 'This is Blink-182?!' – A question which you will hear a lot, and probably find yourself asking having listened to their new self-titled album. The band most famous for their silly jokes and childish humour have shed their immaturity like dead skin and have re-invented themselves into a serious rock band. And it takes a while to get used to it . . .
The immaturity and daftness has arguably made Blink-182 the band they are, and as such, it inevitably defines them. When I bought this I was more than shocked when I heard the considerate lyrics and hard rock edge. In fact I was so shocked that I put it back in the bag and told my girlfriend how disappointed I was, vowing that I would never to listen to it again. But I did, and gradually (ever so gradually) it began growing on me, and I accepted the new sound. So be warned fellow Blink fans; if you're expecting the melodic goofball cheese of past you're in for a surprise. But invest time and your soul into this and the rewards should make up for the shift in style.
Feeling This is the obvious choice for a single; it holds the classic Blink-182 sound mixed with some fresh styling and big beats. What follows is an arsenal of cascading pianos, harps and female spoken word, along with a breakbeat song and collaboration with Robert Smith of The Cure.
While the songs are refreshingly unique, they are pretty bleak in places, missing the happy-go-lucky San Diego sunshine normally thrown in. There are a few gems scattered within though; Go is reminiscent of old Blink, while the acoustic warbling of I Miss You would certainly not be out of place on Box Car Racer's album. A live version of Anthem Part Two rounds the album off quite nicely, prompting the listener to once again engage with the dick-joke humour otherwise absent on this record.
All in all it's a decent release, albeit a diverse one. A change for the best? Maybe, maybe not - but one thing I do know is that I miss All The Small Things. :: Graham Drummond |
