Mark O’Connell Reportedly Leaves Taking Back Sunday • Page 2

Really cant agree here. The auto tune on Adams voice throughout the album is super grating on my ears! Doesn't sound like a TBS album at all. More like a shitty modern country-pop-smoothrock album. Although I think I wouldn't be so down on it if the vocals didn't sound like AI doing an Adam Lazarra impression. But I guess you gotta try be a bit Posty these days. My wife and I have followed TBS from the go, but neither of us can stand 152. Keep Going is a great track though! To be fair, I'm just an old man that couldn't stand the new Blink album either, because of the auto tune overuse and super plastic production. So there's that...

 

personal favorite TBS album for me is Happiness Is even if it can't objectively be considered the best

I also still really enjoy their live show and how the band sounds when they perform. I even like how Adam sings live, at least when I've seen him

The preachy side of Adam on stage feels a little weird sometimes, but if he is having fun and he is happy, then I support him

Only thing I wish is that they freshen up the setlist a bit. Other than 152 songs, don't know if they've played anything different since the last two times I saw them: headlining Sad Summer Fest in 2023 and a one-off Cocoa Beach Florida show they played with Winona Fighter

 

With you on the production point in both cases.

 

I’m sorry but that’s like … a defining characteristic of the band? Dude’s been auto tuned to hell and back from day one?

 

Loved the one released last year. Definitely the best since Where You Want To Be.

 

Completely agree, hence the disconnect between studio and live. Doesn’t bother me on 152 as it’s always been the case.

 

Preachy?

 

I've put just as much time into 152 in the one year it's been out as I've put into TYAF over the last *checks watch* 20+ years.

 

Golden era of this band for me is WYWTB thru New Again.

But I cannot deny how good their last two albums are. Complete opposites but so good!

 

Does anyone have inside scoop on why Mark left?

 

Oh, remember when this band broke AbsolutePunk?

....14 years ago.

 

First time I've heard someone call 152's production super plastic... like have you guys listened to Louder Now and S/T? Eric Valentine always had artificial sounding drum tones.

 

I'm not saying it hasn't actually happened and they just aren't publicizing it, but I'm still holding out for an official statement from Mark or the band to believe he is actually done.

I'm just not sure a (very-recently-still-bitter) ex-member on a random podcast constitutes fact. I'm probably wrong, but staying skeptical until we get some form of actual confirmation.

 

Cant STAND the drums on those albums... There is zero tone to them. Sounds like a drum sets I made of pillows as a kid

 

Cardboard boxes is my go-to comparison haha

 

Friend, how are you getting country or Posty vibes from 152? Genuinely curious

 

To be honest, I mainly remember the Posty vibes from The One & Juice 2 Me. That's just in the certain way they've auto tuned his voice. Especially at certain parts. I haven't listened to the album in months though, so there might be other songs I can't remember! Those 2 are the ones that stuck out in my mind though. As for the country aspect, well that's just a general feel for me on the album. That modern kinda country rock. Like how after Kings of Leon got over smoothed out. If that makes sense?

 

Fair enough. I guess it's just never annoyed me as much! It's the specific warble on the held notes that drives me nuts on thos one. Just a weird smoothness? Honestly, I wished I wish I enjoyed it as much as the rest of you!

 

I didn't mean the production on 152 was super plastic. I was talking about the blink album there. Nothing sounds real on that album. I think all the instruments sound pretty good on 152, it's mainly the vocal production that kills it for me.

 

Wrote a review for AP back in the day and I said WYWTB was better than TAYF and I legitimately thought it would break the site.

 

Their tayf years was very good live.

On another note, I'm surprised happiness is wasn't very well received. I think it's the best they've done since LN

 

I think anyone who ever loved their earlier albums would find something to enjoy on it, for sure (and I sure do) - but I think their popularity had already peaked years before, so it probably wasn't going to win them any new fans. I'm struggling to think of any bands from their scene/era who have had a late career resurgence (aside from FOB and PATD, which I guess count). I know Jimmy Eat World made it back to the radio proper with Integrity Blues, but they were also already miles more popular than TBS ever was.

I can think of some bands who have held pretty steady in terms of tours and crowds, like TBS has, but I think the general music zeitgeist has moved on, and these days it wouldn't matter if they wrote the next Abbey Road unless it got major promotion and pushed by some young influencers. Sorry, not trying to wax cynical, just rambling.