NEW ALBUM, NEW SOUND (Blink 182)

Member Name: Raging Speedhorn

Product:	Blink 182
Date:	25/02/04 (118 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Includes Feeling This and I Miss You

Disadvantages: Pointless spoken intro to Stockholm Syndrome

When news of a new Blink album first emerged it was much publicised that a change of style should be expected, and this seemed to have been the expectation ever since Tom DeLonge's side project Box Car Racer released their self-titled album.

So when buying this album it was no surprise to hear more emotion, less immaturity, more acoustic guitars etc. on the record. For hardcore Blink-182 / pop-punk fans this may be hard to handle, but for those interested in rock as a broader genre this variation should prove to be a good thing, and even pull in a wider audience than before.

Opening track and first single 'Feeling This' is probably the most upbeat track on the album, however later on we hear other flashbacks to the older Blink style - most noticeably in 'Go' and 'Asthenia'. Latest single 'I Miss You' contains a heavy Box Car Racer influence as does 'I'm Lost Without You', while tracks such as 'All Of This' are virtually unrecognisable as a Blink-182 track, yet this is not a bad thing.

Having been a fan of the band since their Dude Ranch days I must say that this is not their best effort by a long shot, however it is likely to open up the band to a wider audience and after all it is still a good album to listen to, with a personal favourite 'Stockholm Syndrome' being my highlight of the album. In conclusion, if you are a Blink-182 fan and you liked the Box Car Racer album, then this latest album would be a safe bet, otherwise be prepared for a bit of a change - it isn?t always a bad thing

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