After Blink 182 released 'Take off your pants and Jacket' in 2001 Tom from Blink started writing some darker music along with Travis. The music was stuff Tom knew wouldn't work as Blink 182 so he wrote this album with Travis and recorded it originaly not planned to be released but when Tom had a change of heart he asked Anthony and David from the punk band 'Over My Dead Body' to join Boxcar on the road as touring players and so Box Car Racer was born. Tom wrote everything except for drums on this album. All the guitars, bass and vocals. It's essentially Blink 182 with a much more serious side and this has been critcally acclaimed. To the album.
I Feel So - This was the first single release from this album and I when I first saw the video I wasn't aware of BCR so it confused the sh
it out of me. The song opens with a piano intro before going into distorded guitars. You can tell of the lyrical advancement from Blink 182 and this song works well. Great way to open the album.
All Systems Go - Almost has a feel a bit like I Feel So to it in the song structure and sound sense but it's a good thing. It's a good song and of course the lyrics on this album are Toms very best of his career and this song is pretty well written. Has a good chorus to it aswell.
Watch The World - Now the album gets really different to Blink. Travis's drumming is top rate on this song as it always is. The verses are great and the chorus is fantastic. It's a melodic song and a welcome break from the first two songs.
Tiny Voices - The verse is my favourite part of this song. It's basic guitar wise (Though Tom has never been a Hendrix) it's the vocals which make the verses great along with Travis's drumming. The chorus litterally explodes and makes for a great chorus. The only downside is the middle bridge where it features the band talking. Doesn't work with the song. Otherwise fantastic song.
Cat Like Thief - This song is very reminiscent of All Of This off Blinks latest album though this came first. It's driven by Travis's drumming, main guitar is aucostic and it has a guest vocalist who sings during the verses with Tom singing the chorus. It's Tim Armstrong from Rancid the guest vocalist. It's definately an intresting song. It takes a while to get used to but turns out as a pretty good song.
And I - Travis opens the song with an awesome drum beat and the first guitar kicks in soon after. 27 seconds in and bang everything kicks in. This is a great song. Tom has great lyrics and the vocals are awesome and with Travis's drumming this becomes one of the albums most memorable.
Letters To God - 75% of this song is Tom with his guitar singing until the end when everything EXPLODES. This song is incredible. The lyrics are at the albums best, Toms voice is great and it's a beautiful song. It's about entry to heaven. When the distorded guitars and drums kick in at the end it leaves you breathless and it shows that this song is everything a great song should be.
My First Punk Song - Here's a minute and four seconds of pure fun. It's a bloody fast song and it's great. It's a real punk song but a joke at the same time. Quite an aburbt change from Letters To God.
Sorrow - It's a slow starting song and a more laid back song. It's pretty well written lyrically and it will probably at one point become your favourite song on the album for a while. The chorus is pretty good aswell as it really kicks in.
There Is - This is the albums second single and it's best song. If you've ever been in love you will understand this song. It's really one the best love songs ever written. The lyrics make this song stand out and Tom sings it perfectely. It shows great musicianship doesn't always make the song. It's the perfect song, with the great verses and a great chorus. Probably one of the best songs ever written by Tom.
The End With You - Of the harder edged songs on the album this is the best. It's fast paced and very well written. The lyrics are great and it flows well from There Is. The song packs two very impressive verses and a fantastic chorus. It pulls off as one of the strongest on the album.
Elevator - This song follows the formula of alot of other songs on this album. Open with drums bring in guitars then verse. It features Mark so sounds like a slow Blink song a bit. It's probably my least favourite song on the album however it's not bad at all.
Instrumental - A nice way to finish this side project. It's a good instrumental and Travis does some good drumming. Really ends the record well.
So overall this is a huge leap from Blink in terms of the maturity of the band after TOYPAJ. Tom writes some bloody good songs on this album and any Blink fan should definately give it a listen. There's no bad songs on this album and quite a few exceptional ones. Anyone who hates Blink might find some respect for Tom by listning to this album. The musicianship isn't much improvement over Blink 182 but Travis really does some exceptional drumming on this album. Check it out.
Rating: 4/5 :thumb:
Favourite Songs:
Letters to God
There Is
The End With You
