Blink 182 - 'Neighborhoods' review

Comeback albums are always hard to do - trying to please old and new fans and critics alike is a job in itself. With Neighborhoods, Blink 182's first record after 8 years, being the most anticipated album of 2011, the question on everyone's lips is "will the album live up to expectations?" The record was previously set for release in May, but the band took another few months to complete it, and in the meantime rescheduling their UK tour and cancelling headline slots at festivals, angering fans. (But also meaning 2 added Ireland dates for June 2012 - yay!)

Here's my track-by-track review of the album.
Opening with Ghost On The Dancefloor, showing not all tender songs have to be slow or acoustic, and this has all the style we know and love from the band. This leads into Natives, which fans will be relieved to hear this is classic Blink 182. With lyrics such as "maybe I'm better off dead", showing the skill from the band by putting the more depressing song lyrics onto upbeat, poppy songs. These lyrics are all wrong however; Blink's songs are those that you just need in your life.
Next is Up All Night, one of the two songs put online months before the release. Back then, it received a mixed response, and compared to some of the brilliant songs on the album, it is not some their best work. The next single After Midnight follows, showing a slower, more tender side to the band. Heart's All Gone is the other song that was put online, in anticipation for the album, and while it was given a better response, there are also much better songs on this album. Next track is unexpected gem, Wishing Well, a feel-good, catchy song, with many 'la da da's, from Tom Delonge that simply make you want to get up and dance. A personal favourite and one of the best on the album.
Kaleidoscope has a similar sound to others on the album, yet it is still excellent, with more mature, meaningful lyrics. Perfectly leads into This Is Home, another catchy song. MH 4.18.2011 is also a song that is reminiscent of older Blink 182 tracks, but still holds its own. Last but not least, Love Is Dangerous is a perfect song to end the album, gradually getting heavier with soft joint vocals from Delonge and Mark Hoppus.

Overall, the lyrics are extremely well-written, showing a more mature and grown up side, compared to the band who once wrote about fucking a dog, your mom, anything in the earlier years. With joint vocals from guitarist Delonge and bassist Hoppus, the album is still recognisable as Blink 182 (whether that's from Delonge's unique voice, or just the way the guitar, bass and Travis Barker on drums work), but anyone looking for another Dude Ranch or Enema Of The State will be disappointed.
Another problem is the short 10 songs on it, when it could / should have been much longer.

Nevertheless, with an album as constant as this, we can see why it took so long.
And it certainly was worth the wait.