Angels & Airwaves vs. blink-182

February 27th, 2008

tom-delonge-contemplates.jpg
Tom Delonge: “What have I done?”

Angels & Airwaves, eh? Secret Crowds… eh?

This band’s got me torn. I don’t know how to feel. I’ve been secretly pretending that this band does not exist. But people keep sending me links to the brand new video for Secret Crowds…it must stop. Forced by Kat, I’m willing to talk about this band, but only this one time. Honest.

First, the good things…the things I like about Angels & Airwaves.

They sound good. The production and tone on their albums is amazing. The timing and composition are exactly what they should be. I’m always impressed when a group can put out something with such a polished and well-tuned sound. +183 points

An amazing lineup. All of the talent in this band is well established. The musicians have been part of this for so long that it’s tough to argue they haven’t earned our respect. The fact that they continue to make music that people want to hear speaks volumes about what they are doing. +143 points

I also like that some of the better parts of the last Blink album evolved and found a place in this album. The last Blink album was clearly their best album and a welcome change to the previous two albums. Angels & Airwaves still carries a distinct Blink sound, but moves it into slower rock song; very cool. +115 points

Unfortunately none of this can overcome the fact that I have one deep ideological difference with this band. I just can’t stand Tom doing lead vocals for a band. Backing on Blink tracks was one thing. Leading on this is another.

I feel as though I can’t (emotionally) take the contrast between how much the music has grown and the pop-punk sound of his vocals has not. -623 points

The music is wonderful, sounds great and bears the mark of Tom’s musical experience and history. The added connection of watching a group grow up while I was growing up makes me want to like them (honestly)… But because of the way his voice and my ears interact, I can never really enjoy this band. And that hurts me… so much that I don’t want to taco bell it anymore.

Seriously, stop sending me the link to the video… you’re breaking my heart.

P.S.: There’s a secret prize associated with this post…but I can’t even tell you what the contest is, it’s that secret.

Photograph Courtesy Getty Images

Posted on Wednesday, February 27th, 2008 at 12:00 pm by Leah and is filed under Music & Videos.

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12 Responses to “Angels & Airwaves vs. blink-182”

  1. “funnily” enough, i JUST watched this video, and it’s new my ringtone. HAHAHA.

    By kat on February 27, 2008 at 12:25 pm |

  2. 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182 182…

    What do i win???

    also while I don’t hate A&A, Tom just sorta bugs me from what I’ve heard about how he split up Blink, seems kind of a jerk now, lost his sense of humour.

    By 182 on February 27, 2008 at 12:57 pm |

  3. While you don’t like Tom’s voice I think that it’s part of what makes Angels & Airwaves “special” or “different”. How is the fact that you don’t like his voice worthy of a blog post? Go listen to +44 and get over yourself.

    By Matt on February 27, 2008 at 1:17 pm |

  4. whose songs were better? tom’s or mark’s?

    it’s like depeche mode (well, not really, but): martin’s songs are heaps better than dave’s!! way better vocals.

    By kat on February 27, 2008 at 1:36 pm |

  5. I’ve always been a Tom fanboy

    By dan on February 27, 2008 at 1:43 pm |

  6. Waaaaait a second….

    your favourite blink cd is the one that Tom does the MOST singing on….

    By neil on February 27, 2008 at 1:46 pm |

  7. mark mark mark mark mark mark mark.

    i listened to a lot of blink 182 in high school…and i would always skip the tom tracks. always.

    By jillfunk on February 27, 2008 at 1:47 pm |

  8. yeah, you’re right, he did the most singing on that one. But like jillfunk, I skipped those tracks and just pretended the album was a few songs shorter.

    By loyalj on February 27, 2008 at 3:11 pm |

  9. I can understand the voice thing but I also think its what makes them unique. To many chad kroger sounding bands this days…nice to have someone with a different sound although not the strongest vocals just “different”.

    By Adam on February 27, 2008 at 3:56 pm |

  10. Great song, the video is good, i enjoy what Tom is doing and i think he has evolved as a singer and that he is doing what most of us dream of, playing music with great and talented musicians so i give him props, for it!!! And the numbers add up to 182 to make blink 182!!!

    By Pawel on February 27, 2008 at 11:32 pm |

  11. I’m a fan of it all. If you like Mark’s songs better, does that mean you like +44 too?

    By claire on February 28, 2008 at 12:00 pm |

  12. you know… i do like +44. It’s like blink light. It’s got the parts I want and none of the backing vocals I don’t want.

    +44 points for Mark…

    … i’m so lame.

    By loyalj on February 28, 2008 at 2:46 pm |

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