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Rating:
"Hello, Tom DeLonge here. I have a new band, it's called Angels And Airwaves. And it's the most beautiful music I've ever written".
With these words, the guitarist/vocalist of the now-defunct blink-182 broke the silence in the early summer of 2005 surrounding the inexplicable breakup of the band in February of the same year, a breakup that did not fail to break the hearts of millions of teenagers and beyond (yes, even mine).
Time passes, and the truth comes to light: first Boxcar Racer, then the divergences on the future of the band and the musical tastes of the three ensured that the decade-long friendship between Mark, Tom, and Travis went down the drain. Add to that the stress of a life spent mostly on tour for years, and you'll understand why this decision was made.
Tom's statements, released drop by drop about his new group, have contributed to raising (perhaps too much) hype about the new "supergroup". Tom had promised to revolutionize rock n' roll of the last 20 years, to change the world with the "best band in the world". Did he succeed?
The album presents itself as a concept, and transposes in an apocalyptic-sci-fi war scenario the life of Tom in recent months, the breakup of blink, the battle between the band and his life with family, and the spark that lifted him from depression to make this new record. The band's style grafts on the tried and tested Californian pop-punk the guitars of U2, the clean riffs of the Cure, and keyboards reminiscent of Coldplay, along with tons of effects and the emo voice of the late-blink Tom.
The result, it must be said, is majestic. Certainly, Tom's shrill voice is either loved or hated, the riffs are nothing complex, the instrumentalists are good but not exceptional (except for the drummer, precise and powerful, really good); all of this still hits the objective of involving and moving and why not, even lifting you from the prevailing boredom.
"Valkyrie Missile" is very reminiscent of "Where The Streets Have No Name" by U2, with its intro of keyboard-organ and the muted guitars in Edge style. The song opens with a "via-radio" dialogue between Tom and Atom Willard, almost a calling card for the band. "Anyone wants to pray and hope, anyone wants to learn to love again" spectacular.
"Distraction" talks about self-destruction compared to a bombarded city, and the comfort received from the person you love. Keyboard intro here too and big guitars for the chorus "the city is leveled, the bombs fall... I will be your distraction". "It Hurts" starts with a blink-like arpeggio, it's the song that most reminds me of blink, besides the fact that it talks precisely about a friendship gone bad "your best friend isn't your girlfriend"...
"Do It For Me Now" paves the way for "The Adventure", the first single from the album, another song that strongly recalls U2, while the energetic opening riff seems taken from a Cure song. The pounding rhythm of the song sets the stage for the protagonist's rebirth "I want to have the same dream again where I wake up and I am alive". Powerful. The solemn "The War" seems an aerial take of the Normandy landings "the beach is full of soldiers, now useless bodies" and seems to take up the internal struggle of every person.
They follow the ballad "A Little's Enough" the liberating "The Gift" which recalls in music "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" again by U2, the sunny "Good Day" introduced by a children's mini-piano that recalls in the chorus "I'm Lost Without You" by blink. The album closes with "Start The Machine" full of hopeful intentions and vaguely industrial (electronic drums, distorted bass, lots of keyboards). Phew, it's done.
What can I say? Definitely a great rock album, for Thomas Matthew Delonge certainly his masterpiece. It's not the end-of-the-world album that was expected, Tom raised the stakes considerably during the months of waiting. It's not the best band on the planet, but they know what they're doing. As a debut album, it is excellent. The mega advertising campaign organized for this album raises a few eyebrows, the fact that Tom goes from punk-rocker slacker to world-saving rockstar à-la-Bono, but remains still a great job, well produced by the same blink, and who knows, maybe a small benchmark for post-punk bands to come...
