Leave your thoughts of Blink 182’s outlook on life
in the back of your mind. Erase your assumptions about the
new band, which features two-thirds of Blink 182, being jammed
pack of toilet talk and nonsense antics. The self-titled debut
from Box Car Racer is founded at the roots of Tom
Delonge and Travis Barker... punk music to move
a generation. With help from Dave Kennedy and Anthony
Celestino, the ‘other half’ of BCR, the band has embraced
a mood much like that of Blink 182’s "Adam’s Song,"
and "Stay Together For The Kids." You know, those
songs that move, encourage and relate to the youth.
Serious undertones such as depression, higher powers and
government, prove that Delonge, who is the mastermind behind
the lyrics, has the ability to let his maturity shine. That
is if you can disregard the track "My First Punk Song"
which involves lyrics you would expect from a title like that.
BCR’s first single from the album "I Feel So,"
sets the mood for what’s to come on the remaining 12 tracks
of the album. "I Feel So" is a list of what everyone
painfully wishes for. Sometimes I wish I was brave/I wish
I was stronger/I wish I could feel no pain/Wish I was young/Wish
I was shy/I wish I was honest/I wish I was you not I,
is prefaced with whining guitar and powerful jolts from the
percussion section leading into the child-like confessions
of Delonge. Already on most rock radio stations play-lists,
"I Feel So" has appealed to the masses...or maybe
just made a connection with them.
The most heart wrenching song on the album, titled "Watch
The World", begins as if read out of a journal entry
from September 11th. I watched the smoke as it grew darker
and blew up through the ruff/I watched the fed saw them panic
as the fire grew.
The album is peppered with guest vocals from fellow Blink
member Mark Hoppus on "Elevator," not to
mention punk veterans Jordan Pundik of New Found
Glory and Tim Armstrong of Rancid on the
track "Cat Like Thief."
While it’s refreshing to hear Delonge sing of things that
undoubtedly mean something to him, I was expecting a harder
punk sound. Next to Blink 182, the album does contain a variety
of sounds that are often lacking on most punk albums, but
considering it was done in appreciation to Blink’s punk heroes
such as Fugazi, who have long inspired the boys in
the first place, I was surprised to hear such radio friendly
songs. But then again, if you happen to also be in a band
named Blink 182, it’s inevitable you’re going to make songs
to appeal to the masses, unintentionally or not.
- Lycia Shrum
Track Listing:
- I Feel So
- All Systems Go
- Watch The World
- Tiny Voices
- Cat Like Thief
- And I
- Letters To God
- My First Punk Song
- Sorrow
- There Is
- The End With You
- Elevator
- Instrumental
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