Blink-182 - California
- FaceOff - עימות חזיתי
- Jul 1
- 6 min read
Blink-182's "California" album was released on July 1, 2016!
Age 5 is a crucial stage in a child's development. At this age, children explore their surroundings and learn to express their emotions. They begin to truly comprehend that their thoughts and feelings are their own, leading to a kind of awakening and understanding of both the environment and themselves.
This is the essence of how this album resonates with us...
Before reaching this point of clarity and insight, our evolving album was preceded by a lengthy period of conflicts among the band members, particularly between guitarist/singer Tom DeLonge and the other two members, bassist/singer Mark Hoppus and drummer Travis Barker.
During that time, we produced a failed and forced album (which will be mentioned later) that sounded like the final struggles of a dying entity, followed by numerous attempts to maintain the trio with the same lineup and sound.
Now, after that phase, a new album emerges that redefines the band, its sound, its future, and punk-pop as a whole.
We didn't get carried away at all; "Blink-182" is the band that spearheaded the punk-pop movement of the 2000s with the phenomenal success of two albums, "Enema Of The State" and "Take Off Your Pants And Jacket". These albums topped both the rock and mainstream charts, earning the band numerous awards. (If you haven't had the chance to listen to them yet, now's a great time to do so).
In 2005, after six years of incredible success, the band went on an indefinite hiatus due to internal conflicts and disagreements about the future direction of "Blink-182". The seeds of conflict were planted in 2002 when Tom decided to explore something new by forming the band "Box Car Racer". Rather than finding a new drummer, he asked Travis to join, but he chose someone else for the bass role instead of Mark. This decision created a rift between the three, sparking further issues. Tensions escalated as Tom became increasingly difficult to work with, disagreeing with everything the other two wrote and wanted to pursue. Coupled with drug addiction, this situation unraveled the band.
As tensions grew, the divide between the band members widened to the point where they couldn't even communicate. Imagine a trio (not a quartet or quintet) that builds its success together, reaching incredible heights, only to find that when one member wants to go to the "mall," the other two prefer the "sea"!
This is exactly what happened. Tom turned to his video art projects and invested in his new band "Angels & Airwaves," while the other two formed their own band "+44." Later, Travis even started a project with DJ AM. In short, they were all preoccupied with their own ventures and didn't communicate until 2008.
In September 2008, Travis and DJ AM were involved in a plane crash during takeoff in South Carolina. The crash claimed the lives of all passengers and crew, with Travis and DJ AM as the sole survivors. Following this tragic event, the other two band members visited Travis in the hospital and supported him through his recovery. This reunion sparked a desire to reconnect and return to what they loved: performing and writing music. They even announced their intentions at the 2009 Grammy Awards.
But as much as it sounds like a Hollywood script, there is no happy ending here...
The band members, having lost their legendary producer Jerry Finn to a heart attack, attempted to write and produce an album on their own. Emphasis on "attempted," because despite their good intentions, the process became complicated and overwhelming. Tom remained preoccupied with his second band, writing and recording in San Diego, while the other two worked in Los Angeles.
In 2011, the album "Neighborhood" was released. It truly felt like a neighborhood, but a dark and distant one, lacking infrastructure and resources, inhabited by heartless people without means or enthusiasm. They are there simply because they need a home and a job. They remain because they must survive, having lost all interest in joy or happiness, focusing solely on their daily routine.
The three members failed to keep the passion alive, unable to connect on the same wavelength, and any interaction tended towards conflict. Despite their efforts, they couldn't recreate the spark and atmosphere of better times, making collaboration unbearable. Tensions resurfaced when Tom once again disrupted things, failing to commit to the band and prioritizing his second band, even though he claimed music didn't truly interest him. Despite communication issues and significant dysfunction among the members, Hoppus and Travis decided to record a new album but learned from Tom's manager that Tom was ultimately uninterested and wanted to leave the band.
After prolonged and difficult legal battles with Tom, they concluded the ordeal and embarked on a new path. They recruited Matt Skiba, the guitarist and singer from "Alkaline Trio," as an official member and began working on a new album, "California".
This is the first album where they collaborate with a producer other than Jerry (John Feldmann), and it also marks the band's first album without Tom. The trio entered the studio with a set of pre-written songs from their time with Tom, but chose to set those aside and create entirely new material. They wrote 28 songs, with Matt (the newcomer) playing a crucial role in the songwriting and development process. They would enter the studio without prior preparation and work from scratch each day for 18 hours straight. John pushed Tom (the primary lyricist) to write lyrics quickly; whenever they had the framework of a song, he would send Tom out for an hour or two to craft the lyrics on the spot. This approach resulted in 28 songs being written over a 3-4 week span.
And we must say it paid off!!
The album "California" delivers the band's familiar and beloved sound but in a more mature and varied manner. While the harmony and blend of Hoppus and Matt are refreshing and distinct, Tom's absence is felt, as his voice provided a contrasting element that complemented the other. Nonetheless, Matt introduces something different, something new, which serves as a strong driving force behind the band's sound on this album.
The album kicks off with the song "Cynical", which reflects the mature perspectives of friends who are now husbands and fathers, rather than rebellious teenagers. It immediately immerses you in the intense and fast-paced punk-pop style you remember loving.
Next is "Bored to Death", featuring the band's iconic and familiar lineup, which reminisces about the past while urging you to embrace the present and avoid succumbing to boredom.
The song "She's Out Of Her Mind" is an enjoyable tune that you'll definitely feel like singing out loud, so don't be embarrassed. It transports you back to the days of teenage romance, but from an adult's perspective.
From there, the style takes a slightly different turn, becoming even more thrilling. In "Los Angeles", you can clearly feel and hear the band's transformation, maturity, and the fresh, exciting directions they're exploring during this exhilarating phase.
The song "Sober" serves as the "stamp" confirming that the band no longer intends to indulge in the glamorous days of punk-pop. Instead, they aim to reinvent themselves and once again lead this fun and exciting genre. So, sing along with us, "na na na na na when I'm sober".
While respecting adulthood, let's keep things in perspective. These are punk-pop youngsters whose stage banter revolves around poop and pee, so "Built This Pool" reminds us that Hoopus wants to see naked guys in the pool (a nod to a clip where they wanted nudity in the song "What's My Age Again"). Let's get a bit more serious with "No Future" and discuss a relationship between him and her, or between them...
The album moves to a slightly darker tone with "Home is Such A Lonely Place", "Kings Of The Weekend", "Teenage Satellites" and "Left Alone". With the incredible talent of the trio, you experience a rollercoaster of emotions and experiences. Without a doubt, this is exactly how we want to enjoy our music.
We briefly return to a lighter tone with "Rabbit Hole", followed by a more mature perspective in "San Diego". It's a sheer musical delight! We dive back into the craziness with "The Only Thing That Matters", lifting the party atmosphere with glasses raised and confetti flying.
Next is the album's title track, a unique song... after discussing Los Angeles and San Diego, we can't skip "California". It's a song of indulgence, love, and longing (for those who've traveled there, it's best to stop here to avoid flashbacks or intense nostalgia). The album concludes with the brief piece "Bohemian Rhapsody", essentially the closing line of the previous song, where Tom questions what he really finds in it.
It's no exaggeration to call this album a masterpiece for a band making a flawless comeback after a lengthy period of conflicts and challenges. This trio has reinvented itself without trying to replicate its past. They understand the need to view things differently and approach them in a new way, resulting in a simply superb outcome.
Listen on: Spotify, Apple Music
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