Blink-182 [ARCHIVED] Band • Page 802

I want Matt indefinitely too, however, he needs to challenge himself to write some riffs on the next record. I know he's not accustomed to doing that given his power chord/octave/palm muting approach to writing guitar parts, but if he can write great melodies, something that Left Alone's chorus proves, he can certainly transcribe a melody to the guitar instead.

Ultimately, I blame Feldmann for this glaring omission since he's the producer/co-writer yet didn't push himself, Matt, Mark or the other co-writers to honor the sound of the band. They kept saying how this record was meant to recapture the spirit of old-school Blink and yet, they completely ignored one of their key ingredients: guitar riffs that drive most songs. By adding riffs, you're able to reduce the amount of vocalizing (Na Na Nas) since the guitar would be emphasizing the melody instead of the vocal.

The two most common complaints about this record are no riffs and too much vocalizing. However, the vocalizing was a byproduct of the lack of guitar riffs. So, it was a zero sum game. Once Matt plays an entire tour of old Blink songs (with riffs), the repetition should help widen his approach to writing guitar parts on the next record. The only way to learn to write your own riffs is to learn to play other people's riffs first.

I heard an interview with Matt right before Blink entered his life and apparently, Derek Grant writes a lot of Trio's guitar parts. So, I think Matt got comfortable with his role in that band and didn't have to push himself to the extent that he has to in Blink. But again, I think he will be okay once this album cycle is complete.

Asking a successful musician to change their way of doing things after all this time is not easy, but that's where Feldmann needed to step in and PRODUCE that classic Blink sound since Feldmann clearly analyzed all the ingredients that make a Blink song.

Anyway, I know I went on too long, but good riddance, Tom.

 

Yea I just read it too. After seeing the 5.5, I was expecting them to really unload on the album, but you're right - they were borderline positive throughout. Weird.

 

When do we know where this charted?

 

The Tom we all grew up with and loved is gone, he's simply a different person now and has different musical tastes. I miss the old Tom as much as the next fan but I'd rather listen to the new blink line up even without Tom's guitar playing riffs that we all know and love than have to keep waiting for him to find a few weeks out of his busy schedule to record a new album.

I think the next album recorded with Matt will be even better as the 3 guys get to know and trust each other more and get more comfortable together. I'm sure Matt was in a somewhat awkward position during this recording process.

 

I definitely understand what you mean. It sucks that he doesn't have the same passion towards blink that he used to, so it's either California or nothing. If you still enjoy what he does then that's different, but I think what baffles me is that a lot of people seem to still think if he came back, everything would be great like before....but they don't acknowledge how bad he's been for his own band for over 10 years lol.

 

Regarding the riffs, Matt has contributed plenty of them with Alkaline Trio. I've got Crimson in my head at the moment, so I can immediately think of The Poison, I Was a Prayer, even Time to Waste have some catchy guitar parts. I'm not sure why he was so reserved on California, but I guess playing it safe may be the best way to put it. It didn't distract me as much as I expected though. You're right -- the vocals sort of compensated for lack of guitar melodies and I didn't really mind it this time around.

 

Tom is absolutely going to be discussed, there's no reason he wouldn't be. It'd be weird to pretend he wasn't in the band for almost all their career. They still play Tom-only songs live so it's fair to say "hey, Skiba sings this way better" or "Tom's outro to I Miss You was better". Scott isn't relevant at all but it's dumb to think Tom is in the same category.

 

If being in a 4-piece means less work for Tom, I think he'd agree to it

 

Totally understandable but I don't know what the "edge" is that's missing like in that review. Running around so he can't play guitar properly? Changing the entire chorus of Always to dirty words? I don't understand when I read that Matt is imitating Tom cause pretty much everything I hear is Matt's regular voice.

Examples like you said are the kind of actual logic we see on here lol (even I've said Tom's outro on I Miss You is one of the very few things I prefer about him though Matt's improved since those first blink shows.)

 

For the US, Billboard should post projections later today, and I believe the official announcement is Sunday. I don't know when Hits Daily Double posts, since I rely on Billboard more.

