Blink-182 California
Discussion
I'm a long-time Blink fan...even stretching back to the late 90's when they were first going, and having to order CD's from specialist suppliers in the States.
Their trials and tribulations have been a rollercoaster to follow....all the fall-outs, splits, re-unions, but I was fortunate enough to see the original line-up at the O2 about 5 odd years ago.
Anyway I've just ordered up California, and I am hoping it is ok. They released the song 'Bored to Death' quite early on, a few months ago....which I loved. It was interesting to hear a Blink song without Tom's vocals...but then again, I guess that Mark has sung the majority of lead vocals on most Blink tracks anyway over the years, so for me it still sounded very much like a Blink track, even without Tom.
Skiba's backing on that track sounded pretty good to me, and so I am hoping that going forward, they'll be fine. If the album and any new material going forward with this new lineup is as good as this first track, then I'll be happy, I think they'll be fine.
It's a shame that they've been so fractious though, and it's had to wind up like this. But that's rock 'n' roll I guess!
Their trials and tribulations have been a rollercoaster to follow....all the fall-outs, splits, re-unions, but I was fortunate enough to see the original line-up at the O2 about 5 odd years ago.
Anyway I've just ordered up California, and I am hoping it is ok. They released the song 'Bored to Death' quite early on, a few months ago....which I loved. It was interesting to hear a Blink song without Tom's vocals...but then again, I guess that Mark has sung the majority of lead vocals on most Blink tracks anyway over the years, so for me it still sounded very much like a Blink track, even without Tom.
Skiba's backing on that track sounded pretty good to me, and so I am hoping that going forward, they'll be fine. If the album and any new material going forward with this new lineup is as good as this first track, then I'll be happy, I think they'll be fine.
It's a shame that they've been so fractious though, and it's had to wind up like this. But that's rock 'n' roll I guess!
Good, hopefully it will grow on me too when it arrives.
Is it anything like the self-titled album of 2003? Despite the fact that I loved the, rather childish at times punk-pop of the earlier stuff, I quickly became to really like the new direction they went in with this album. It is a very atmospheric piece, quite a departure from before, and probably quite a risky move - it could easily have bombed. It did divide opinions! But I still put it on quite regularly, 13 years later.
Agree what you say about being a Travis fan - me too, he's pretty damn fine. It's easy to be a 'muso snob' and talk endlessly about drummers like Neil Peart, Gene Krupa, Ginger Baker etc. etc., but I think that Barker is up there with the best of them. Certainly, when I saw Blink a few years ago, he did a drum solo (cliched but fun) which was pretty face-melting. Have you got any of his stuff with Transplants or +44?
I hope the band continues successfully now anyway. Wouldn't mind seeing them again sometime with the new lineup.
Is it anything like the self-titled album of 2003? Despite the fact that I loved the, rather childish at times punk-pop of the earlier stuff, I quickly became to really like the new direction they went in with this album. It is a very atmospheric piece, quite a departure from before, and probably quite a risky move - it could easily have bombed. It did divide opinions! But I still put it on quite regularly, 13 years later.
Agree what you say about being a Travis fan - me too, he's pretty damn fine. It's easy to be a 'muso snob' and talk endlessly about drummers like Neil Peart, Gene Krupa, Ginger Baker etc. etc., but I think that Barker is up there with the best of them. Certainly, when I saw Blink a few years ago, he did a drum solo (cliched but fun) which was pretty face-melting. Have you got any of his stuff with Transplants or +44?
I hope the band continues successfully now anyway. Wouldn't mind seeing them again sometime with the new lineup.
DubZeus said:
Man overboard 
Not listened to the new album yet but will do when I get back home this week..provided its been delivered
That's the one, I'm thinking of Devin Townsend for some reason. What a corker! Not listened to the new album yet but will do when I get back home this week..provided its been delivered
I have a love / hate relationship with Blink, love some of their older stuff, hate some of it. I did enjoy +44, thought Angels and Airwaves were crap though.
finally got round to buying this, on a first pass it's pretty good. skiba/hoppus/barker make a great trio.
similar to +44 - no bad thing at all.
merges quite well with Alkalinr Trio's Damnesia, another excellent album if any of you are interested, well worth a purchase.
hopefully they'll come back to aberdeen on their next tour, i'll be there...again.
similar to +44 - no bad thing at all.
merges quite well with Alkalinr Trio's Damnesia, another excellent album if any of you are interested, well worth a purchase.
hopefully they'll come back to aberdeen on their next tour, i'll be there...again.
Ok, my copy arrived yesterday.
First few passes: mmm, not bad....hasn't grabbed me as immediately as the self-titled album did, bus as I said before, that was very experimental and I loved the ideas.
This is unmistakably Blink 182 - it totally has their signature sound, and Barker's fantastic drumming really breaks through the mix nicely, far more so than previous albums. I wonder if that is due to the influence of John Feldmann, Blink's new producer after Jerry Finn's death? Certainly Feldmann and Barker are long-time friends, so that might have a lot to do with it
Having a look round the net, it seems I'm not the only one to notice. One quote for example: "Mike Damante at the Houston Chronicle said "Feldmann's style is all over the record, as most tracks sound too formulaic, similar and run together. Other tracks are way too commercial, even for a band the size of blink.""
It's gone a little bit back to their older sound. No bad thing, but I think that it might get tired and samey after lots of listens. I reckon that Bored to Death is possibly the best track on there as it stands right now, but that's only after a day of listening, and I am already familiar with the track and love it.
It's interesting to hear Matt's vocals, it's a shame that he wasn't given some more front vocals so to speak. Then again, I guess they probably decided to play it safe as it's a new line-up. His backing and harmonies occasionally sound a BIT like Tom, whether that's a good or bad thing, I am not sure.
Overall though, it's great to still have the band with us, as there was always the possibility of it disappearing forever. So, for that, I am grateful. It's just a shame that their current tour won't be visiting the UK
First few passes: mmm, not bad....hasn't grabbed me as immediately as the self-titled album did, bus as I said before, that was very experimental and I loved the ideas.
This is unmistakably Blink 182 - it totally has their signature sound, and Barker's fantastic drumming really breaks through the mix nicely, far more so than previous albums. I wonder if that is due to the influence of John Feldmann, Blink's new producer after Jerry Finn's death? Certainly Feldmann and Barker are long-time friends, so that might have a lot to do with it
Having a look round the net, it seems I'm not the only one to notice. One quote for example: "Mike Damante at the Houston Chronicle said "Feldmann's style is all over the record, as most tracks sound too formulaic, similar and run together. Other tracks are way too commercial, even for a band the size of blink.""
It's gone a little bit back to their older sound. No bad thing, but I think that it might get tired and samey after lots of listens. I reckon that Bored to Death is possibly the best track on there as it stands right now, but that's only after a day of listening, and I am already familiar with the track and love it.
It's interesting to hear Matt's vocals, it's a shame that he wasn't given some more front vocals so to speak. Then again, I guess they probably decided to play it safe as it's a new line-up. His backing and harmonies occasionally sound a BIT like Tom, whether that's a good or bad thing, I am not sure.
Overall though, it's great to still have the band with us, as there was always the possibility of it disappearing forever. So, for that, I am grateful. It's just a shame that their current tour won't be visiting the UK
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