Happiness Is (Taking Back Sunday album)

Happiness Is
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 18, 2014 (2014-03-18)
RecordedJune–July, August–October 2013
StudioRancho Recordo, Fenton, Michigan
Sapone Productions, Long Island, New York
GenreAlternative rock, pop rock
Length40:58
LabelHopeless
ProducerMarc Jacob Hudson, Mike Sapone
Taking Back Sunday chronology
Taking Back Sunday
(2011)
Happiness Is
(2014)
Tidal Wave
(2016)
Singles from Happiness Is
  1. "Flicker, Fade"
    Released: January 14, 2014
  2. "Stood a Chance"
    Released: March 3, 2014
  3. "Better Homes and Gardens"
    Released: May 18, 2015

Happiness Is is the sixth studio album by American rock band Taking Back Sunday. Before the release of their self-titled album in mid-2011, the group had started working on its follow-up. Throughout the rest of the year, and 2012, band members mentioned in interviews they had various song ideas and tracked demos with producers Marc Jacob Hudson and Mike Sapone. In early 2013, the group spent two weeks in West Virginia, during which they wrote songs for the new album. Satisfied with how the demos turned out, they decided to bring in Hudson and Sapone to record their new album. In June and July, the band recorded at Rancho Recordo in Fenton, Michigan with Hudson.

In August, the group announced they had signed with independent label Hopeless Records. Following a break, the group continued recording with Sapone at his studio Sapone Productions in New York between August and October. Embarking on a US tour in late 2013, the group debuted two new songs, "Flicker, Fade" and "Beat Up Car". Adam Lazzara left the tour due to the early birth of his son, but later returned. Happiness Is was announced in mid-January 2014, which coincided with the release of "Flicker, Fade" as a single. A music video was released for the track later in the month. "Stood a Chance" was released as a single, as was a music video for the track, in early March.

Preceded by an audio stream, Happiness Is released on March 18 through Hopeless Records. It received generally favorable reviews from critics. Selling 22,000 copies in the first week, the record debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. In addition, it also charted within the top five on other Billboard charts, and in Australia and the UK. The band embarked on a co-headlining tour with the Used in the US in April and May, Australia in August, and again in the US in September and October. A music video for "All the Way" was released in mid-November. The group closed the year with a UK/Europe tour with Marmozets and Blitz Kids. The album was reissued in February 2015 digitally and as a 7" vinyl box set with bonus tracks. Between February and April, the band went on a US tour with the Menzingers and Letlive. In May, a music video for "Better Homes and Gardens" was released, and the group performed at the Slam Dunk Festival in the UK.