IN REVIEW: Taking Back Sunday - "Tidal Wave"

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On their seventh album, Taking Back Sunday seem to be focused on flexing their muscles; at its outset, it's a much louder and more visceral offering than the expansive and fluid Happiness Is. True enough, there's plenty of volume and velocity to be found on Tidal Wave, especially on its raucous title track and the chugging opener Death Wolf. The air comes out a bit toward the end, but most songs have at least fleeting bursts of redlined crunch; that said, its B-side is a bit fatiguing as the songs mostly fail to maintain the intensity and quality of the A-side. Still, it satisfies somewhat even if it isn't all that consistent and by times a bit hokey and/or silly (the CD's hidden track, consisting entirely of singer Adam Lazzara flubbing lines and goofing off in studio, is funny for about thirty seconds and annoying for the remaining three minutes and change). Ultimately, however, Tidal Wave is more notable for the attempt than the execution.

September 16, 2016 • Hopeless
Highlights Tidal Wave • You Can't Look Back • Fences

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