Reviews

If you’re reading this review, chances are you know the words to at least three Blink 182 songs. If you’re shaking your head “no,” it’s because over the years you’ve grown too pretentious and too musically elitist to admit it.  I’ll admit it for you. I believe I own every Blink 182 disc, and I happily saw them in concert with Saves The Day and Green Day, two bands I love and admire.  Blink 182 is a legacy that has since ended, so my writing about them too will end here.  Angels and Airwaves is a new project that involves members from not simply one of the largest pop punk groups of the late 90’s, but also Rocket From The Crypt and The Distillers as well; both bands I love and admire.  See a trend? If we forget for just a minute the verbal hullabaloo put forth by singer Tom Delonge and listen to the music that he put so much into creating, we might not see a change in the face of rock music or anything magical at all, but we may see something that for once, brings a shred of honesty to the radio.
 
There is certainly a message to be heard here. The entirety of this record is unabashedly positive and sincere in its hopefulness. Delonge gives instructions on how to listen to this record, so I’ve followed them. With headphones on, leaning up against a wall on my floor in the dark, I went on his “adventure.”  I think that he wants listeners to feel the way he felt at the time; no longer on top of the world, unsure of humanity and love and devoid of a clear direction but not without light. In the end, it’s clear that as a songwriter, he has certainly grown up past the fart jokes and prank phone calls, and as far as music is concerned, that’s a good thing. The whole record is a little redundant at times; obviously influenced by space movies and WWII, but it’s grown up in a way that whether you’re 13 or 30, there’s a chance you can fall in love with these progressive melodies and trance-like choruses.  Yes, there’s a chance you might hold this record dear to your heart. Scary?
 
Songs like “It Hurts” and “Valkyrie Missle” are at an instrumental level that is impressive even taking into consideration what kind of people play in this band. Lyrics like “Everyone will listen even if it hurts sometimes/If you will, come and hear the message/Everyone will hope and pray that the best will survive/And if it’s true then you’ll feel the message,” bring alive the story behind the record and emphasize its truisms. Some songs may appear to drag on, but by the time fifty minutes is up, you’re wondering where all that time went and why you feel like taking a nap.
 
Some might say “You Don’t Need To Whisper” is over produced. I see that a little, but I think those same people are also too ashamed to admit they can’t find anything real wrong with this album.  It’s mainstream. You’ve already heard at least one of these songs I’m sure. You may already know the words. Tom thinks he’s saving rock n’ roll. He’s not; it doesn’t need saving.  He is however, inexpressibly proud of this work and rightfully so.  Not to mention, Geffen has probably got a Tom robot out there saying how great Angels and Airwaves is at the press of a button. One thing I can say is that if this band keeps going on and making records like this one, they may become one of those bands we look back on ten years from now and finally admit to rocking out to every once in a while.  Okay, go ahead and tell me I’m wrong…you know you want to.