Blink-182 [ARCHIVED] Band • Page 1133

Wishing Well and Hearts All Gone are my favorites.

 

I recently listened to Neighborhoods and honestly liked it a lot more than I give it credit for

Only songs I think I dislike are Kaleidoscope and Love Is Dangerous

 

Well work is slow today and since @bradsonemanband is taking forever, I think I’ll finish up my side of the bargain.


CALIFORNIA

Cynical:
One of my favorite songs on the album. I love the way it starts off, and Mark sounds great on this. Honestly this is an excellent intro to the album, and it puts right in your face that this is blink-182, though shows you it’s a new version with that fiery back half and skiba’s “What’s the point of saying sorry now?!” Which I absolutely love.

Bored To Death:
This was a great choice for a first single to launch this new era of the band. It’s big, it’s anthemic, it showcases what Mark and Matt can do on this album. It sounds like old blink, but with a new twist that shows the band is revitalized and back. Honestly this is top tier blink song.

She’s Out Of Her Mind:
After the 1-2 punch that is the last two songs, this one kind of hits the breaks a bit. It’s not bad, and it sure is catchy. It’s on the lower end of the album for me though, although it does have a special meaning to me since my wife and I playfully joke with this song since she was diagnosed bipolar. It’s a simple song with some cheesy lyrics, but that doesn’t make it bad.

Los Angeles:
When this album came out I was not expecting anything like this on the album. Honestly this is the song that reminds me most of Neighborhoods era blink on this album. I like the chorus a whole heck of a lot, the verses are fun to sing along with, and the guitars shred. It used to be lower on my list but damn if this song doesn’t sound good live, seeing it played made it jump up my list.

Sober:
This is the song I think should have been the second single instead of SOOHM. It accomplishes the same simplistic fun that that song goes for, but better imo. The chorus is a damn ear worm, and both Mark and Matt have great verses. Also one of the songs on this albums where the infamous ‘na na na’ actually works to benefit the song. Also love after the bridge when Mark comes back in with the final chorus and the music kind of fades into the background, similar how it did in the intro.

Built This Pool:
I so enjoyed the last two albums not having any joke songs. This is just kind of bleh, and usually gets a skip from me. Pass.

No Future:
One of my favorite songs on the album and it’s underrated imo. I love the guitar riff, and that that opening guitar gets me pumped every time I hear this song. The verses are great especially Matt’s, and that chorus is such a damn fun chorus to sing along with. Love the gang vocals as well, and hearing the pit in 2016 sing them was fantastic. Also, Matt kills the bridge on this song. Honestly this is one of Matt’s best performances on this album imo.

Home Is Such A Lonely Place:
The ballad. Have to love it. This is a good song and made a great single, with one of the bands better videos to date since untitled. The message of the song is Very genuine and relatable too. I love the “feels like the moon is spinning off into outer space without you” line. I wish I’d gotten to see it live.

Kings Of The Weekend:
This is a definite filler song, and one where the album kind of dips a bit. It’s a throw away track, but I don’t hate it. The chorus is fun and the guitars are great. I actually used the chorus of this song to introduce the groomsmen at my wedding because it’s just such a fun chorus. Aside from that though, it’s a middle ground song.

Teenage Satellites:
One of the weakest songs on this album. Honestly, the ONLY saving grace from this song is Matt’s verse. I’ve always liked the way he sings the “nights are numbered” and “left abandoned” lines. Besides his verse though it’s another filled song and one I sometimes skip when I’m shuffling in the car.

Left Alone:
VERY underrated song and one of my top 5 from this album. This song should have been played live. The band fires on all cylinders on this track, vocally and instrumentally. This is how modern blink needs to sound. The chorus is fantastic, another shining moment for Matt. This is one of the songs I’ll always show people when showing them this album, as it’s a definite strong point. Probably ends up in my top 25 blink songs eventually.

Rabbit Hole:
Classic blink throwback jam. This is a fun song, and I remember when it debuted how they were excited to play it live. Sadly we never got to hear that because the internet ruins everything. Mark sounds great on the chorus, musically they’re on point on this one too. And that shouted/yelled “Standing on the ground!!” By Matt in the final chorus was something I really wanted to hear from Matt SOMEWHERE on this album.

