At the time of writing this I reckon I’m listening to this album for about the 10th time after buying it around 5 days ago. Plus-44 began 2 years after the famous break up of Blink-182. The original line-up consisted of Mark Hoppus (bass/vocals), Carol Heller (Guitar/Vocals) and of course Travis Barker (Drums). This line-up wrote one song before Carol and Plus-44 parted ways. After a brief period of time Craig Fairbaugh from The Transplants and Shane Gallagher from The Nervous Return came on-board to start up an electronic based punk rock band, competing with the other former member of Blink-182 Tom Delonge's band, the Huuuuuugely overrated (by Tom) Angels & airwaves. Plus-44's music quickly developed into a mainstream punk/pop/rock band, which was similar yet completely different to Blink-182 in many aspects. After a long time of recording this was the final result...
1.Lycanthrope - this is a pretty good album opener. It starts out heavy-ish with very distinctive Travis Barker drumming. It then goes into a chorus where it is both Mark and Carol ( i think) singing. if you read the lyrics, you can see by this very song, mark has matured so much from his Blink days. Maybe the only serious song he wrote with blink was Adams Song, but with this you can see. A good way to start off. 8.5/10
2. Baby Come On - This song is musically quite interesting, because in the beginning verse its very simple guitar with Travis's drums and Mark singing, very simple but i think its really cool. It then goes into a heavier chorus, which i think is a bit lackluster, but owell. lyrically, its very Blink like about a girl and cheesy lyrics "She’s a pretty girl she's always falling down, and I think I just fell in love with her". An Alright song, nothing outstanding, just alright. 6.5/10
3. When Your Heart Stops Beating - This song is probably the most heavy song featured on the album and also is the first single released off this album. As simple Pop/Punk songs go, this one is great. Nothing brilliant, just a neat little song which features a semi-guitar solo, something that you almost never hear anymore. The chorus in this song feature both Mark, Craig and or Shane (I forget who does backup vox) singing "ill be there when your heart stops beating, I’ll be there when your last breaths taken away". It’s nothing brilliant but makes that song a little more diverse. This song is great, I don’t know why but i really like it. 9/10
4. Little Death - This song sucks. you go from really cool music to a slow eerie intro which sounds terrible (in my opinion). The chorus makes this song get a few marks though. Its interesting, but i do not advise you listen to this song because its definitely not as good as the other on this album. 3/10 (for trying)
5. 155 - When I stated that Plus-44 were going to make electronica, this is probably the closest they'll get. It simple as anything but sounds really good with Travis's drumming and Marks voice just suits this sort of music. This is actually a lot my friends Favorite Song off the album but not mine, although it is a very good song. 8.5
6. Lillian - This song starts off with heavily distorted guitar with a delay effect which you don’t hear again in the song. it then goes into slow acoustic verse, which sounds great with Marks voice. Again it goes into another heavy chorus which makes the song realllllllllllllly good. at first I thought this was a love song, but then I read the lyrics and its one of those "that girl used me" type songs. Good music. Good lyrics. Good song 9/10
7. Cliffdiving - this song I don’t really like, the next 3 songs in the album seem to be filler songs. lyrically boring, musically boring. The chorus in this song reminds me of like a gay surfer band "it was the promise of summer...sealed it with a kiss", not the now lyrically mature mark. 6/10
8. interlude - this song i think is in here again as a filler track. its an instrumental using electronic drums, simple guitar, no obvious bassline, but if you listened to this at home while your alone your sort’ve like "wow...that was really cool" (well I thought that). Weird song to put in an album like this, Blink-182 tried it with "the fallen interlude" and IF i listen to that CD, I always skip it, its crap, but this album you kind've want to listen to it, no idea why, its just intriguing. 7/10
9. Weatherman - filler song. Marks voice is boring in this song, he's almost talking rather than singing in the verse. Slow song chorus is very light compared to the other tracks on the album and yeh, not as good as other tracks on the album either. 5/10
10. No It Isn't - This Song is Fan-***ing-tastic. It’s about the breakup of Blink-182 and how Mark has lost a friend. Just listen to the lyrics above all and you’ll appreciate how far mark as a musician and vocalist has matured. the music is great, it compliments Marks singing so well. after youve taken that all in, then come this awesome bridge. this will instantly make you tap your foot to Travis’s beat. Heavy guitars and marks angst. Its just great. lyrics like "This isn't just goodbye This is I cant stand you" and
"Curse my enemies forever
lets slit our wrists and burn down something beautiful
This desperation leaves me overjoyed
With fading lights that leads us past the lives that we destroyed"
You'll be singing in the shower. An excellent song. 10/10
11. Make you Smile - Starts out with soft piano, breaking into Mark and Carol having a sing off (sort of) they’re singing there perspectives on a situation "the last time i saw you turned away, I couldn’t see you with the sunlight shining in my eyes" simple and cool as song, breaking into a slightly heavier chorus when the drums come in, great song to listen to, definitely one of mine and my friends favorites. 9/10
12. Chapter 13 - This song is one of those, love it or hate it type songs. For me, I hate it. After 2 brilliant songs this sort've lets you down. i think its a very dull and plain song after two realllly interesting cool as songs. a disappointing way to end a good album, but i suppose for people who like this song, they wont think this is a disappointing way to end the album so thus I have to give 7.5/10
Wrapping this up, if your a Blink fan, you’ll love this cd. If your not, it may take some time to get into it but you should enjoy it after a few listens. This album Beats Angels & Airwaves anyday and if your a blink fan trying to choose between Tom and Marks band, my advice is to definitely go for Marks. Hopefully this band is not a side project before Blink get back together (maybe) because I think that this band has a lot of potential to make some great music. Album all up = 8/10
Songs worth Listening to - When your heart Stops Beating, Lillian, No it isn't, Make you Smile
P.S - What i grade my final album mark on is this:
- Who can i compare them with
in this case the only bands you can compare them are Blink-182 and Angels & Airwaves. Its not as good as Blink in their prime, but is a Shitload better than angels and airwaves.
- How Talented to musicians are?
I dont know much about Craig and Shane, But being a bass player myself, i can say that mark is a very basic bass player in which he makes up for his unique and talent as a singer. He may not be able to hit all the notes when he sings, but he sure does a hell of a good job when he's there rocking out. As for Travis Barker, he's in a different league. So unique, so creative, he farking awesome.
and last....
I think that good songs can make up for bad songs...and seeming as on this album theres more songs that i like than hate, it gets a higher review mark, not to mention No, It Isn't, thats just brilliance.
Thats for the people wondering why i gave it such a high mark after butchering some of the songs on the album. Peace
