Taking Back Sunday: 152

For more than two decades, Taking Back Sunday has garnered a huge, loyal fan base whose music is a testament to supreme sincerity, longing and connection. Originally from Long Island, NY, the influential multi-platinum rock band brought mature songcraft and pop sensibilities to punk's rigid conformity, helping to expand the contours of the genre while taking the band to new heights¾and in the process inspiring artists such as The Killers, Kings of Leon, My Chemical Romance, and Paramore, among many others. In 2023, Taking Back Sunday (John Nolan (lead guitar, piano, vocals), Adam Lazzara (lead vocals), Shaun Cooper (bass) and Mark O'Connell (drums)), release their eighth studio album (and Fantasy Records debut) titled "152", their first collection of new music since 2016's "Tidal Wave". "152" (named after the highway exit in Charlotte, NC that became a favorite hangout for a group of friends) was produced by Tushar Apte (whom the band met through a joint collaboration with famed DJ Steve Aoki) and mixed by Neal Avron (Twenty One Pilots, Bleachers, Sara Bareilles). The long-awaited LP of 10 intensely vulnerable and compelling new tracks (all written and recorded by the group) is delivered with fresh ambition and newfound purpose. Inspired by the long hiatus and cloud of uncertainty that has overshadowed the world (and the music industry) in recent years, "152" is among the most reflective and emotionally pure works in Taking Back Sunday's illustrious career. From the heavy, intricate riffs and anthemic vocals to the elegant, warm synthesizers and spare string arrangements, the quartet has never sounded better. This wide range, from upbeat to serious, is evident on the album's brilliant opener, "Amphetamine Smiles," a powerful tale of reunion that could just as easily be about the band members themselves as anything or anyone else. Whether it's about grudging acceptance of maturity ("S'old"), holding on to the moment ("The One"), open betrayal ("Keep Going"), or the realization that you can't run away from who you are ("Quit Trying"), the common thread that runs through "152" is one of generosity, gratitude, and ultimately hope. Despite the considerable gap between releases, a new generation of fans has discovered Taking Back Sunday and their lasting legacy has only grown. The new album proves that it was worth the wait."152" is Taking Back Sunday at their best - a gripping and confident statement from an alternative rock band that is once again at the peak of their powers.