San Diego:
Another of the top 5 songs on this album and a great blink song. It stands out musically from the rest of the songs on this album, and the subject matter is clearly personal to Mark. It won the bracket for this album and it’s clear why, it’s a very fleshed out and catchy song with the right dash of emotion in it. The verses and the chorus flow into each other really well, and the way Mark’s verses and Matt’s chorus work with ewxh other is done great. Also that Matt bridge.

The Only Thing That Matters:
Another throwback Blink song. Very reminiscent of Don’t Leave Me. I like this song, but it’s also one of the middle ground tracks on this album. Matt has a very nice, almost groovy verse, and the chorus is fun. I think Rabbit Hole does the throwback better, but this is a fun song.

California:
One of the weaker tracks on the album. It’s fine for what it is, but kind of meh. However, like TS it has some saving graces. Mainly, Matt’s backing vocals in the last chorus, and the outro are great. The outro is a great end piece to the album. The rest of this song is kind of bleh.

Brohemian Rhapsody:
Another skip. Bleh. Could have done without one let alone a second joke song on this album. Especially when both of them are kinda Ick


Overall:
The OG California is a great summer album and one that I love to return to on bright, sunny days with a long cad ride or when going to the beach. This was a great return to form for the band, and yes it played it safe a bit and could have used more work on the guitar riffs but honestly with one of the founding members gone, I think that was a great call to get people used to Matt. It ranks 4th on my list of Blink albums, and I’m happy we got it.

 

I BEG YOUR PARDON! hahaha

 

The show last night at Darien was really good, and the crowd was really into, especially during Lil Wayne. Both Wayne and Blink were good but the laziness of Blink’s production was kind of a bummer , they literally just performed using the same set as Wayne, thought that was weird.

The people in front us left after Wayne, it seemed like a good portion of the crowd has left by the time Blink were halfway through their set of songs after EOTS.

Attendance was roughly 8,500 according to security, venue holds around 23K but it still looked pretty full.

 

That was a WEIRD coincidence

 

The changeover before and after the acoustic set sucked the life right out of the show

 

I have no idea what it means but I think "Stop banging away on my kaleidoscope" is my favorite moment on that record, lol.

 

CALIFORNIA DELUXE TRACKS

Parking Lot:
A good, fun song. I’m not a as big of a fan of this song as most people are (at least from what I can tell). I like it, it’s fine, but I only really return to it on full album listens. The chorus is good, but I find the verses kind of bleh.

Misery:
I love this song. It sounds like a good progression of the California sound. Mark’s verses are great, that lower tone suits him well. I would also be remiss if I didn’t point out that beautiful bridge; which is honestly one of the best bridges Mark has written. It flows so nicely, and it’s damn catchy. I am also a sucker for the Alfred Hitchcock reference in the bridge, since he’s one of my all time favorite directors and it also brings a gloomy image to my mind of the relationship being portrayed in this song.

Good Old Days:
Simplistic and fun, I know this song gets hated on a lot but I like it. Kind of makes me thing that if Blink wrote JEW’s The Middle, this would have been what it sounded like. I like the chorus to the song a lot, it’s great to sing along with. Also, worth noting this is the only Mark only song on this album cycle with Matt only doing backing vocals (which has returned for Happy Days). Actually this song kind of reminds me of Happy Days, like this was its predecessor.

Don’t Mean Anything:
Very low on the spectrum for me, this song is kinda bleh and I’m glad it was left off the album. I like Mark’s ‘long way back to the middle of the road’ line and how he sings it, but that’s about it. A weaker song for sure.

Hey, I’m Sorry:
One of the stronger songs on this album. When I heard this song (back when it was just a bonus track for the Japan version of OG California) I was so bummed that we didn’t get the song on all versions. The verses are great, Matt’s pre choruses are fantastic, and the chorus is awesome. Also, gotta love that focus on Travis’ thumping drums on the post bridge on the last chorus.

Last Train Home:
THIS is how I expected blink to sound when I heard Matt joined the band. Both lyrically and in the guitars you can hear his Alkaline Trio reference. One of my favorites on the deluxe side, I am a fan of the chorus and especially both Mark and Matt’s verses. Also that lovely bridge. I revisit this song a lot. That being said I’m kind of glad they didn’t make this sound the focus of the album. It would have made the album very different and this song wouldn’t shine as much.