But U2 are VERY far away.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Valkyrie Missile (06:39)
Everyone, everyone will listen
Even if it hurts sometimes
If you will come and hear the message
Everyone wants to learn to love again
Open up and come alive and you will
Can you hear my message
Leave your pain on the bedroom floor again
Bring a smile to survive
And do you think that you have it in you
If you're here and you're all alone tonight
Then I'll give you a free ride
Take a chance cause I know you want to
If only you'll hold on just hold on
I'm here and I'm with you
I'm here to I feel you
We'll get through
I know this I've seen it
A hundred times a thousand times
Just one more time
With you and I, I'll pull you close
And then we'll say goodbye
I've gotta lot a whole hell of a lot to say
Even if it hurts sometimes
And if you will come and hear the message
And everyone everyone will hope and pray
That the best will sure survive
And if it's true then you'll feel the message
A perfect life for a perfect brand new day
And we're the next in line
And do you think that you have it in you
So if you're here and your curious tonight
Then ill give you a free ride
Take a chance cause I know you want to
If only you'll hold on just hold on
I'm here and I'm with you
I'm here to I feel you
We'll get through
I know this I've seen it
A hundred times a thousand times
Just one more time
With you and I, I'll pull you close
And then we'll say goodbye
02 Distraction (05:36)
I'll be your distraction
I'll be your distraction
There’s a field nearby
With words written in stone
My love will not die
Please let it be known
This place is dead
It echoes through town
There isn't one voice
I haven't heard a sound
The planes flew in
Their bombs did too
The city fell flat
The fires, they grew
When the smoke comes in
It'll color this town
But I'll still have you
So I'll say it aloud
I'll be your distraction
I'll be your distraction
The friendship we made
Is a waste of our time
There's no one left here
To show future that's kind
It's a world of hate
Gone incredibly wrong
We cared too late
We just followed along
And the boys went down
With their gun in their hand
Their weapon of choice
Their knees in the sand
If that field nearby
Was still there to be used
Would you ever have known?
Those words were for you
I'll be your distraction
I'll be your distraction
I'll be your distraction
I'll be your distraction
I'll be your distraction
I'll be your distraction
I'll be, I'll be yours
I'll be, I'll be yours
I'll be, I'll be yours
I'll be, I'll be yours
04 The Adventure (05:12)
I wanna have the same last dream again,
the one where I wake up and I'm alive.
Just as the four walls close me within,
my eyes are opened up with pure sunlight.
I'm the first to know,
my dearest friends,
even if your hope has burned with time,
anything that's dead shall be re-grown,
and your vicious pain, your warning sign,
you will be fine.
Hey, yo, here I am,
and here we go, life's waiting to begin.
Any type of love - it will be shown,
like every single tree reach for the sky.
If you're gonna fall,
I'll let you know,
that I will pick you up
like you for I,
I thought this thing,
I can't replace.
When everyone was working for this goal.
Where all the children left without a trace,
only to come back, as pure as gold,
To recite this all.
Hey, yo, here I am,
and here we go, life's waiting to begin.
Tonight,
hey, yo, here I am,
and here we go, life's waiting to begin.
Tonight,
hey, yo, here I am,
and here we go, life's waiting to begin.
I cannot live, I can't breathe
unless you do this with me
I cannot live, I can't breathe
unless you do this with me
I cannot live, I can't breathe
unless you do this with me
I cannot live, I can't breathe
unless you do this with me
I cannot live, I can't breathe
unless you do this with me
I cannot live, I can't breathe
unless you do this with me
Hey, yo, here I am (do this with me),
and here we go, life's waiting to begin (do this with me).
Hey, yo, here I am (do this with me).
And here we go, life's waiting to begin,
life's waiting to begin.
05 A Little's Enough (04:45)
When all is said and done
Will we still feel pain inside?
Will the scars go away with night?
Sharp smile for the morning light?
It's like the best dream to have
Where every thing is not so bad
Every tear is so alone
Like God himself is coming home to say
I
I can do any thing
If you want me here
And I can fix any thing
If you let me near
What are those secrets now
That you're just scared to tell
I'd whisper them all aloud
So you can hear your self
The trees were the first sign
The deepest blue, the clearest sky
The silence came with the brightest eyes
And turned water into wine
The children ran to see
The parents stood in disbelief
And those who knew braced for the ride
The earth itself it came alive to say
I
I can do any thing if you want me here
And I can fix anything if you let me near
What are those secrets now
That you're just scared to tell
I whisper them all aloud so you can hear your self
I'm sorry I have to say it but you look like you're sad
Your smile is gone; I've noticed it bad
The cure is if you let in just a little more love
I promise you this A Little's Enough
06 The War (05:07)
The ocean, is on fire
The sky turned dark again
As the boats came in
And the beaches
Stretched out with soldiers
With their arms and guns
It has just begun
Believe, you want this
Believe, I want this too
Why wont you tell me that
It's almost over
Why must this
Tear my head
Inside out
And the houses
Laid out like targets
With the deafening sound
We watched them all go down
And the families
Now useless bodies
They lay still black and blue
A gift from us to you
Believe, you want this
Believe, I want this too
Why wont you tell me that
It's almost over
Why must this
Tear my head
Inside out
Oh oh oh, oh, oh, oh oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh oh, oh, oh, oh oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh oh, oh, oh, oh oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh oh, oh, oh, oh oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh oh, oh, oh, oh oh oh, oh oh (Believe)
Oh oh oh, oh, oh, oh oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh oh, oh, oh, oh oh oh, oh oh (Believe, you want this too)
Oh oh oh, oh, oh, oh oh oh, oh oh
Why wont you tell me that
It's almost over
Why must this?
