Blink-182 has come a long way from the potty humor band I grew up with. Don’t get me wrong, I loved that band, but the new, “mature” version of Blink-182 is so much better. In 2003, they released a self-titled album that was a peek at things to come before their break-up, a band that is much better musically and lyrically than the band we knew in the late 90’s. This is the culmination of those efforts, a band that doesn’t rely on the same overused chord progression, and subject matter that covers life, death, children, not just the “girls, parties, and sex” they were known for in the past.
Perhaps it can be attributed to the hiatus that began in 2005, where the band decided to quit doing Blink-182 and focus their energy toward other projects. Tom DeLonge formed a band with Angels and Airwaves, Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker formed +44 among several other projects. Both Angels and Airwaves and +44 are great bands, and have really brought a quality to the Blink-182 table that hadn’t been there before.
Neighborhoods brings us a slightly darker, heartfelt, and moving sound, combining a few elements from the old Blink-182 with the best elements of Angels and Airwaves and +44 and of course, Travis Barker is still a master of the beats. The classic gripes about the band can still be found, you will find a few awkwardly placed f-bombs (from Natives: “They turn us loose in the night, a fucking Jekyll and Hyde” it just doesn’t fit here guys), they haven’t figured out that their best singer is in fact not Tom DeLonge, who’s voice seems to have been slowed down a half step in this album (and I’ve always found that he seems to pronounce things in a way that makes me want to cut off my ears) , but Mark Hoppus who really shines on all tracks where he is featured as the lead.
Blink-182 continues to grow up with a generation of people, following us through and, honestly, providing some surprisingly decent guidance to grow with. Overall, this is the best Blink-182 album to date. I honestly was not excited at all to hear anything from Blink-182, but I’m glad I gave Neighborhood’s a chance. It is a good change of pace, and an exciting glimpse at the future from the band I felt I was “too old” to listen to.
More from enter the shell:
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Album Review: the Invisible Hand
Artist of the Week: Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Enter the Shell show: Imaginary Cities & Comedian Ralph Figureoa