Wildfire:
I know my reviewing counterpart loves this song, but this is one of my least favorite songs from the Cali era. I love the riffs on this song, and the Matt/mark vocal trade off, but besides that I kind of find this song too simple and kinda bleh. I don’t return to it outside of full album listens really.

6/8:
I REALLY wish this song would have made the OG album but I’m glad we finally got it. It’s heavier than anything else on California. Mark sounds great on the verses and the chorus, and Matt’s yelling behind the chorus is a treat. Also, that bridge Matt has here is powerful and sung so damn dark and well. I love it. The guitars rip, and to me this feels like this album’s Stockholm Syndrome. I wish they’d ply it live though I doubt Mark could hold up those vocals in a live setting these days. This is one of my top songs on this era of blink so far.

Long Lost Feeling:
Underrated gem. This song has this cool vibe to it and this somber and sad feel to it. The chorus is nice, and the ending of this song with Matt’s “stormy skies and fireworks” being repeated is simply beautiful and full of the feels.

Bottom Of The Ocean:
Not big on this song too much either. It’s not that bad (sorry brad), and my wife loves it. I just kind of find it kind of...there. It’s an odd man out on this album and I’m glad it wasn’t included as it doesn’t fit the sound they went for on this one. I do like the bridge quite a bit though, I’ll admit that.

Can’t Get You More Pregnant:
Get out of here with this.

Bored To Death(acoustic):
It’s bored To Death, just live an acoustic. So yeah I like it. Not bad. The “pictures in mark’s head” part made me laugh the first time I heard it.



Overall:
I’m glad we got the deluxe. I like a good portion of these songs, and a couple of them (6/8, Misery, Last Train Home) could have replaced songs like KOTW and TS on the actual album (although misery, wildfire and parking lot were written post Cali sessions so that wouldn’t have happened). These are cool treat songs, and I don’t view this or judge it as an actual album but complimentary pieces and bsides, as a deluxe should be.

 

Looking at video it looks to me like Wayne is just using blink's set. Previous videos I've seen he has a big YM logo right in the middle. Looks like they didn't set up any of HIS stage production. Not blink laziness.

 

CALIFORNIA + DLX

1. CYNICAL - Solid opener! Energetic and fast, full of life, and really there's nothing here to complain about! Mark's vocal harmonies under Matt's part is a highlight. And Travis' drums, obviously.

2. BORED TO DEATH - I'll always remember listening to this song for the first time. It was my first day of work at my current job. I ran out to my car to listen to it live on KROQ, and I literally yelled "Woo!" during the chorus, hahaha. I was sooooo pumped on this song! Blink was fucking BACK! I still love this song so much. I wish the "oh oh oh" part didn't repeat again at the end, but meh. The majority of the song is a fucking blast.

3. SHE'S OUT OF HER MIND - Another classic Blink jam! A lot of people don't like this one, but it's definitely in my top 5 California songs. Straight up TOYPAJ vibes.

4. LOS ANGELES - Listening to this one for the first time, it reminded me of Linkin Park and it confused the hell out of me. But now (especially after seeing it live) I have a whole new appreciation for it. It rules live.

5. SOBER - To me, this sounds like a country song wearing a rock song as a costume. I wish so bad that they had tried to make this a country pop radio song. That would have been so fucking awesome! Love this song.

6. BUILT THIS POOL - Short and sweet. It's fine.

7. NO FUTURE - I like Matt's verse and the bridge, but that's about it. His voice is just killer on this song. I think the chorus is too long, and I really dislike the "and they don't caaaaaaare" part.

8. HOME IS SUCH A LONELY PLACE - Cute little song. It's a little corny, but I like it.

9. KINGS OF THE WEEKEND - 9 songs into the album and there's finally an instrumental part that lets the song breathe! AND there's a cool riff! Sucks that it took 9 songs to get to a part like this. The bridge is the only part of this song I like though, and the bridge is an album highlight, for sure.

10. TEENAGE SATELLITES - I like the verses and bridge quite a bit. The chorus bothers me though. That happens a lot on this album, I think. This song is totally forgettable though.

11. LEFT ALONE - This one rules. One of the better California tracks, for sure."Break me doooown!" love that part.

12. RABBIT HOLE - Top tier post-reunion Blink song! I love this song so much. I will forever hate the internet for bumming the band out so bad with their reactions to the song. I'll never understand why this song got shit on so hard when it was first released.

