‘Tell All Your Friends’ was one of those genre-defining records that has paved the way for emo, or whatever you want to call it, to become so successful. Bands such as Thursday (‘Full Collapse’), Brand New (‘Deja Entendu’) and Finch (‘What It Is To Burn’) and TBS all came out with albums within a similar stretch of time that are referred to as classics within the genre. They’re the bands that have set the boundary marks in the mainstream. Because of that, TBS will always have their future work set by ‘Tell All Your Friends’. It’s one of those records I don’t think they personally will ever better – there are too many songs on there that I can still listen to now and sing along and not be bored. ‘Louder Now’ is a good record, don’t get me wrong, but it doesn’t quite reach the standards of their first album.
‘MakeDamnSure’ is pretty much classic TBS. If their second album didn’t quite follow the same formula as the first, ‘Louder Now’ sees TBS going back towards their roots, yet still maintaining the sound they developed on ‘Where You Want to Be’. The opening assault of ‘What It Feels Like To Be A Ghost’, ‘Liar’ and then ‘makedamnsure’ is mighty impressive and, on the first few listens I gave this record, I did think it would match up to the band’s first album. But then things don’t quite live up to this opening triple salvo.
‘Up Against It (Blackout)’ and ‘Twenty-Twenty Surgery’ are reasonable, but not world-beaters, but it’s tracks such as ‘Spin’ and ‘Error Operator’ which make this record stand out. Adam Lazzara’s vocals are as solid as ever and the dual guitar assault, alongside the usual sing/scream backings, shine above the myriad of bands who have attempted to copy TBS over the years. ‘Louder Now’ is a good, solid record. It’s not as good as ‘Tell All Your Friends’, but TBS fans will certainly enjoy this too.
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Warner Bros
Paul