Taking Back Sunday – ‘Twenty’ (Craft Recordings)

Written by Allen Maxwell

Taking Back Sunday are a band that many of us went through our teenage years with their CDs never far away. To mark their 20-year anniversary of being a band, TBS have just dropped their latest album. In a variation to the latest trend ofyYear anniversary re-release albums, they have opted for the more traditional “greatest hits” format.

‘Twenty’ is made up of 21 tracks that take you on a chronological recap of their 20 year career, beginning what is without doubt their most popular song by miles, ‘Cute Without The E’, along with another two tracks from their 2002 debut, ‘Tell All Your Friends (‘You’re So Last Summer’ and ‘Timberwolves at New Jersey’).

The next three tracks take us to 2004, ‘A Decade Under The Influence’ another of their massive tracks, ‘Set Phasers To Stun’ and ‘One-Eighty By Summer’. Next up is 2006’s ‘Louder Now’, my personal favourite of their album back catalogue. ‘Liar’, ‘MakeDamnSure’, ‘What’s It Feel Like to be A Ghost?’ And ‘My Blue Heaven’.

As we reach the mid-point of the album I feel this is the peak. Whilst the more recent tracks are still quality tracks, there’s no denying that Taking Back Sunday were at their utmost best pre 2009’s ‘New Again’.

It was at this point you can hear the maturity level change in the writing styles. ‘Sink Into Me’ is probably the most memorable track from the ‘New Again’ album with its “Hey Hey Hey” chant throughout. ‘ Everything Must Go’ is the only other track from this album to make it to the Best Of.

2011 brought the release of the self-titled record. ‘Faith’, ‘Call Me in the Morning’ is one of those tracks you’d be forgiven for thinking you were listening to a ’30 Seconds To Mars’ track at times. ’Call Me in the Morning’ is the token acoustic track.

Next up is 2014. ‘Flicker Fade’ and ‘Better Homes And Gardens’ are two of the best songs from this latter part of the album. ‘Tidal Wave’ was the most recent release from TBS and again shows a difference in writing style. The title track giving more of a feel of Gaslight Anthem then the kings of emo that you are actually listening to. While I do really enjoy this song… it just doesn’t sit well on the album for me.

‘You Can’t Look Back’ and ‘Call Come Running’ end the flash back side of the album. I’m guessing most of the people who will buy this album will likely float around the first half as it just simply contains the best material.

The final two tracks are the only new material on here. ‘All Ready To Go’ is already circulating around online somewhere and final track ‘A Song For Dan’ both show hints that the band are taking yet again another different musical path. While they are still producing great music, you can’t help but have the inner emo teen inside wishing that they would return things back to the early ‘00s.

‘Twenty’ is released today (Friday 11 January). You can get your copy HERE.

Taking Back Sunday tour the UK and Europe in June:

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