Tear my head
Inside out
Why wont you tell me that
It's almost over
Why must this?
Tear my head
Inside out
Oh oh oh, oh, oh, oh oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh oh, oh, oh, oh oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh oh, oh, oh, oh oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh oh, oh, oh, oh oh oh, oh oh
07 The Gift (05:02)
There’s a strangest excitement today
If you’re awake then you’re welcome to hear
I’ve got a gift and it blew me a way
From the far eastern sea straight to here
Oh God I feel like I’m in for it now
Its like the rush has gone straight to my brain
But my voice is as lonely as loud
As I whisper a joy of this pain
And suddenly
You’ve done it all
You won me over
In no time at all
And now I’ll stop the storm if it rains
I’ll light a path far from here
I’ll make your fear melt away
And the world we know disappear
If you ask I will do what you say
All we have is this night to get through
With the cheeks to the smile you’re only
You left me all up in arms and confused
Oh God I feel like I’m in for it now
And how this kiss will be one roughly vague
I swear I’ll melt if you touch me at all
But then I’ll ask you to do it again, and again
And suddenly
You’ve done it all
You won me over
In no time at all
And now I’ll stop the storm if it rains
I’ll light a path far from here
I’ll make your fear melt away
And the world we know disappear
I’ll stop the storm if it rains
I’ll light a path far from here
I’ll make your fear melt away
And the world we know disappear
Oh, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh, now
Oh, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh, now
Oh, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh, now
Oh, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh, now
And now, I’ll stop the storm if it rains
I’ll light a path far from here
I’ll make your fear melt away
And the world we know disappear
I’ll stop the storm if it rains
I’ll light a path far from here
I’ll make your fear melt away
And the world we know disappear.
Make the world we know disappear.
Make the world we know disappear.
Oh, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh, now
Oh, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh, now
Oh, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh, now
Oh, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh, now
08 It Hurts (04:14)
It hurts... [x17]
Is this what you want
'Cause everybody acts without a clue
Every little kiss and grin you gave
Was just a little bullshit I saw through
The alcohol I scented with your breath
You're always all done up to just be used
I'm waiting for excuses that deceive
I'll meet you in the back to see them through
How did I let her inside?
We're dripping of sweat, and feeling alright
Her lips were the last thing touched tonight
Your best friend is not your girlfriend
It hurts... [x17]
Are you out of your mind
You dug yourself into a liar’s hole
You made a little spark to live inside
It’s now a fucking fire out of control
And when the morning comes you’ll act surprised
And when the word gets out it will get old
And every day you’ll try to live your life
In every little scam that will unfold
How did I let her inside?
We're dripping of sweat, and feeling alright
Her lips were the last thing touched tonight
Your best friend is not your girlfriend
Dream... you want it
Dream... I want it too
Dream... you want it
Dream... I want it too
How did I let her inside?
We're dripping of sweat, and feeling alright
Her lips were the last thing touched tonight
Your best friend is not your girlfriend
It hurts [x17]
(Your best friend is not your girlfriend)
It hurts
(Your best friend is not your girlfriend)
It hurts
(Your best friend is not your girlfriend)
It hurts
(Your best friend is not your girlfriend)
It hurts
(Your best friend is not your girlfriend)
It hurts
(Your best friend is not your girlfriend)
10 Start the Machine (04:10)
The ash set in, then blew away,
It's getting lost into the sea.
I grew so close to all the thoughts I had to leave forever,
I left the chill and voice of screams and kids and ran for shelter.
You know I won't say sorry,
You know I won't say sorry.
The pain has a bad reaction,
A blend of fear and passion.
You know what it's like to believe,
It makes me wanna scream.
I see a glow from far away,
A faint reflection on the sea.
I left some words quite far from here, to be a short reminder,
I laid them out in stone, in case they need to last forever
You know I won't say sorry,
You know I won't say sorry.
The pain has a bad reaction,
A blend of fear and passion.
You know what it's like to believe,
It makes me wanna scream.
I see the stars, they're in your eyes
A playful kiss, can't you tell I'm exited?
A Fast escape, in the nick of time,
If you've lost your wish, Can I help you find it?
I'm on my knee, just one to start,
A fresh new start, don't be undecided.
If Love's a word that you say,
Then say it, I will listen.
If Love's a word that you say,
Then say it, I will listen...
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Other reviews
By metalheart
The emotions this CD inspires are intense—anger, passion, pain.
Tom Delonge may not have created the biggest band in the world, but he certainly came very close.
