"I'll never let you down boy." The echoing ethereal sounding vocals of Tom DeLonge make sure you know Blink-182 is back, but something is different this time. It sounds like the boys we used to laugh with, the jokesters that frequently sung about having sex with dogs and crapping grandpas have left the studio, and matured, more jaded replacements have returned. Mark, Tom and Travis are back yes, but it doesn't sound like the Blink-182 we used to know, it is something new, and that isn't a bad thing.
It's only fitting that the first album Blink's released in seven years is darker and more serious though, the unscheduled reunion of the band was brought about by tragedy and pain. The loss of friends and innocence is reflected in the sounds and lyrics of the album, and makes for a much darker and more emotionally meaningful affair. Something I always enjoyed from Blink albums of the past was this sort of twisted and hurt romantic aspect. Thinking mostly of Blink-182 I always got the idea of loss and hurt, but it was always directed towards a girl, and love and feelings about her, with or without her. There's a little bit of that in Neighborhoods, mostly in "Even if She Falls" but it's something I can't help but miss, even more than silly songs like those from Take Off Your Pants and Jacket and Enema of the State. The hurt is different in Neighborhoods, it's not the story of a lonely guy, but the story of loss, permanent loss. So yes it's darker and different, but I can't say I expected after seven years of growing up Blink was gonna be the same guys they were back in the early 2000's.
So now let's look at the individual tracks:
Ghost on the Dance Floor: The first track on the album starts out very strong. One of my early favorites after hearing it first live in concert, "Ghost" is a great song, and is one of the songs more reminiscent of Blink-182. It has the classic sounding guitar, but some more mystical instrumental sounds as well. The lyrics and singing are really great and emotional, and leaves you feeling a little sad because he misses someone, but at the same time a little hopeful because at least they had something sometime. It brings up the idea of having something, and loosing it, but even though it's gone you look at it fondly and remember the good time you had while it lasted. The classic idea of its better to love and lose than never love at all. At least that's what I get, I'm sure there could be many interpretations. This song is just plain powerful, you feel it, it pulls you in, and you are sucked into the album right from the start.
Natives: I'm gonna be straight up, at first I wasn't super happy with Natives, the fast pace and rhythm kind of threw me off. It sounds different from a lot of other Blink songs, and is a good example of how different this album really is. But when I listened to the lyrics and spent some more time with it I really liked it. It hits a little close to home "I'm just a bastard child, don't let it go to your head" "maybe I'm better off dead" "just let me go, go. I'm never coming home." At the same time while the lyrics are much darker than their older stuff the guitar remains that same old hint that this is still Blink-182, and says "we are different, but we're still the same."
Up All Night: This song has been out for a while now, I remember anxiously waiting to listen to it online. It's not as exciting now, just since I've gotten used to it and heard it so many times. It's still a really good song though. When I first heard about a new Blink-182 album, and the first single was called "Up All Night" I took it a very different way. I thought "Up All Night" was some sort of anthem to partying and mayhem, but thankfully I was completely wrong. "And all these demons, they keep me up all night" is one of the most chilling and heartfelt lines on the album. "Up All Night" is a song about loss and pain, like many of the other songs, but it never delves to deep into despair, and somehow always gives me the feeling that while everything is not ok, there just might be a light at the end of the tunnel.
After Midnight: "After Midnight" is a very traditional Blink-182 song. It mixes Tom and Mark's different singing styles very well. It's a little more lighthearted from the other songs, well, you know, except for the part about Tom not being able to step away from the edge of death. It has awesome drumming, and one of Travis' better songs on the album. It's a good song, and a strong addition to the album. I fell weird that I don't have more to say about it, but yeah, that is all.
Snake Charmer: Now this is a great song. "Snake Charmer" is dirrrrrty. It's sexual and dirty and it works. Tom's voice sounds far away and sort of shunned. It brings up images of sort of the taboo of sex and love. It has really good and interesting lyrics, and a catchy kind of hook.The little instrumental ending is beautiful as well.
Hearts All Gone Interlude: This instrumental only song is as Mark Hoppus stated the slower original version of Hearts All Gone. It's a nice little soft and a little bit sinister sounding song. It's a nice addition to the Deluxe edition of the album, and a softer quieter break between the mostly harder other songs.
Hearts All Gone: Hearts All Gone is another song that has been out for a while now. I heard it some time back and its a pretty decent song. Mark really seems to be straining his voice here to hit those notes, but overall its not bad. The song is really fast paced, a little too fast paced and chaotic for me. In the end it's not bad, but not one of my favorites.
Wishing Well: Wishing Well is one of my absolute favorite songs on the album. It's a good pace, it's got really great lyrics and a great overall sound. Tom's lyrics about reaching for something, failing, and then reaching again really evoke a nice image of childhood ambition and blind forward movement. It's hard to describe the feelings I have towards this song. It's about blind optimism and constant negative feedback, all wrapped into an extremely catchy chorus and rhythm. I love this song, and it's one of the best on the album.
Kaleidoscope: At first this song didn't sit well with me. The lyrics seemed really random and out there, completely unrelated and meaningless. Mark stated that it's about the sort of rat race and moving forward in our crazy lives idea. I have come around to it more as time has gone on, and now I enjoy it. It's still disjointed and kind of weird, but it has a nice catchy-ness to it.
This Is Home: This songs another pretty good addition to the Blink library, not super noticeable or unique, but overall enjoyable. I like the theme of the song, and it's the one on the album that really gives me a feeling why it's called "Neighborhoods" the idea of the crappy place that has a lot of pain and loss, but at the same time it's home.
MH 4.18.2011: This song is Mark's on the album. (Notice the MH) Or at least I assume. It again reminds of Kaleidoscope, because I really don't get it and I'm not a big fan. While Kaleidoscope grew on me, MH hasn't, and sadly I think it's the weakest track on the album. Not to say that it's bad, it's just not the same quality that the rest of the album does a pretty good job of keeping up.
Love is Dangerous: Love is Dangerous is another pretty solid song on the album. Nothing really new or exciting here, but a solid offer never the less. I suppose there really isn't much else to say about it, but it's a pretty good song with a nice little hook that adds some time to the album.
Fighting the Gravity: This is another Mark song on the album, but it works more for me than MH. Its a little dark and spooky sounding, but overall I like it. I again can't really get the point of this song, or maybe I have ideas but I can't know for sure. It's a pretty good song, but like a lot of the album, I have no real complaints about the song, but it's no Feeling This.
Even If She Falls: While towards the end of the album it begins to drone on with above average songs, Even If She Falls is a nice way to end things. One of the best songs on the album, also is one of the happiest (no coincidence there) It's more of the awkward romanticism I have come to love and expect from Blink, and I am very glad this song made the album. Without it the album would be a much bleaker affair, and overall a much less enjoyable package. It's one of my favorites on the album, and a good way to send it off with a ray of hope.
Overall the album is good, but not perfect. It's darker and sadder than the Blink albums of the past, and focuses less on girl-boy love, but more on loss and pain. I can handle a album about these darker subjects, but it feels a little weird coming from a band that ran naked through a whole music video. It certainly doesn't fail, but it could be better. Many of the songs are good, but not great. It's so close, but just not there yet. Maybe we will get another Blink album soon, and maybe that will be the one that returns Blink to their former greatness. I still think Blink-182 is a great band, one of my favorites, but I can't help but feel like the album we have waited seven years for could have been better.
8/10
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