13. SAN DIEGO - This one's a jam! If I was to break up California into 3 sections LOVE, LIKE, and DISLIKE, this one would be in the LIKE section, but allllllmost to the LOVE section. Not sure what it is about the song that makes me not LOVE it, but I really like it. I even like-like it.

14. THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS - Another top tier post-reunion song! This could have easily been on Enema of the State. This is like the "Wendy Clear" or "Don't Leave Me" of California.

15. CALIFORNIA - I hate the vocal melody on the verses, I hate the "hey here's to you California" line. The final chorus until the end is the only redeemable part of this song in my opinion. I prefer just skipping to the middle of the song and listening from there.

16. BROHEMIAN RHAPSODY - I don't really understand the joke. The music is cool though.

DELUXE

1. PARKING LOT - Top tier post-reunion Blink song. I love the energy, and it's just a fun tune. The big gang vocal bridge is rad.

2. MISERY - I really like this song, but I hate how the guitar sounds on the chorus. It drives me crazy, but luckily it doesn't really take away from the fact that it's a cool song. And Mark's bridge is an absolute highlight. Probably my favorite part of California.

3. GOOD OLD DAYS - Forgettable song. Pass.

4. DON'T MEAN ANYTHING - Same opening guitar riff as a couple of the other songs on this album, so it automatically feels like we've heard this song already. But the chorus is a catchy son of a bitch. Sounds like Simple Plan though, haha. But whatever, it's catchy so I dig it.

5. HEY I'M SORRY - I always forget this song exists, but every time I get reminded of it, I remember how much I love it. This song would have fit nicely on DOGS EATING DOGS.

6. LAST TRAIN HOME - I can totally hear Tom singing Matt's parts on this song. The bridge is really cool on here. I think that goes to Travis. The beat makes it feel really weird, but interesting. Yeah, this song is pretty awesome.

7. WILDFIRE - This song's fun as hell. I love it. I want them to play this live. It's one of my favorite post-reunion Blink songs, for sure. I don't think a lot of people love it as much as I do though.

8. 6/8 - Heavy Blink is always welcome by me. Matt's part at the end is probably the coolest part of the song. The chorus is a little lazy, melodically, but instrumentally especially, this song is rad.

9. LONG LOST FEELING - There's that same opening guitar riff again... This song kind of reminds me of "California." No thanks.

10. BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN - I can't stand this song. I can't really tell you why. Hard pass.

11. CAN'T GET YOU MORE PREGNANT - I don't get the joke. The music is pretty cool though.

12. BORED TO DEATH (LIVE ACOUSTIC) - This would have been cool if it was an acoustic studio recording, but I hate this live version. Especially because Matt messes up his verse. I don't get why they thought "this is totally good enough to be an officially released track!" I never listen to this one.

 

How can a co-headliner where both artists share some production be considered laziness in the first place? Seems practical to me.

 

Felt this, too. People were straight up having full conversations on top of them singing. The people were louder than blink playing.

As much as I love Wasting Time as a deep cut and Down, it needs to be fan favorites for this section if they want to keep the attention.

Regardless, Travis absolutely shotguns it back into full force when his drum solo hits.

 

Keep Wasting Time, ditch Down. Replace it with Stay Together For the Kids.

 

they're easily one of the greatest bands to see live of the past 30 years.

 

Pearl Jam may be the only band left that I've always wanted to see that I never have. That said, I haven't been into them much since Vitalogy and feel like I'd be lost for the majority of their set.

I have like, a dozen of their live albums though.

 

If you go, you’re going to end up listening to those new albums haha

 

I like to think Travis was experimenting with hitting his drums with different objects and one of them was Mark’s kaleidoscope.

 

Huh, interesting idea:

 

Dang people got wild in here last night

 

It’s a joke about jerking off. He already got his girl pregnant so therefore he can’t get her more pregnant so he’s telling her not to worry about him, he’ll just “take care of himself” now.

Yeah it’s still not very funny now that you know huh?

The joke songs really hurt the album, not needed or funny. I blame Feldy for them.

 

Haha I pretty much hate reaction vids but I randomly watched that one when Happy Days came out. It was cool

 

Just go see them, man. You won't regret it !

 

"in the coming months"

doesn't the album supposedly come out in 2 months?

 

Hearing a Mike Mccready solo in person really soothes the soul.