taking back sunday: tidal wave

http://www.takingbacksunday.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/TBS_TidalWave_5x5_500-600x600.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NR_P8JWXoU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IFsQnzHFgg

two years ago i really wanted to make a thread for the last taking back sunday record, happiness is, but i also feel like i'm kinda the only person that looooves that album and would have a hard time convincing anyone else. i also love this one but for once i feel like i won't be the only one? there have been a lot of emo/americana hybrids this year but only this one is about shedding outdated forms of masculinity? plus it's more stadium americana than pinegrove etc.—springsteen, petty, heavy guitars and, when there are synths, heavy synths, but it's porous at its edges, where the trad performed masculinities spill into a dreamy introspection. (happiness is did this too, but less seamlessly.) it feels like an Important emo record in this way, from a band that's been around long enough to actually interestingly interrogate their identity instead of dropping it entirely and breaking up (matchbook romance, the anniversary, get up kids) or going super dark and evil (brand new).

I found the last one hard to listen to due to being hyper-compressed and redlined to death - this is sounding a *little* easier on the ears for some reason. I'm iffy on some of the vocals but the songs are strong.

what's the best TBS album to start with for someone who likes a healthy dose of melody with his rock 'n' roll?

where you want to be