Album: Neighborhoods
Release: September 27, 2011
History: It has been about 8 years since new music has been out for this pop punk trio, but there has been a lot of things in-between, the biggest being their "indefinite" hiatus. Tom ventured off to a space, ambient, progressive rock known as Angels and Airwaves. Three album in, there is a mature state that Tom is in. On the other hand Mark and Travis made +44, named after the international code for England when they were talking about the project. When Your Heart Stops Beating is a straight forward rock album with electronic influences. Being apart for 4 years, they gained knowledge in song structure, using experimental sounds and growing up in general. Having said that, saying that Neighborhoods would be the next Enema of the State or Take off your Pants and Jacket, is complete nonsense.
To understand Neighborhoods, look at the history. The first couple of years after the break up there was bitter tension from Mark and Tom. Mark made a clear statement on Tom in "No It Isn't" :"Please understand, This isn't just goodbye, this is I can't stand you". Tom responded in "Rite Of Spring": The summers gone, the years have passed, my friends have changed, a few did last". Tom started experimenting with sounds and effects that would give AVA their signature sound. Aside from +44, Mark became a producer, so he learned about sounds and music from the producer stand point. Travis was featured in rap music, so he started venturing off in different genres.
Their happy reunion started off with a horrible tragedy. The first was the death of their long time producer Jerry Finn. After that,Travis and DJ AM were involved in a plane crash in late September that kill their close friends. During his rehabilitation, Tom decided to speak to everyone. 5 months later, after months of a rumored reunion they announced their reunion almost at their 4 year break up anniversary.
Fast forward to when the album was released after 2 years of making their album they were almost true to their word. It is a continuation of their last album. It did venture off into experimental elements. It would include influences from their side projects. BUT it is not a progressive album as Tom stated. It is just a rock album, with the pop punk foundation in which they are based of.
Album Review: Track by Track
Ghost on the Dancefloor
Starts with a rhythmic drum beat, seconds later a syncopated dance guitar riff comes along and is supported by synth. Very anthemic introduction to the album. I couldn't help compare the synth to Angels and Airwaves and Tom melody in the verse sounds similiar to Box Car Racer's "There Is". Either way, it had strong lyrics, booming bass guitar and an experimental, dissonant bridge which is resolved at the end. Strong opener for this album
Natives
Tom goes soloist in his melodic riff, that includes pull-on and hammer-offs. I can't help compare it to "M+M's" and "Young London" which he uses an open string as a foundation. It's a moody song, especially in the lyrics in which death, depression, insecurity is address despite being an upbeat fast song. I like voice transitions from the verse sung by Tom to the chorus by Mark.
Up All Night
The first single off the album. This is one of the first demo songs that they worked on after the reunion. It was an actual demo from their self-titled album, but was scratched out and now it is resurfaced for this album. I like the use of effects in the guitars in the beginning, giving it an ambiguous introduction. The guitar riff is loud and powerful, very Box Car Racer influenced. The verse in also Angels and Airwaves influenced by the use of flanger and reverb in the voice, but when the start singing "And all these demons..." their harmonies got me back to their blink style. It is also the first song in which they did not have a bridge and just ended with a song outro of distorted guitar and banging drums. In my opinion, this single did not do justice to the album. It was just a snippet of what I thought I would hear, but I was completely wrong.
After Midnight
Travis lays down some hip hop beats (influenced from his solo album Give the Drummer Some). This time the tempo has shifted on the slower side. Strong power chords in the beginning and then the thin melodic guitar comes in. This song also does some vocal transitions. Lyrically, it has "emo" influence, it reintroduces death again. Tom reintroduces some title tracks from the self-titled album "All of This", "Always" and " I Miss You" Very witty!
Snake Charmer
Synth intro, with bass, and some experimental percussion backgrounds. The flanger in the beginning sounds a lot like the introduction of "Asthenia", but the intro riff sounds a lot like "Secret Crowds". It has an eerie, synth melodic progression that is behind Tom's verse. It caught me by surprise, but it is very creative progession: it ventured off which I liked. I like the coda they did, in which they brought back the melody of the verse with compressed drum beats.
Heart's All Gone Interlude
Honestly, one of my favorite tracks, despite have no lyrics. Starts with an arppegiated piano line, with feedback. The guitar and bass comes in with a syncopated melodies playing off each other, in almost in a two feel. It feels very hypnotizing. Other tracks are added and gives the hint of the next track Heart's All Gone. The riffs begins over again and starts adding layers. The guitar gives the most emphasis, to their next track, which comes unexpectedly.
Heart's All Gone
Starts off with a dirty distorted chord and Travis comes in with the fill which then introduces the bridge. Very "old school blink" Cheshire Cat, Dude Ranch? it's fast, loud almost Bad Religion influenced song. Mark's lyrics are too the point, spitting out lyrics as fast as he can. One of my favorite lines that he pulls off is "Your strongest lines of defense, are all just self-inflicting wounds". It was great to hear they can still pull off their punk rock roots.
Wishing Well
It has a pop punk feel. It could have been in Enema of the State, but barely. It has a catchy guitar riff. It has flanger on the drums before this catchy melodic line of "la da da" It's a very simple song, with simple chord and song structure.
Kaleidoscope
This song is in drop D tuning. Mark stated that it dealt with growing up and finding opportunities in the real world. Reading the lyrics though it doesn't make sense. It is also another basic rock sound, the bridge though it loud with parallel chords. It's a good song either way.
This is Home
I was a little disappointed in this song. The riff is a little to familiar and the synth is too much for me. The lyrics are reflective to their younger lives of partying all night, rioting, while living in suburbia. It's a short song but it get the point across.
MH 4.18.2011
Another top favorite songs from the album. It has a basic guitar riff introduction. Sort of similar to "Here's Your Letter". It has very inspirational lyrics. He is known for metaphorical lyrics that reflect on life and events. My favorite part of the song has to be the lyrics. The harmonies are right on and has a very positive message. He pulls of the best line of the record "Stop living in the shadow of a helicopter". Which he mean stop living under fear and oppression. Sounds very similiar to a +44 lyrics "The past is only the future with the lights on" interpretation.
Love Is Dangerous
Starts with an experimental opening with a flanger guitar in the background. Another basic guitar intro. Tom and Mark share the verse together. There's to special about this track. Almost felt like a place holder.
Fighting The Gravity
Now this gets interesting. It's hands down the most experimental track. It is "expansive" as Mark stated in early interviews. It starts with drum machines and a bass line. There a lot of layer in this track. The guitar gives a definate introduction. "This makes no sense" is cover in effects and reverbs all through out the opener which is over a minute and twenty seconds long. His lyrics are almost too visual and disturbing. This song sounds minimalism, with a meek melodic line and roaring bass and crazy experimental sounds that reaches a climax at every chorus. The ending is weak though, with the repeating line while travis drumming behind it.
Even If She Falls
Last track brings it back to the upbeat tempo. It was overall good, but the not the best ending. It also felt like a place holder.
Verdict
I fell in love with it. Its a perfect transition from their self titled. In some instances it feels more mature then their self titled. The guitars are cleaner, the bass is louder and the drums are more precise. It's a perfect balance of all their side projects, but in the end all I hear is blink.
Fans need to get over the fact that they will not go back to their pop punk roots. They were in their early 20's and they had a different life style. They now have families, children and lost friends over the years. Talking about poop, and high school in their late 30's would be very awkward to hear.
To understand what I mean as a continuation of their self titled get Neighborhoods and Blink 182 in a playlist, shuffle them, and listen. There are some elements and sounds that sound very similar.
Album Review 8/10
--Wolf James
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