By Nick Carrabine
NCarrabine@News-Herald.com

As I blogged about two weeks ago, the Taking Back Sunday reunion with its original members is now official.

I have no words, just insanely high expectations that I can't imagine will ever be met.

Below is a press release from the band's record label, Warner Bros Records:

"TAKING BACK SUNDAY BEGIN WORK ON THEIR FIFTH STUDIO ALBUM
Reformed Line Up From Band’s First Full Length Release Set To Return
for a New Album, Touring

Burbank, CA – Warner Bros Records artists Taking Back Sunday have
begun work on their fifth studio album. The acclaimed New York rock
band has reformed, returning to the original line-up from their 2002
debut Tell All Your Friends, which has sold over one million records
worldwide, spawned breakthrough anthem “Cute Without the ‘E’ (Cut from
the Team)" and launched the band as one of the most influential of its
generation.

Vocalist Adam Lazzara, guitarist Eddie Reyes and drummer Mark
O’Connell have reunited with vocalist/guitarist John Nolan and bass
player Shaun Cooper, who departed in 2003 after the release of Tell
All Your Friends. “This crazy idea came up and once we started
exploring it and talking on the phone it was almost like all that time
hadn't passed between us,” explains Lazzara. “Given the history and
the years that had passed, I don't think any of us really knew if
hanging out again let alone writing and playing together would
actually work. For it to feel so comfortable and effortless so quickly
made us realize that we had to give it a chance.”

Nolan describes his thoughts in a similar way. “I never would have
imagined that this group of people reuniting would be possible. Since
we parted ways we all went down very different paths and somehow
everything we've experienced individually over the past seven years
has brought us back to a point of genuine appreciation and love for
each other as people and musicians. There's a shared excitement and
enthusiasm within this group that I haven't experienced since the
early days of the band.”

Of the departure of bassist Matt Rubano and guitarist/vocalist Matt
Fazzi, a statement from Taking Back Sunday’s website sums it up;
“Sometimes it takes some time to remember where you were headed in the
first place and the people you intended to go there with. There are
no hard feelings, just the future.” Drummer O’Connell expressed that
the band has nothing but kind words for the departing members. “I wish
nothing but the best for Matt and Matt in the future. I know that they
will succeed in whatever they choose to do.”

Taking Back Sunday will be recording their fifth studio album in Los
Angeles this summer with producer Eric Valentine, who worked on their
previous album Louder Now. Plans are in the works for a handful of
exclusive preview shows in the near future and extensive touring as
soon as the album is finished. “I’m so glad this is happening,” says
Reyes, “because I can already hear something in the songs that reminds
me of why all of us were so passionate about this band to begin with.”

Just the future indeed."