Eight whole years—that’s how long it’s been since the pop-punk band Blink-182 last put out a record. After a terrible split in 2005, it seemed that Blink was done forever. However, on September 27, Blink came out with their sixth studio album Neighborhoods an album that has been built-up and received high expectations ever since the trio reunited in 2009.
When the band split up, bassist/singer Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker both started a band by the name of “+44” while singer/guitarist Tom DeLonge started his band “Angels & Airwaves.” There were quite a few different projects going on for the ex-band members and a ton of bad blood. The bad blood would brew between DeLonge and the duo of Hoppus and Barker until tragedy after tragedy would befall them over the next four years following the split. The tragedies included a plane crash that severely burned and nearly killed Barker, the tragic loss of former Blink producer Jerry Finn and the passing of close friend Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein.
In the wake of tragedy, the pieces were put together for Blink to return to what they did best. While they were still great musicians separately, they truly strive together. In 2009, they had their first of two reunion tours while recording their new album. The album took nearly two years to complete and even prompted the record label to give the trio a July 31 deadline to turn in the album. And finally, Blink-182 released their album Neighborhoods to their hopeful and patient fans. If long time fans are looking for another song like highly revered singles “What’s My Age Again?” and “All the Small Things,” it won’t be found on this record. Instead, what fans receive after an eight year gap in albums is a somber toned CD that is a great follow-up to its predecessor, the 2003 self-titled album.
Neighborhoods takes what the band had started building towards in 2003 a step further. The trio started showing signs of maturity on their self-titled album eight years ago, and after the break-up, tragedies, having kids, and growing up. They expanded that on this album by pooling in all of their individual musical sounds, while still being able to keep some of their old sound.
The first single of the record “Up All Night” set the somber tone when it was released back in mid-July. It’s a dark song that sounded more like DeLonge and Barker’s “Box Car Racer” side project in 2001 and had gone through many transitions in the two years it took from being written to recorded. The darkness is riddled throughout the song, as DeLonge sings: “Let’s get this straight do you want me here/as I struggle through each and every year/and all these demons they keep me up all night'”
Dark lyrical tones are found on every track of the album which opens with “Ghost on the Dance Floor.” Upon first listen, DeLonge could be criticized as it sounds just like the open to any other Angels and Airwaves record with the spacey intro. However with Travis’ great drums and Hoppus’ great background vocals paired with a catchy chorus, this song becomes one of the best on the album, and is the first proof that the band is combining all their different musical tastes. Blink continues the death theme in the following song “Natives” where Hoppus really stands out in the chorus and DeLonge proves he can pull out a great guitar riff when he needs to. Hoppus sings “I’m just a waste of your time/maybe I’m better off dead,” and later, “We’ll have the time of our lives although we’re dying inside”
Hoppus really shines on this album in songs like “Kaleidoscope,” which is very reminiscent of +44 and is also about the delays the band had in recording as well as the difficulty of traveling. “Let the hours tick past the deadline/get another stamp in your passport/wash breakfast down with some red wine,” Hoppus sings. Hoppus is also a highlight in “MH 4.18.2011.” Another Hoppus gem “Hearts All Gone” is a great old school fast-paced Blink song, only with very dark lyrics, and is built in beautifully by a slowly building guitar and piano interlude. Barker’s drums throughout the album are as always masterful, but really shine in this in-your-face fast paced song.
DeLonge is very solid on “Love is Dangerous” where he and Hoppus share the verses. Together they belt out, “My hand’s swollen, I can’t keep holding on/my hearts sinking, and stuck in deadly rhythm.” DeLonge also shines on “Even If She Falls in Love” where he sings, “When the night will begin/the pain it won’t end/even if she falls in love.” Both these songs continue the theme of pain and death.
It’s definitely a different sounding Blink, as evidenced in the trippy and ominous outro of “Snake Charmer,” the synth-heavy “This Is Home” and the dark lyrics throughout, which are a staple of every single song. While DeLonge can receive some criticism for putting too many effects on his voice, this album is still a solid one. This may not end up being the most nostalgic Blink album, but it is the most diverse and musically sound. Blink is able to simultaneously combine some of their old school sound, expand on their last album, and take what each of them has gone through in the last eight years and throw it all into one album befitting of a title like Neighborhoods. The album is worth the eight year wait; and hopefully, there won’t be eight years until the next one.