Flabbergaster - A Place for Music

Blink 182- Neighborhoods album reveiw

By this point in their career, Blink 182 has proven they cannot be molded or bargained with. They come and go as they please, experiment with new sounds, and have retained a good following throughout the years-even after going their seperate ways to work on other projects (Box Car Racer, +44, Angels&Airwaves).

Right off the bat, my admiration for Neighborhoods is their style-which still strikes a note of familiarity while the color and tone of their music has changed. It still has that yearning/energetic, feel to it, but the pace has decreased a little and the guitar distortion is very echoey. Tom Delong's playful pop-punk guitar riffs (like the intro to Natives) are still part of the writing process and Mark Hoppus's charming voice still makes a significant contribution. After a long hiatus, they have picked up where they left off on their self titled release, where they continue their experiment with retro guitar sound effects and scratchy bass riffs.

The only downside (which may also be a sign of maturity) is that they have dropped their goofy act that got them immediate attention when the band rose to fame in 1999 with the release of their videos, "What's My Age Again," and "All The Small Things," which had MTV viewers everywhere laughing hysterically. Their lyrics are no longer silly and perverted and take on a more serious tone.

A few attention grabbing tracks to listen to are, "Ghosts on the Dancefloor," "Snake Charmer," and "Natives." Getting to mid-album, you will receive a two part song (one being instrumental) called "Heart's All Gone," where you get a small taste of old school Blink 182 material (for those who are just tuning in and missed their Dude Ranch/Chesire Cat days). 

Give it a listen.

Album cover taken from Google Images.

August Burns Red - Leveler album review

Fourth albums are always a bit shaky for a band, especially when the anticipation is high because the last three releases have done so well. First, they are stoked that they have made it this far, and second, they want to break new ground to continue the journey. August Burns Red can admit to such feelings. It is no secret that this band has done well over the last few years and plans to drop off now are nowhere in sight.

You can tell ABR is trying to re-define themselves on Leveler, although they aren't toning it down one bit. They experiment a tad-bit with other techniques (such as the island fever jam on Internal Cannon) and the album artwork is a little different then their previous releases. The cover looks like a scene from a Beavis and Butt-head episode-suggesting the boys got ahold of a fork lift and leveled Tom Anderson's house (Heh-heh, that was cool, Beavis). Leveler's opening track, "Empire" is a real thrust of heavy metal and makes quite an introduction. There is a huge 808 bass-drop within the first 0:15 of the song followed by several cool riffs that compel you to leave the song on repeat or rewind your favorite parts....just make sure you watch the road if you are driving! "Poor Millionaire," and "Boys of Fall," are fun little jams also. Last, vocalist Jake Luhrs is back on board with his creative life-motivating lyrics that have sustained his fans attention since he made his debut in 2007 with "Messengers." 

I think it's safe to say that August Burns Red will be around for a little while longer, and that fans still buy records when they believe in a band so heavily. Leveler sold over 25,000 copies its first week on the shelves, causing chaotic elation for the staff at Tooth and Nail records, as they had not seen such numbers on the charts in a long time! The band was stoked about it as well. It goes without saying that they have worked hard for their success and they are grateful to be where they are.

What Makes A "Good" Record?

Ever notice how much power and influence a record-let alone music, can have on shaping our lives? A good record can appeal to individual or a large, but where do they come from, and what are they made of? I recently asked that question to several friends and strangers to see if I could draw a central thread. Music varies from genre to genre, no doubt, but the answers I got were informative, and a bit entertaining. Here are a few:

 "If I can forget where I am for the duration of my first listen, then that's the sign of a good record."

"I'm not sure how to answer this question but vocals always make or break it for me."

"A good record takes me on a journey. It lures me in. Lyrics are also important to me. They have to speak to me."

The last answer I got what from a friend who produces records in his area. His answer was very long and detailed, but his last comment stated, "A good record has to be longer than 30 minutes."

Very rarely does a record come along that is able to appeal to a massive audience. The Joshua Tree by U2 and Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park are two great examples. They both broke new ground and are still doing well after the first decade(s) had passed both of their release dates. A record does not have to have immediate success to qualify as a good record either. On a subjective level, it can become a favorite over a period of time, even if we didn't like it at first. Personally, some of my favorite albums had to grow on me, but they took me on a journey and years later, are a snap shot to that period of my life. 13 Ways to Bleed on Stage by Cold resonated with me while it helped me through a very dark period of my life. 

While there are very few 'correct' answers to the question, "What makes a good record?" because of personal opinions and taste, I will try to narrow it down to the best of my ability. A good record:

1) Speaks to us on an emotional level.

2) Takes us out of our current reality.

3) Has more than one hit instead of a few good tracks with filler songs in between.

4) Has a steady flow between tracks and keeps the listener engaged.

5) Is at a decent time length (45 minutes or longer).

6) Allows the listener to dream.

7) Has phenomenal guitar work.

8) Has breathtaking vocals (which can override mediocre musicianship, but not vice versa).

9) Shows growth and potential in the artist, instead of the alternative.

10) Contains lyrics with depth.

 Feel free to leave a comment if you would like to add something.