New Again

The title of Taking Back Sunday's 2009 record, NEW AGAIN, is the veteran band's joke at its own expense, a light dig at its inability to hold onto its guitarists--this time it's Matthew Fazzi replacing Fred Mascherino (off to solo projects). However, the unflappable alternative warriors lose no steps, continuing to dance at the edges of emo, throwing flecks of Echo & the Bunnymen, Talking Heads, and Guns 'N' Roses into the mix. Meanwhile, Adam Lazzara continues to easily spit the act's trademarked lightheartedly neurotic lyrics, wordplay of the "climbed the fence, the fence that you were sitting on" variety.