Blink 182

May 16, 2024

Reviews > Album Reviews > Blink 182 – Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods

Monday 23rd January, 2012 by Scottie D | 0 Comments

Our Rating

User Rating

(No Ratings Yet)

Loading...

Sometimes to make the ultimate comeback punk rock record (examples of punk rock comeback masterpeices: The Process of Belief by Bad Religion Indestructible by Rancid.) It takes a series of tragic, emotional, and near-fatal events to rebuild burnt bridges, remend broken hearts, and renew fallen out friendships. That’s the case with Blink 182. The death of friend/longtime producer. The legendary Jerry Finn, The near-death plane crash that left Travis Barker with Post-dramatic Stress Disorder, and the drug overdose death of barker’s friend and frequent collaborating partner Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein. to bring 3 former friends back to full circle. And all these emotions including personal issues towards one another are fused together in the comeback rock album of 2011. Neighborhoods.

Neighborhoods is both a step forward and a step back. It’s as dark as I’ve ever heard the pop-punk trio ever tried. Subjects of isolation, confusion and death mixed with a slew of alternative rock and space age style prog rock in the style of Tom DeLonge’s other band Angels & Airwaves , pop punk in the form of their earlier work along with a touch of Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker’s side-band +44 as well as a blend of their idol’s Green Day, and hardcore and melodramatic punk in the style of friends Rancid and legnedary california punk band Bad Religion. Finished off with hip hop style drumlines Barker introduced to his massive arsenal with The Transplants and pefected on his solo album “Give The Drummer Some”. Mix it together along with all their personal angers and all the personal issues in their lives. And you got Neighborhoods.

Ghost on the dance floor starts the album with a nice melodramatic feel that echoes their final hit song “Miss you”. The song is also closure in a way for Barker as they dedicated the song in memory of DJ AM. Natives is a fast-paced punk anthem for old and newcomers to the band. A great anthem in my way. Up All Night starts dark and insane than goes to some happy styleness The music video (which I enclosed a clip of) makes the song more insane. A riot in the burbs (can someone smell a Jack from the liner notes of Bang Pow Boom on the video?). None the less the song is pretty nice. I enjoy the maturing voices of Mark and Tom alot on this song. After Midnight is a love ballad that I can’t stop listening to. I recommend this if u are on a date. Snake Charmer is a disturbing song about ether careless sex or cheating sluts. I have no idea really so I can’t decipher this one yet. MOh wait yes I can. It’s a reference to the Book Of Genesis and based on the Biblical story of Adam & Eve. Hearts all gone…. California fast-paced punk! That’s how the music is. I enjoy this shit alot! WHOOOOOOOOO! The song is pretty much a song to listen to after you’ve been dumped.

Maturing melody is big time here on this next song. It’s called Wishing well. I feel this song is more about those that are still lost at their late 20’s or mid 30’s. Kaleidoscope sounds like something you’re better off listening to while high. It’s a song about wanting to dance to normal rock and not stupid ass shit. This is home is a song for the genre and scene they belong to. The Punk Community. Great fitting song. MH 04.18.2011 was originally titled “Hold On”, but DeLonge thought the new title sounded cool, likening it to a Virus. Pretty weird but fun. The song is traditional Blink 182 with the fastness and added to the evolved drumskills of an already monstrous drumsmith that Barker already is (he was good. but he got better and the game is now changed!). Love is Dangerous closes the normal version of the album. The song describes the struggles to commit while in a long term relationship (Something I can personally relate to. I <3 you Sonja!). HOLY “INTO THE UNKNOWN” BATMAN! Fighting The Gravity starts the deluxe edition! It’s got that spacey style vocals with some weird guitars to give it one hell of an alternative rock approach. Even if she falls closes the deluxe edition. I’m enjoying this song alot as well just because… Fuck it I admit it. I’m a guy. I’m straight. and I’m the mushy type okay!? The song’s pretty nice and the drums are just wonderful (hey I might like mushy topics but I still wanna choke out Edward from the twilight saga!).

All in all this is a great punk album for old timers of the underground to newcomers to the entire scene itself. What I like about Blink 182 is that they gave you the perfect replacement between Green Day albums. I also think Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge are awesome songwritters that give you lyrics that are so emotional it forces your own emotions to feel it. And I been saying this for years. Travis Barker is a motherfucking monster on drums. Don’t believe me? Watch the transplants performance on the Give Em The Boot DVD! In closing. Neighborhoods is one of the best comeback records ever and on behalf of the underground. Welcome back Blink!

Track Listing [Regular Edition]: