Taking Back Sunday news

Taking Back Sunday will release their new album, Happiness Is, on March 18 via Hopeless Records.

To pre-order and get an instant download of single "Flicker, Fade," visit: hopelessrecords.com/happiness.
 
Since forming in Long Island, the group has sold millions of albums. This will be the group's second album since reviving the "classic" lineup of vocalist Adam Lazzara, guitarist/vocalist John Nolan, guitarist Eddie Reyes, bassist Shaun Cooper and drummer Mark O'Connell.

Written over a year period with no involvement from a record label for the first time since their 2002 debut, Tell All Your Friends, the album sees the band expanding their musical palette and stretching out sonically. 

"Through this process we had many more shared experiences as adults that have come into play. We had near death experiences purely from the force of nature, common enemies, playing for the troops who protect us against a different kind of enemy and that led to seeing parts of the world that you would never in your lifetime expect to see and leave you a bit haunted. There is a new level of honesty both in the writing and working with two producers who we have known for so long," says Cooper.

"I tried to be a little more loose; I was more focused on being myself than trying to sound perfect or anything," Lazzara responds when asked how he approached Happiness Is.

"We also played around a lot with arranging the harmonies and playing with layers and I think that makes these songs a lot more rich." Correspondingly songs like "Stood A Chance" alternate between melodic moments and moody breakdowns in a way that's so seamless that you'll hardly notice its happening until its all over, while "Better Homes And Gardens" sounds like catharsis set to a driving drumbeat.

The band also clearly weren't afraid to let these songs truly take on their own spirit as evidenced by the ambient ballad "It Takes More," which started out as an upbeat rocker before becoming the atmospheric masterpiece that it evolved into.

Lazzara also gets vpersonal. "Through the years I've tried to stay pretty cryptic because often times it's easier not to have to explain yourself but on this record I was very direct in the sense I tried to use the simplest way to get an idea across," he explains. "In the past I don't think I ever would have let a song like 'Like You Do' go on an album because it's so heartfelt in a simple way and I also think it's actually one of the first love songs we've ever written."

Ultimately this search for meaning and pursuit of progress lies at the core of why the band has managed to retain a fervent fanbase over the years and survive numerous passing trends. But it's also important to note that none of the band members take any part of this experience for granted.

"A band is always going to think their newest work is their best, but for me personally, there are several songs on 'Happiness Is' that continue to give me chills each and every time I hear them. I could not be more proud of what we have accomplished with this record and I cannot wait to share it with the world," says Cooper.

"In the past when we were on a major label there would be A&R people giving us suggestions but with this album it was just us pushing ourselves," Lazzara summarizes, sounding even more hopeful than he did over a decade ago. "There is no question to me that Happiness Is is the best unfiltered representation of what happens when the five of us get in a room together and that makes me really happy." Nolan confirms this sentiment by adding, "This album really is a testament to each of the member's talents because it's just all us."

Track Listing:

Preface
Flicker, Fade
Stood A Chance
All The Way
Beat Up Car
It Takes More
They Don't Have Any Friends
Better Homes And Gardens
Like You Do
We Were Younger Then
Nothing At All

Tour Dates:

Feb. 19 Roxy Prague, Czech Republic
Feb. 20 Luxor Koln, Germany
Feb. 21 Melkweg Amsterdamn, Netherlands
Feb. 22 Fleche D'or Paris, France
Feb. 23 Kasbah Coventry, UK
Feb. 26 Koko London, UK
March 1 Silverlake Music Festival Pattaya, Thailand
March 2 Scape - The Ground Theater Singapore, Singapore
March 14 South By So What?! Grand Prairie, TX
March 29 Extreme Thing Las Vegas, NV

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