2008 Woodie Awards
Bigger arenas, same old broken heart songs
Maggie Boals
Issue date: 2/15/07 Section: Arts and Entertainment
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Five years since Taking Back Sunday's debut album, Tell All Your Friends, the quintet of emo boys from Long Island is about to kick off a North American headlining tour to promote its 2006 album, Louder Now, and its first DVD, Louder Now: Part One.
Over the years, Taking Back Sunday has gone through a lot of changes, from a revolving door of band members to signing to a major label. Early in its career, the band included Jesse Lacey, who left and started the band Brand New, as well as co-lyricist and guitarist John Nolan and bassist Shaun Cooper, who started their own band, Straylight Run. The band regrouped with additions Matt Rubano (bass) and Fred Mascherino (guitar/vocals), who joined the core of Adam Lazzara (vocals), Eddie Reyes (guitar) and Mark O'Connell (drums).
Fortunately, one thing that has never changed is the band's passion. Unlike some bands that pick up whatever sound is topping the charts, Rubano assures us that Taking Back Sunday is all about the music.
"The sound of our band has changed, but it has nothing to do with success," he said in a phone interview with The Beacon. "Really, the only thing you can be thinking about is being creative and being true to what you're doing."
With some of the most hopelessly romantic lines of all time ("and with my one last gasping breath / I'd apologize for bleeding on your shirt"), the band developed a sound that's both welcoming and rough.
Tell All Your Friends was driven by upbeat melodies, while the sophomore album, Where You Want to Be, had a very different feel.
Although it still had tracks reminiscent of the first album, many of the songs were slower and more melodic.
The latest, Louder Now, has gone straight to the top while harping back to the band's earlier stuff and throwing in more of a rock vibe. Songs like "MakeDamnSure" and "Liar (It Takes One to Know One)" have dominated the MTV, VH1 and Fuse television networks and radio since the album's release.
Over the years, Taking Back Sunday has gone through a lot of changes, from a revolving door of band members to signing to a major label. Early in its career, the band included Jesse Lacey, who left and started the band Brand New, as well as co-lyricist and guitarist John Nolan and bassist Shaun Cooper, who started their own band, Straylight Run. The band regrouped with additions Matt Rubano (bass) and Fred Mascherino (guitar/vocals), who joined the core of Adam Lazzara (vocals), Eddie Reyes (guitar) and Mark O'Connell (drums).
Fortunately, one thing that has never changed is the band's passion. Unlike some bands that pick up whatever sound is topping the charts, Rubano assures us that Taking Back Sunday is all about the music.
"The sound of our band has changed, but it has nothing to do with success," he said in a phone interview with The Beacon. "Really, the only thing you can be thinking about is being creative and being true to what you're doing."
With some of the most hopelessly romantic lines of all time ("and with my one last gasping breath / I'd apologize for bleeding on your shirt"), the band developed a sound that's both welcoming and rough.
Tell All Your Friends was driven by upbeat melodies, while the sophomore album, Where You Want to Be, had a very different feel.
Although it still had tracks reminiscent of the first album, many of the songs were slower and more melodic.
The latest, Louder Now, has gone straight to the top while harping back to the band's earlier stuff and throwing in more of a rock vibe. Songs like "MakeDamnSure" and "Liar (It Takes One to Know One)" have dominated the MTV, VH1 and Fuse television networks and radio since the album's release.
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