Review Summary: It may not be the most original work ever put on an album, but that's never been Tom DeLonge's agenda. For what he's trying to do, the record is a success.
I'm a firm believer in the idea that if a person makes an album or film with motivation and genuine inspiration, despite it not being the most orginial piece of art ever published, they should be praised. If you can get inside the artist's head and figure out what they were trying to do, especially if they accomplished that goal, that's all you need to enjoy most music.
A great example of this is Tom DeLonge. He has had one of the most interesting, inspiring, and storied careers of anyone in recent music history. He's such an interesting person in that every decision he ever made, he was 100% sure that he was making the best decision. Further, he can tell you a detailed account of his thought-process at that time, and do it eloquently (showing off his intelligence), and keep that same twinkle in his eye that he had every since he realized the msuic he was making was actaully good.
For example, a story he would tell you is how he didn't leave Blink-182 just to be a jerk. He did it because he felt the band wasn't going in the direction that was best for himself or his family. So, as he would tell you, he left the biggest band in the world at that time in favor for a huge risk that could have as easily failed as become a roaring success.
As far as most music analysts and album trackers are concerned, their debut album did neither. It debuted at 4 or 5 on the Billboard 200, had a few successful singles on the rock stations and a pretty cool tour. The same went for the follow-up. Both were given the equivalent of a "meh.." from most critics and audiences. And Tom could attest to that.
But the one thing that you can't deny about Angels & Airwaves, about all their mixed success and controversy, is one thing: his core, rabid fanbase. Sure, some were just leftovers from the Blink days that didn't dig on +44. But the fanbase was/is mostly made up of people like me, who downloaded or bought his new post-Blink music and didn't get rid of it after the first listen. The people who saw where he what he was trying to do, inspire people, and loved every minute of it.
DeLonge also loves hyping releases. He's called Blink's last album, as well as both AvA albums, the best stuff he's ever written. And he's gotten a lot of flack for it. He even admits to promoting some things a little too much. (Remember the "Jesus wrote the songs on 'We Don't Need To Whisper'" line?) But for that fanbase it's been true. The Self-Titled Blink album was the best thing Blink ever released. Some people held "Whisper" as a revelation in music, and the same people believe "I-Empire" blew "Whisper" out of the water. Now DeLonge stands with his third album with the group, sans a record label, but nonetheless with a record ready to release.
With Love, he's been making the same huge claims, but for different reason. His plans this time around are more than to just make an inspiring rock record. He doesn't want to do the same thing he did with the first two albums. He's doing something completely different. Two things, actually.
1. He's scoring a motion picture with the album that he plans to release in IMAX screens, which has been his big plan from the start with AvA
2. He's releasing it for free, and in doing so, is contributing to the changing of the music industry, with his company RLP Inc., and his website Modlife.com
The record itself isn't actually much of a revelation. It's the same, very catchy DeLonge riffs and choruses that you've heard on the other AvA records. But it's done with such an intense drive and motivation that at times you genuinely feel excited about what you're hearing, despite the fact that you've for the most part heard it all before. (See the opening song "The Flight of Apollo", which inspires an involuntary fist-pump when the vocals first kick in)
Other highlights include the first single "Hallucinations", which contains one of the better choruses DeLonge has written in a while, and "Letters to God, Pt. II." (Pt. I being on the on the only Box Car Racer album)
AvA has an uncanny ability to inspire with its music and its message. It's something about Tom's fierce dedication, love, and care for his craft and how strongly he wants to change the world with his music. The lyrics are also very inspired and inspiring, every song has a different message. That's why I'm so quick to praise their second album, I-Empire. It's so powerful and intense, the vocals and instrumentation transcend to another level - one that puts the album among some of the best in recent years. There's a reason I have it in my Top 20 of the decade, despite no one else having it on their's.
Love, like the first release, We Don't Need To Whisper, doesn't quite reach this level, but it comes darn near close. And it's still a good album because of it. Tom is still trying to help and change the world. And he's not in a bad place right now.
In the end, it's not the most original concept, and the hooks don't sound like the most life-changingly different things you've ever heard, but that's not what DeLonge and the rest of AvA set out to do. And gosh darn it, if they're not so enthusiastic about what they do and excited to get the music out to people. We owe to them to at least appreciate what they were trying to do. Plus, I liked it, and I'm looking forward to the next Blink album.
Please critique my work, I'm always looking to improve. My AIM is Stand2theStill. Thanks!
