Blink-182 [ARCHIVED] Band • Page 1224

Positive vibes man love this post

 

Meh... blink sounds like how blink should sound like in 2016-17. The one thing that does bug me is the guitars not having a more 'defined' sound, but that could just be how rock is produced nowadays. Tom isn't good anymore and would have brought the band down. His vocal performance is worse than it's ever been and he has forgotten what a good guitar tone sounds like. Just my opinion, but I think the problem with established bands is that you can't please everyone and the fan base is going to age and nostalgia becomes a factor when listening to records we grew up with.

To me California sounds very similar to TOYPAJ in terms of the style they were going for. Imagine listening to Enema or TOYPAJ for the first time as 20-30 something year olds that grew up on Cheshire Cat and Dude Ranch, or even as a casual fan. I imagine it would be hard to make a connection to those songs as well. blink will never make another record like Untitled to us because our nostalgic glasses (or eardrums I should say) won't allow it, in addition to not really being able to replicate that type of production or sound in the 2010's. Technology has changed. Also factor in Mark and Tom's voices changing with age.

It's how it is with most bands. Just my opinion. I enjoy what blink is putting out in 2016-17 and am excited for the future!

 

A+

 

Yes yes yes!

I also feel the same way with Jimmy Eat World, where I feel like I should love everything they put out like I always have, but the last few albums of theirs just hasn't really hit me like their first few did.

 

I think it's a shame what blink has turned into, for sure. I love the band, really enjoy a lot of the new songs but it just hasn't felt like blink to me at all. Everybody has different reasons but for me it's the absence of Tom. Even with how flighty he was and how weird his voice has gotten, he's still what makes blink work for me. And now instead of trying to push the band in a new direction, they're chasing a sound that they had already perfected but can no longer recreate. And it's kinda sad to me.

 

I'll go one deeper: if any of their past albums came out from a new band today I wouldn't like them either. Nothing wrong with liking old or new things cause of nostalgia.

 

This however is nonsense.

 

When Tom released those demos people had suspected that he may have had for a new Blink record I did not hear one positive bit of feedback. He had every chance to be a part of Blink but for a multitude of reasons it didn't work.

I give Mark and Travis credit for continuing on the band since they still felt passionate about. It seems like it's been a very positive experience for Matt as well. I'm curious to hear what from the Blink experience he brings back to the Trio whenever they record something again.

It's ok that people like different periods and albums from this band. Keep in mind this was Blink's first album with Matt and Feldmann. It had been a while since releases. If your a Tom fan you have Angels and Airwaves.

And as for California, if I like as a long time Blink fan, and my wife and kids like it's as a pop punk record that's gets stuck in their heads, then I consider that big time success for the band. The deluxe part is just a bonus.

 

@.K. Pretty much agree with everything you say, I just prefer blink with Tom. Enjoying this era for what it is.

 

That's the original lineup that we grew up with. That makes sense and we have those albums to enjoy.

I'm just glad the band is making music. I've always been a fan of Skiba, and I'm glad he didn't just come into Blink as a Tom replacement. He was a great choice for a guitarist vocalist, because that's what he is in the Trio. Remember, this his first album with Blink. I was blown away by how well this album turned out and how important this album for band going forward.


(Also, I don't know how things would have worked out imaging a reverse situation where Tom joined the Trio if Matt left the band).

 

I miss Tom being in the band as in...I miss when Tom actually wrote good songs and did so with Mark and Travis. I like California waaay more than anything Tom's put out since AvA started. That album gave me a big push towards being a huge fan again so I'm not disagreeing about their direction on it, but it still just feels like something's missing to me. Can't really put my finger on it, but it could just be that my tastes have changed too much.

 

Maybe it means that by lp8 they will have back what you're looking for :D

 

Haha that's such a funny scenario to me, what a nightmare that'd be.

 

I know! BUT I do loooove their newest album. So there's light at the end of the tunnel there. But gahhh! Maybe I'm burning myself out on bands I love? I don't really know. I don't listen to too much "new music" these days and I find myself only listening to CDs I listened to in high school. I think I'm in a weird phase. I don't know. It just feels weird. Have you ever felt like this, Jason? We are about the same age. Am I in second puberty? Hahaha

 

I agree with what a lot of people have said above: If any of these California or deluxe songs were released by any other band I would not come back to them. It's something about that Blink name that makes me want to/have to like it.

 

I'll still make my real opinion on the NEXT album they do. I get the first one being the "back to the basics" route and celebrating the sound that made them great years back. I understand the ol' lets make as much money as we can and do a deluxe album thing. The deluxe was never going to be this huge creative/different leap from California.

But I definitely want to see if the NEXT project will go more in a very creative direction or be more of the same. I mean, they have Matt Skiba. If the band allows him to write like....all the lyrics and really have a huge say (not Feldman) in the music then there is hope.

 

I will admit I was nervous when Tom left and they announced they were continuing the band with Skiba. I have been a Blink fan for a LONG time and they are my number one band. Bored To Death put my worries aside. Will I say that California/CaliDX is perfect? No not by a long shot. This is a band as big as blink with a new member. This could have blown up in their faces. But instead we got an album and what is looking like an album and a half of songs I particularly like, and I feel has accomplished what Blink needed to do. Show fans they're still in it, get them back in the spotlight for something besides in fighting and get people on board with Skiba. This album did that in spades. I return to this album quite often and have yet to be disappointed. Of course older blink will always be close to my heart, but this album has done wonders for my ears. Do I hope we get a darker sound next album more akin to Left Alone, San Diego, Misery, 6:8... yeah of course I love that shit. But I love this too.

 

Listen guys. Blink isn't writing songs for us. We are all opinionated and set into our own Blink philosophy and have ideas of what their music should sound like. In my opinion I feel like Blink is trying to reach a new (younger?!?!) poppier(sp) audience and just bringing the legacy fans along for the ride. They added additional fans by just bringing Matt onboard and they are supplementing that with catchy choruses. I hate to say it, but us legacy fans are priority number 2 in this reinvented Blink-182.

 

California is probably my fourth favorite Blink album behind S/T, Enema, and Dude Ranch...


I was a massive Tom fanboy for years but he lost me, but I still am a massive Skiba fanboy so maybe that's why. He's by far the best part of the band now imo (well maybe not by far, Travis is still incredible)

 

That being said, I do like this new iteration of Blink. I like CA, a lot. It's just different... and different is just fine to me.

Kind of sorta off topic... how many bands changed their musical style approach and still were successful. Not saying Blink is totally revamping, but there are significant changes. Ministry comes to mind.

 

Bring me the horizon.

 

Fall Out Boy

 

Linkin Park

 

@bradsonemanband I think the simple explanation is that you were abducted by Tom and his alien friends and they messed with your brain.

In all seriousness I agree with a lot of what you're saying and feeling. Blink definitely feels like a completely different band now. I truly miss the 97 to 2003 blink but know we're never getting that back. I'm glad we are atleast getting new music from the band, most of it I still really like, and they are active again. They are my favorite band and always will be and will continue to support them.