After their last record, the upstate New York based Taking Back Sunday jumped from their very cozy home at Victory Records, and entered the big time with a major label contract with Warner Brothers. Only the production budget has changed on the band’s major label debut. On Louder Now, the band keeps their alt-emo-rock sound intact, so their fans won’t jump off a roof in despair after hearing it.

Most of the 11 songs have the same song structure: quiet verses before loud, rocking choruses. The soundalikes Up Against, and Liar (It Takes Two) have a monotonous tone to them, but the bulk of Louder Now does show a polish and sheen to it that helps it sound better than let’s say, Hawthorne Heights. And unlike many of their brethren, Taking Back Sunday seem far more prepared to take on listeners in their 20’s, and even 30’s with introspective lyrics.

On the first single MakeDamnSure, lead singer/guitarist Adam Lazarra wails his way through a catchy chorus. Having a “catchy chorus” would almost confuse the song for something by past tourmates Jimmy Eat World (that’s a good thing), but it manages to keep an identity all its own. The song is already a hit at modern rock radio. Twenty Twenty Surgery prevails as the album’s highlight track, and hard rock riffing saves songs like Spin. The group even goes into an acoustic track, Divine Intervention, which seems out of place for the band, but shows signs of maturity along the way.

The song structure on Louder Now is similar throughout the album and does not signal a massive shift in Taking Back Sunday’s sound. But giving the band some credit, they make the songs compelling enough to make damn sure that they aren’t confused with all the bands littering My Space looking for a record deal.

GRADE: B