Taking Back Sunday (TBS) has released their sixth full length album, “Happiness Is” which in short presents to you more of the same in a different way.

“Happiness Is” will mark the third record TBS has released with the original line up from the 2002 debut “Tell All Your Friends.” Most of the line up has changed throughout the bands career but the original line up returned in 2010 and released the self-titled record in 2011. It seems weird to have TBS with the same line up two albums in a row, but “Happiness Is” would not be the same without that comfort from familiar musicianship.

The record starts off with something that TBS has never done on a record before, a prelude. It is full of violins and other sounds and leads straight into the lead single “Flicker, Fade.” Now “Flicker, Fade” is anything but a proper intro song when you first listen to it, but starting the album with it was a great choice. It fits perfectly where it is.

The album then goes into what is the most fun song on the record, “Stood a Chance” before going into the slower, but not quite ballad track “All the Way.” The album will actually take you through a journey like that throughout. Getting you amped through songs like “Beat Up Car” then slowing it down and driving you with the melody of tracks like “We Were Younger Then.” 

That is the strength of this record, it takes you on an overall ride and every song is fantastic in its own right. You will know what song you are listening to, and that is a good thing.

There was never a moment in the record where I felt like a song was rushed or simply just put together. Every song seems to be well done and worked with, in a TBS sort of way.

Lyrically the band has improved as many songs will have you singing them over and over. I instantly fell in love with most of the songs just based on the first listen. Even if the lyrics might not be winning awards for great word choice and structure, they are perfect for what you have. I never thought I would be screaming the words, “destroy what you create” as loud as I do when I sing along to “Flicker, Fade.” 

Musically and instrumentally every song feels perfect. There was never a song that felt too produced or too naked. And the expansive array of sounds you will hear from guitars, to strings, to acoustics is fantastic as they accompany the vocal duo. 

The band evolved their song writing capabilities with this record, and any TBS fans will hear that. The record seems to keep the same overall feeling found in previous TBS records, still duo vocals the band is known for, loud rock and roll guitars and pounding drums. If you are a TBS fan, this album will feel right at home, but if not there is not much this album will offer.

4/5