Blink-182 [ARCHIVED] Band • Page 804

Thinking "fuck that guy" is insane and weird. You seem way more upset than I am.

 

Nah. But I'm glad you like it. I just find it a hot mess.

 

I'm good. I have zero animosity toward someone who's biggest crime is not wanting to in Blink-182 anymore.

Life is all about perspective.

 

I have this whole weird theory about the dynamic in the band pre and post Boxcar. It's probably crazy. It goes a little something like this:

Although Mark and Tom co-fronted Blink 182, to your casual TRL viewer in 1999-2002, Mark was probably seen as the frontman. Out of Blink 182's 10 singles pre-Untitled, 8 of them were fronted or co-fronted by Mark, only two (All The Small Things and First Date) were fronted by Tom.

If there was an inclination for Tom to do something without Mark, it's easy to see why. If the '99-'02 era of Blink 182 were seen as a boy band (which they suffered many accusations of being) Mark would have been the boy next door, Travis would have been the tatooed bad-boy, and Tom would have been the...what? The weirdo with a gross sense of humor?

*Note: before anyone jumps on this silly inclination, know that the marketing departments at MCA circa 1999 TOTALLY thought like this. It's how they sold the band. If Mark, Tom, and Travis were 3 totally average looking dudes with no marketable characteristics they would have never been as successful as they were.

Anyways. Like I said, it's easy to see why Tom might have wanted to make a statement that he was a serious musician. That he was the frontman of Blink 182. To most this might sound like ego, and it is. But when your job is talking about your music 24/7, it's hard not to become egotistical about it.

So he starts Boxcar Racer, he even starts referring to himself as "Thomas Delonge" (anyone remember that shit). He starts name dropping Fugazi and Jawbreaker as being major influences on him, and establishes himself as a serious musician. When he comes back to Blink, it's his show now.

Some may remember that the production of Untitled was pretty long as well. It wouldn't surprise me if they had similar issues writing and recording that album as they did with Neighborhoods. It's clear that both albums are Tom-heavy. Both albums represent a sound closer to what Tom was doing outside of Blink (Boxcar and AvA).

So when we look back at the history. We can see where ego, distrust, fame, business, and money can turn something that started off fun into a competition. I'm sure there is probably some inferiority complex in Tom, but maybe a little naivety in Mark, and truly think Travis could care less as long as he is getting paid.

EDIT: this was a long and pointless blather. Sorry.

 

Blink-182: California Album Review | Pitchfork

Pitchfork actually ... kinda liked it?

 

Just wanted to pop in to say I'm on vacation and listening to California right on a lake is pretty fucking rad.

 

I think all speculation on the dynamics of people/bands no one here personally know is pretty wild

 

Trust me, that thought is not lost on me. Just some thoughts I wanted to get out.

 

Took the boat out on the bay, forgot your job for just one day?

 

Ian Cohen is breaking down walls.

 

this is unbelievably stupid.

 

out of curiosity, is this the first time p4k has reviewed a blink release?

 

I thought the review was great. It doesn't read like a 5.5, that's for sure.

Yes.

 

Right? I'm wondering if the reviewer gave it a 5.5 before writing the review, spent 11 days with her thesaurus, then realized she forgot to criticize the album heavily and just published the thing.

 

You have a good day.

 

Come on, this isn't 2009. Pitchfork has come a long way.

 

Hahaha that pitch fork review is great!

 

Finally!

 

Honestly, I haven't really read much of their stuff in a long time. If anything, I was just commenting more on the score vs. what was written. It doesn't really seem to match.

 

it is weird though - the review reads a lot more positive than the score would suggest

 

Yo is this the first thing even Blink-affiliated they've ever reviewed? I couldn't find anything Blink, AVA, +44, Transplants... I'm surprised they didn't just lay into one of them at some point back in the day haha

 

you should, they're great! :) and also 100% agreed.

maybe they use the full scale or something? Maybe 5.5 is really just "above average". and not an almost failing grade like in school.

 

Since we have the album, I guess we need a new countdown.

July 22nd official kicks off the tour in San Diego...little over 2 weeks until we start seeing NEW setlists finally.

 

yeah, I mean doesn't really matter, P4k is what it is - it will not influence anyone who would have cared about this album to begin with