Blink 182 is never coming back. Instead, the popular rock band has split into two vastly different musical entities. Angels and Airwaves is Tom Delonge's attempt at a "rock and roll revolution," and (+44) is Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker's attempt to participate in evolution.
With their debut release "When Your Heart Stops Beating," (+44) offers a sense of maturity not previously found in Blink 182. The lyrics are blunt and quite frankly, depressing. Although the sound of the album is eclectic, the recurring theme of giving up and ending relationships is still present. What else could one expect from a band whose previous endeavor was ended abruptly behind their backs?
The beginning of the album is a bit misleading. "Lycanthrope" and "When Your Heart Stops Beating" are two of the first three tracks and they offer a fast paced pop-punk sound that isn't recreated anywhere else on the album. Even though the lyrics are dark, the sound of these two songs leaves the listener with expectations for the rest of the album that are not met.
Immediately after the title track "When Your Heart Stops Beating," listeners are unexpectedly hit with the bittersweet "Little Death." Its dreary sound changes the mood set by the previous tracks, which is instantly re-instilled with the electronically driven and musically upbeat "155."
In another example of unpredictable tones and tempos, the mellow yet viscous "Lillian" is followed by "Cliffdiving," which is the closest thing (+44) has to a Blink track. It seems odd that "Lillian," which is basically a callout ("I left it all behind, in the dead of last winter/.../so long forgotten friends, no they don't know the difference between love and selfish acts"), is followed by a song about the promise and hope summer offers.
Following a brief musical interlude, the listener is met with the song "Weatherman." Its sound and lyrical content makes one feel as if they're wandering through the rain, reminiscing about their past and letting the water wash away their regret.
"No It Isn't" was actually the first (+44) song ever written, following the breakup of Blink182. It's unmistakably about Thomas Delonge. It has been floating around the internet for the past year and it alone fueled the interest in (+44).
The lyrics to "No It Isn't" are poetic, yet brutal. It starts off with the confession "this is not goodbye, this is I can't stand you," and culminates in a chorus that most definitely signifies an end to Mark and Travis' friendship with Tom Delonge.
"Curse my enemies forever/let's slit our wrists and burn down something beautiful/this desperation leaves me overjoyed/with fading lights that lead us past the lives we destroyed."
It's the sweetest sounding song about hatred that you'll ever hear.
The album comes to a strange conclusion thanks to the final two cuts "Make You Smile" and "Chapter 13." "Make You Smile" is the only genuinely happy track on the album. It's a duet between Mark Hoppus and guest vocalist Karen Heller, who left the band for personal reasons.
Following this rare sunspot is "Chapter 13," a song about loving someone and planning the perfect relationship in your head, just to find out that the object of your affection doesn't feel the same way about you. And then you kill yourself.
The alternating tempos and sounds make for an interesting listen. Apart from the last track, one cannot help but be a little disappointed and a lot depressed.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
