blink-182
California

There is a lot of nostalgia just in the name Blink-182.

Because the peak of popularity reached by this pop-rock trio coincides with a historical moment when smartphones were science fiction, to record a music video on TV, you had to chase it with a VCR, and music wasn't as easily (and freely) accessible as it is now.

Blink-182 are survivors, partly because they are still here and are still doing quite well in terms of success, and partly because surviving a seismic shock like the departure of the historical member Tom DeLonge in 2015 must not have been easy. Mark Hoppus and the formidable drummer Travis Barker didn't lose heart and they recruited an American pop rock heavyweight like Matt Skiba from the excellent Alkaline Trio. After a series of warm-up live performances, they confined themselves to the studio and gave birth to this new work, their seventh studio album, titled “California.”

Produced by John Feldmann (already behind the console for All Time Low, 5 Seconds Of Summer, and The Used), the new work represents a partial (and pleasant) return to the origins. Obviously, the goofiness of the early days is less present, which is normal since we are now talking about artists in their forties, but nonetheless, a couple of "prank" songs in full Blink tradition are not missing, like the very fast “Built This Pool” and “Brohemian Rhapsody.” In some tracks, there is a complete departure from the muddled sounds of the previous “Neighborhoods” (truly off-focus) in favor of a traditional, dry, and direct pop punk, as seen in “She’s Out Of Her Mind,” “Rabbit Hole” (excellent), and “The Only Thing That Matters.”

At times, we notice an unusual push towards stadium rock shores, as in the slightly more complex “Los Angeles,” while in others, there is a heaviness of sound and an excessive use of choirs (particularly in “Sober,” where the contribution to the writing by Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy is negatively felt).

Overall, the chemistry between Hoppus and Skiba is excellent, the sound is well-blended, and Blink-182 still knows how to write great singles like “Bored To Death,” perfect to preview the various facets of the work. Nor are there lacking killer tracks to play on repeat, especially “Cynical,” the album opener, which Hoppus said set the tone for the rest of the album.

“California” is a good return, not at the level of the splendid self-titled 2003 album but distinctly superior to the previous effort and an excellent starting point for the American band.

Best track: “Cynical”