Blink 182
Blink 182
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Never having been a Blink 182 fan, I was shocked and taken aback by their latest release in both its development and craftsmanship. They still fit nicely into the emo/pop punk mold that everyone is familiar with but this time they turn it up a notch and integrate bands like Thursday and Jimmy Eat World (two examples of amazing guitar-driven mainstream bands that I can’t get enough of). Opening track and first single “Feeling This” is a blast of energy, free of affectation with shifting vocals that lift it above and beyond what you usually hear from a band who asks its fans to Take Off Your Pants And Jacket. I was sick and tired of hearing “All the Small Things” everywhere I went, even if I admired their wacky antics and animated sing-along ditties. They just weren’t my cup of coffee. But they’ve outdone themselves with their latest. Showing no compromise in their vision, the band branches out towards new dramatic heights; exploding with romantic rock anthems that have both attitude and edge.

The way the tracks bleed into each other is an accomplishment in itself, and by the time we reach guest vocalist Robert Smith’s contribution (yes of The Cure), you actually feel something for these guys that you never felt before: a sense of genuine shock derived from emotion, completely devoid of gimmicks and crotch socks. A real stand-out is the experimental closing number “I’m Lost Without You” that really gets the pulse pounding and the waterworks rolling. It’s as if the band has finally gone through puberty and working through the turmoil of adulthood. Can’t wait to hear what’s next.

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