“It’s a long way back from 17,” sings Blink-182 bassist and vocalist Mark Hoppus on their lead single ‘Bored to Death’, the second track on their new album California . The track has an unmistakable Blink pop punk rock sound to it, complete with a swell towards the end that would remind long-time fans of ‘All the Small Things’, one of the best examples of their crooked, comedic but relatable take on love and growing up.
The themes vary on California, their first since 2011’s comeback album Neighborhoods , and more importantly, without vocalist-guitarist Tom DeLonge. Taking over is Alkaline Trio frontman Matt Skiba, who adds the required sing-along harmonies and crunchy guitar lines straight on songs like ‘Los Angeles’ and ‘Sober’.
As you can guess, there’s more than just dumb relationship advice from the dweebs Hoppus, DeLonge and drummer Travis Barker used to be. They’re still reckless and funny when they sing on the 16-second ‘Built This Pool’ and ‘Kings of the Weekend’. Longer songs, though, have the much-needed substance that the album needs. ‘No Future’ has the all the makings of a Blink classic, but when you get halfway through the 16-track album, you do begin to wish you heard DeLonge’s infamous accented musings.
There’s nothing ground-breaking when you square it up with the space-rock influence that DeLonge brought to the then-reunited Neighborhoods, which drew its share of mixed reviews. The slow, minimal ‘Home Is Such a Lonely Place’ is, again, familiar territory, but fused with a few radio-friendly modern pop elements (making it perfect for the arenas as well) talking about solitariness. Sure, this is the band’s signature – to put those jokey songs (‘Brohemian Rhapsody’) next to the angsty numbers that every kid would connect with – but they don’t wander out of their comfort zone much at all.
While Barker’s exceptional drumming breaks the monotony often, especially on otherwise predictable songs like ‘Teenage Satellite’ and the punk-paced ‘Rabbit Hole’, ‘The Only Thing That Matters’. Perhaps the involvement of producer and songwriter John Feldmann (who has shaped hits by the likes of modern pop punk bands such as 5 Seconds of Summer and All Time Low) brings in younger fans, but puts them in the same cast of modern pop that they often parodied. Such is Blink-182’s current standing – reaching out for new ears while trying to be the irresponsible cool punks they once were.
