Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 9
  2. Negative: 1 out of 9
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Aug 10, 2011
    83
    Even when he's maiming his vocal cords over chaotic guitar crunch, he still sounds enraptured. [1 Jul 2011, p.74]
  2. Once you let it sink in that this isn't the same band from the early aughts, then you can start to appreciate Taking Back Sunday as a solid rock record – their best in 7 years.
  3. Kerrang!
    Jul 27, 2011
    80
    The whole thing is done and dusted in just under 40 minutes, yet zips by so fluidly that it feels half as long. [2 Jul 2011, p.50]
  4. Jun 29, 2011
    80
    Anyone worried that the last decade had dulled TBS' edge, a listen to the post-hardcore rager "El Paso" confirms that it's never been sharper.
  5. Jun 28, 2011
    80
    This album is most definitely not Tell All Your Friends II: Electric Boogaloo. That said, it most assuredly doesn't come anywhere close to sucking, either.
  6. Jul 19, 2011
    70
    While this latest work may not meet the wild expectations of many long-time fans who yearn for a return to band's early glory days, it should be taken for what it is, as this current Taking Back Sunday is once again a new animal.
  7. Jun 30, 2011
    70
    What their return does bring is that unquantifiable "getting the band back together" feeling and all of the excitement that comes with old friends getting back together to do what they do best.
  8. Jun 27, 2011
    60
    Despite the occasional mosh-pit flare-up, though, Taking Back Sunday emphasizes the band's crafty songwriting rather than the psychological intensity that defined Tell All Your Friends.
  9. Jun 24, 2011
    30
    So sigh with me; for all the promise their reunion had, they sound as if they're remembering how to work together, painting their album by numbers rather than taking risks or adding artistic flourishes of their own.
User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 15 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 15
  3. Negative: 3 out of 15
  1. Mar 16, 2015
    9
    While some confusingly consider this a disappointment, I see this as the greatest comback to a kick ass band. The TAYF lineup returned andWhile some confusingly consider this a disappointment, I see this as the greatest comback to a kick ass band. The TAYF lineup returned and John Nolan brought a little bit of Straylight Run back with him. While I'm not terribly fond of Since You're gone, it's still a great song, alomg with the rest of the album. By far not their best work, but it's impossible to compare a band to it's former self. They were "emo", now they're a nice melodic altrock. True Taking Back Sunday fans will certaintly enjoy this pleasantly suprising reunion album. Full Review »
  2. Aug 6, 2012
    3
    Most possibly the biggest disappointment in music history. Taking Back Sunday reunited with their classic line up and promised a comeback of aMost possibly the biggest disappointment in music history. Taking Back Sunday reunited with their classic line up and promised a comeback of a similar sound to their "Tell All Your Friends" album, but instead, provided people with an overrated piece of music that is worse than their previous album, "New Again", which was mediocre at best. Adam's songwriting has become more lazy and due to smoking (obviously), his vocals are collapsing in on themselves throughout the entire album. With the much anticipated return of John Nolan comes a huge amount of neglect from the band. He is barely used in this album, which is a shame, because he may be the only talented person left. I used to love Taking Back Sunday with all my heart, I even sucked up "New Again", but I didn't enjoy this album except for a few songs. Maybe It's because I'm not in high school anymore. Full Review »
  3. Feb 20, 2012
    3
    Everyone might be back together again in the Taking Back Sunday camp, but this is getting on for 10 years after Tell All Your Friends, andEveryone might be back together again in the Taking Back Sunday camp, but this is getting on for 10 years after Tell All Your Friends, and whilst the band may have improved musically the lyrical content and repetitive song structures look slightly odd at a band no longer youthful. Taking Back Sunday, whilst not dipping into the abyss of Korn lyrically need to redefine not only their sound but their image if they wish to continue- whilst other bands of the genre departed or developed to new sounds- TBS just play it too safe. Full Review »