It is definitely the most highly anticipated release of 2011, and has been ever since the pop-punk threesome reunited in 2009, their last release being their self-titled album in 2003, and soon later took an indefinite hiatus. This is from a band who postponed their UK tour by a year, and cancelled their stints at the UK and Ireland festivals this summer to finish this album. But when you’re a big a band as Blink 182 are, you can afford to make fans wait, and the new single taken from their new record, “Neighbourhood”, has finally been given the light of day.
The question everyone’s asking is, is it worth the wait?
The question everyone’s asking is, is it worth the wait?
Right from the start, we see more elements involved, with much heavier riffs and drums from Travis Barker, and even hip-hop included, the direction he wanted to take with the band. Straight away, we see they have taken a different direction than original Blink. Actually, very different. This brings us into the recognisable voice of Tom Delonge, and leads into perfect harmonies with bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus.
Once writing about things like ejaculating into a sock, the lyrics are now much more mature and serious, “these demons, they keep me up all night”. Sounding like Angels and Airwaves in parts, DeLonge’s side project, and of course it was expected that the band who are all in their mid-30‘s, would each grow as musicians in the past 8 years, and would never do an exact replica of their earlier hits such as “What’s My Age Again?” and “All The Small Things”.
So yes, yes it is worth the wait. And with this, Blink 182 are back.
