When Fred Mascherino left Taking Back Sunday to pursue a solo career, many fans were skeptical that it would sound too much like TBS. But in the history of Taking Back Sunday, with only one original member remaining, three well-known side projects have come out. Jesse Lacey formed Brand New, which began as a pop/punk band, but has recently moved to indie. John Nolan formed Straylight Run, which of course is famous for their song ?Existentialism On Prom Night? which had millions of emo kids singing ?loud and out of key? for most of 2005. Now, with The Color Fred, Taking Back Sunday has officially let their best asset go.

From the get go, it is obvious that Bend To Break is not attempting to be a cheap version of Mascherino?s former band. The first single from Bend To Break is ?If I Surrender?, which sounds at first like it could be any average punk bands biggest hit. But you can?t hate the guy for being a catchy songwriter. Just look at the last two TBS albums and the songwriting credits.

But the album really picks up with the third track, ?Hate To See You Go?. It is quite possibly the best song Bend To Break has to offer, with a great arrangement of acoustic and electric guitars along with strong songwriting. And what is any pop album without a ballad? ?It Isn?t Me? soars with piano and strings, only making this heart wrenching tune radio friendly and accessible. With lines like ?just tell me that you?re sure that I mean nothing to you?, it?s hard not to feel Fred?s pain and just want to give the hairy guy a hug.

The song ?I?ll Never Know? is an acoustic song that sounds strangely familiar. It is a lot like the Taking Back Sunday song ?New American Classic? in which Mascherino shares lead vocals over picking an acoustic guitar with a small symphony in the background. But this doesn?t mean it?s a bad song. Mascherino is just taking what he did great on Where You Want To Be and applying it to his own album now.

The only low point on the album is ?The Tragedy?. It?s got a fuzzy, vintage sound to it, much like Sum 41 and My Chemical Romance have done on their latest albums. However, lasting only a minute it?s tolerable, and unlike Sum 41, it?s not in French so it?s much more enjoyable.

All in all, Bend To Break is a great debut album from a guy who knows how to write a hit. If you are a fan of fun pop rock, pick this album up. It?s worth every penny.

{Reviewed by: Matt Chesley}

Linkin Park have updated on the details of Projekt Revolution in a myspace post:

Linkin Park confirmed today the fourth installment of Projekt Revolution beginning July 25th and culminating on September 3 in Denver at the Coors Amphitheatre (routing below). Fans can expect to see Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday, HIM, Placebo and Julien-K on the Main Stage and Mindless Self Indulgence, Saosin, The Bled, Styles of Beyond and Madina Lake on the Revolution Stage. Tickets go on sale nationwide on May 19th. The few dates not announced due to radio shows will be announced shortly. Tickets will be available at www.livenation.com.

“I couldn’t be happier with the group of artists joining us on Projekt Revolution this summer?” says co-vocalist Chester Bennington, “Linkin Park is thrilled to be joined by this amazing group of artists and I know the audience will share in our excitement.” Previous Projekt Revolution alumni include Korn, Snoop Dogg, Cypress Hill, Xzibit, Mudvayne, Adema, Blindside and DJ Z-Trip.

Projekt Revolution and Music For Relief have been working hard to make this an environmentally conscious event. Besides making Projekt Revolution a “green” tour, $1 from each ticket will be donated to American Forests’ Global ReLeaf program to plant trees to help reduce global temperatures.

Projekt Revolution Tour Dates
Fri Jul 27 Marysville, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre
Sat Jul 28 San Bernardino, CA Hyundai Pavilion
Sun Jul 29 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View
Wed Aug 01 Phoenix, AZ Cricket Pavilion
Fri Aug 03 Selma, TX Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Sat Aug 04 Woodlands, TX The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Sun Aug 05 Dallas, TX Smirnoff Music Centre
Tue Aug 07 Atlanta, GA HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Wed Aug 08 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte
Fri Aug 10 West Palm Beach, FL Sound Advice Amphitheatre
Sat Aug 11 Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre
Mon Aug 13 Raleigh, NC Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
Tue Aug 14 Virginia Beach, VA Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater
Wed Aug 15 Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
Fri Aug 17 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center
Sat Aug 18 Darien Center, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Sun Aug 19 Bristow, VA Nissan Pavilion
Tue Aug 21 Toronto, ON Molson Amphitheatre Wed Aug 22 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
Fri Aug 24 Mansfield, MA Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts
Sat Aug 25 Camden, NJ Tweeter Center at the Waterfront
Sun Aug 26 Hartford, CT New England Dodge Music Center
Tue Aug 28 Syracuse, NY NY State Fair
Wed Aug 29 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
Fri Aug 31 Noblesville, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center
Sat Sep 01 Tinley Park, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Mon Sep 03 Englewood, CO Coors Amphitheatre

Main Stage Artists
Linkin Park
My Chemical Romance
Taking Back Sunday
HIM
Placebo
Julien-K

Revolution Stage Artists
Mindless Self Indulgence
Saosin
The Bled
Styles of Beyond
Madina Lake