Somehow Blink-182 released a new single and I missed it. Well, until right now anyway. Did you know I am a Blink-182 fan? I am a huge Blink-182 fan. I was 14-year-old-girl-giddy when Pandora played “Up All Night” for me.
My first impression is that this sounds like the logical next-step from their last venture as a band, which is exactly what I wanted to hear. Their self-titled album, which dropped all the way back in 2003, showed a band that was maturing as its members aged (you can’t always play three power chords and sing about how parents suck), and I was anxious to see where they were going when they fell apart.
The things that happened in the aftermath were stagnant at best.
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably read my Angels and Airwaves review, so you know my feelings on Tom’s solo venture: too much experimental, not enough music, with a heaping helping of ego and pretense on the side. Also, his hair looked like a terrible wig.
I liked +44, but it was easy to see that there was something missing. Mark and Travis did a good job of putting together an album to keep Blink fans satiated, but it was like all forward momentum had been halted.
“Up All Night” has reignited my hope. The song, itself, is not amazing. It isn’t groundbreaking. It does have all the pieces I hoped it would have. The music is adventurous, to the tune of AaA (a “V” is not an upside-down “A”… it is a “V”), but grounded, and supported by the amazing backbone that only Travis Barker can provide. The lyrics don’t come across as immature or pretentious. The vocal back-and-forth between Mark and Tom works just like it always has. “Up All Night” sounds like Blink-182.
Look for my review of the full album when it drops, because I guarantee you I will be writing one.
I. Am. Excited.
