10 A good fast song. A little screamy, but it works well. The vocals in this one are excellent.

6.New American Classic - 10/10 One of my favorites. I wasn't expecting this kind of song on this cd. It's slow, and the mixture of Fred and Adam's voices with the guitar chords is just incredible.

7.I Am Fred Astaire - 9/10 The vocals in this song are awesome. Another one that gets stuck in my head all the time.

8.One-Eighty By Summer - 9/10 Once again, the lyrics are amazing. Taking Back Sunday always writes things that to me, don't seem like they would become a song. Yet, when you hear the songs, the words blend perfectly.

9.Number Five With A Bullet - 9.5/10 I really like the chorus in this one. The vocals are perfect as well. I wouldn't have it any other way.

10.Little Devotional - 10/10 My favorite song. The intro is amazing, the lyrics are beautiful, vocals and guitar-perfect, everything about this song is great.

11.Slowdance On The Inside - 9/10 A great way to finish out the cd. It leaves you satisfied, yet wanting more, if that's possible.

Overall, a great album. I saw TBS recently in concert, and i can't compare them to anything I've seen before. They are the exact definition of incredible. If you are reading this, and haven't bought the album yet, definitely check it out. It's worth it. :)

As I see so many people are knocking on Taking Back Sunday because they suck and blah blah blah. Shows these people actually care enough to come on here and listen to the CD. Taking Back Sunday's two Cd are excellent. The first CD "Tell all your friends" is more of the old not so pop TBS I agree. "Where you want to be" is so different from the first CD but it still is amazing. The lyrics and guitar riffs are excellent. Im sorry but I give this Band 5 stars!

Check out Matchbook Romance

I have read through some past reviews and I found them hilarious. They are utterly confusing and they gave me the menatal image of lots of 'alternative kids' jumping over each other- all trying to be the most individual. Very judgemental and condescending and they should be ashamed to have spent so much time putting others down because they didnt like the same music as them...for people who hate conformity you are pretty contradictory!
" i bet u like them because mtv/hot topic told you to"- sorry we arent as underground as you! ....if only i could be a cool underground kid....You must have seen heard about this band somewhere..and all the other bands you listen to.
So for people who want a review that isnt a indiiduality contest..... this album is good. Its catchy and well played. the guitar is relativly simple but from this genre of music (that i refuse to title) you shouldn't really be expecting full on guitar solos. any1 giving it one star is deluded because only bubblegum pop should deserve that. Or something truelly vile. You will probably like this if you like Yellowcard and the ataris, dashboard confessional. I doubt that any associations to blink/good charlotte are relevant here so I would ignore that. You shouldnt really care what someone on a computer that you will never meet thinks but all I can say is that they are a good band, not amazingly different from anything out there -but not every cd you own has to be a pionereering piece of music does it? I know my collection isn't.
Their first album is better- a bit different but line up change has to be taken into consideration.
I liked it- i'm not going to label it emo/punk/punk pop Im just going to say that they are a good band and i would reccomend this album to you.
I hope that you aren't influenecd toomuch by other reviewers....

Ok this CD is good. First off just cause you may write your lyrics about stuff that is already written about doesnt make your band unoriginal or uncreative or bad, alot of people write from experience and something we all experience is heart ache. Secondly dont ahte the band because they are played on mtv or because they dont sound the same as the original CD. I personally like seeing the change, and it is understandable since you now have a different set of songwriters then the original release, I think the CD is great, I love the ballad it is quickly becoming one of my favorite songs and I think Bonus Mosh is awesome, and here is a real shocker, I love Straylight Run and Brand New. Taking Back Sunday is a great band in my opinon, and if you are going to hate them, hate them cause you feel they are fake or because they just arent your particular taste (dont even hate them for that cause alot of bands i dont listen to like the strokes and white stripes I say are good muscians just not something I enjoy), but dont hate them because you feel they are too soft or on MTV or any of that crapt.

As for the music here, it's good. Like their first album it's growing on me.
I just don't see why everyone is on here dissing them so bad.
People hate them because they're on mtv. how stupid is this? So they're on mtv, so what? is it their fault that people like their music and want to see their videos? No, so how can you blame them?
And of course, people say they've 'sold out'. these people are whiny losers who only like bands no one else has heard of, simply because no one else has heard of them.
And finally you get the people who moan about "they're not emo, they're this or that, blah blah blah". Once again, this is a label given to them by the media, so why blame the band? And besides that, who cares? do you seriously sit there and say "well, they're not really emo, so i won't listen to them"? That's a little sad. Personally, i'll listen to anything that sounds good. What they look like, where they're from, what genre it is, whether or not they're on MTV are all completely irrelevant.
It's just liking judging a movie by what theaters it's playing in, or the trailers before it starts.

This second album from Taking Back Sunday is shear brilliance. I don't care if an album is "poppy" or totally "hardcore"- if it's good, it's good. Most times poppy music doesn't appeal to me, just for the record. However, to the point, this album is amazing. From the first track to the last song- each second of this cd is incredible.
I personally find it very helpful when people rate songs then say why they liked them...so I'm going to do the same.
1) Set Phasers to Stun- 8/10: it's just a good song...nothing too amazing, good lyrics.
2) Bonus Mosh Pt. 2- 7/10: not a bad song...just nothing special about it. It's still great.
3) A Decade Under the Influence- 10/10: pure genius of a song and really rocks the world.
4) This Photograph is Proof- 8/10: this song seemed kind of "blah" to me at first...but it began growing on me and now this song is just so awesome.
5) the Union- 9/10: from total grunge to beautiful guitar and incredible vocals, this song is amazing.
6) New American Classic- 9/10: finally an amazing acoustic song that isn't plagued by cliche'd lyrics or overly sappy words.
7) I am Fred Astaire- 9/10: Cool drums...cool outro...great song. Once again, Adam, puts on an amazing performance with his vocals.
8)One-Eighty by Summer- 10/10: eat your heart out, this song rules. The guitar is awesome and is a really energizing song.
9) Number Five with a Bullet- 8/10: begins to get old, but a solid song, nonetheless.
10) Little Devotional- 10/10: just listen to this sogn right away...it owns all.
11)...Slowdance on the Inside- 10/10: this is what "ending" songs are alll about...tons of vocal tracks, incredible lyrics/vocals- art in one of its purest forms.
After listening to this entire cd, you'll feel like you've been on a journey...jsut pick it up...you won't be disappointed.

Honestly I like Tell All Your Friends and this album equally the same. They both have their share of great songs. I would reccomend buying this CD before you buy Tell All Your Friends so it gives you the older sound of TBS first. Slowdance On The Inside is one the best songs on this CD, I highly reccomend for anyone to buy this CD who is into EMO, punk, or even posthardcore bands like FFTL, Silverstein, and underOATH

Everyone that has posted a negative review has stated something about either the band not being as good as before, or about how it didn't make them think. Do you need your music to make you think? Are you incapable of thinking on your own? Why can't this cd be good music. If you dislike it for the reason of it being bad to you, then ok. But don't hate on TBS for being different, it'll happen when you get new members.
ANYWAY, this is a great cd for anyone who likes and appreciates emo. It changes tempos a lot, and the lyrics are great, if a bit hard to catch at times. Part of TBS's appeal is that if you've seen them live, you'll appreciate their music a lot more. I've seen them twice, so I can take each song and reference it to a live performance. Even if you haven't seen them live, though, you should listen to this cd, it's as lyrically deep a cd as you'll find out there.
Personal Favs: Bonus Mosh Pt. II, New American Classic