 

Matt's voice in the pre-chorus is about as close to perfection as anything gets for me though haha. Either way hope they put out that EP and give it an official release.

 

I always assumed Tom would rather do whatever Tom wants to do with any music project. Adding one more person in the room (assuming they all actually sit in a room for an album with him) would probably be the opposite of what he wants.

 

HQ Hey I'm Sorry is out there as of yesterday.

 

When I was a teenager, blink was my favorite band next to Green Day, Offspring...maybe Limp Bizkit? Everclear and Lit were in there, too. Lol. Anyway, I wanted to be Mark Hoppus. I tried to style my hair the same way (using the inside of TOYPAJ as inspiration), dress in similar shirts (lots of Atticus stuff), be goofy and charming. All to no avail.

Then I got older and thought, maybe I'll try to be more mature and dress modestly in faux leather (maybe sport an army-style hat?) like Tom. This is around Untitled, so I was trying to avoid looking "too high school." Then I discovered Matt Skiba is so much cooler, so I gravitated towards him instead, and the point of all of this is to say THANKS BUT NO THANKS TOM.

 

I can't see Tom ever agreeing to being in a 4 piece band. I don't think his ego would allow it nor would having to lose more control of "his" band by adding another member.

Plus how would that even work? Matt wouldn't be singing any of the Tom only songs anymore so he would basically be hanging out in the background until it's time for him to sing some of the California album songs/new songs the 4 piece make.

I don't think it's the work that's the problem with Tom, it's just that he wants to do things on his schedule on his own terms.

 

I knew the intro to Hey, I'm Sorry reminded me of something:

Not saying it's the same thing, but it just reminded me of Tiffany Blews.

 

He is also part of the worst version of blink.

 

Again....I'm not sure who ever said he shouldn't be discussed or compared. The discussion was that he shouldn't be talked about like he is objectively better for the band at this point in their career when the band simply would not be active with him. At no point in this thread (at least recently) has anyone said we should not be talking about Tom.

 

Imaging hating Tom yet continuing to talk about him incessantly (and even listening to songs you hate by him) ...

Maybe I just prefer to focus on things I DO like rather than wallowing in things I don't.

 

So was Mark and Travis...

 

Ok? So were Mark and Travis?

I think you misinterpreted my comment.

 

Haha we posted this at the exact same time.

 

There's no issue with him being discussed, but people here are like, obsessively following his every move and bringing it all back up as a way to shit on him. Just move on.

 

He is why that version exists. Good riddance to him.

 

Re: The Poison - For all we know, that might have been Derek playing that little lead part but it really doesn't drive or define the song the way that the "Feeling This" riff would drive or define that song. It's just a little color added to the intro/re-intro and outro. Plus, Matt also said that Dan sings the songs he writes (and same for Matt) so who knows Matt's actual contributions to this song on guitar.

Re: Time To Waste - Again, that's just power chords and octaves (which are awesome), but not the type of riffs I'm speaking of here. A riff is such a general term I realize but for clarity, I'm referring to anything that isn't driven by chords.

And make no mistake, I love Matt's guitar playing in the context of Alkaline Trio. He's a punk rock player.

But for Blink to sound like Blink, the guitar should drive half the songs (at least), be it an arpeggio or a melodic riff (not power chords). Tom DeLonge made millions by playing the same notes while changing the root note underneath them. I know Matt can take that approach and make it his own in the spirit of Blink.

Mainly, I just can't believe Feldmann didn't step in to remedy this. I also couldn't believe how he kept pointing this out in his track-by-track analysis. So, the fact they included "Kings of the Weekend" on the record simply because it had "this epic guitar thing" (per Feldmann) just shouldn't happen on a Blink record.

Even the way the record is mixed is meant to draw our attention to the drums, vocals and bass first, not the guitar. Again, for being a fish out of water, Matt still did a great job on this record. I just hope he'll challenge himself the next time since he's acquiring new tools in his toolkit via this tour/album cycle.