Review Summary: Blink 182 in 2016.......
"Bored To Death" came out and excited me. I was so ready to hear more of this side of Blink 182. Then the album leaks. I listen. It disappoints. Every single song has the exact same problem. They repeat the chorus about 10 damn times. Repeating phrases over and over again. Then stretching out every song with na na na's and whoo's and things of that sort. What happened to this album? Why does it feel so lazy? Well They wrote all the lyrics in a few sessions. Hammering out songs daily. Probably why everything feels lazy and rushed. But is it bad? No, but it's not all that good either.
Their are good moments though, "Bored To Death" is an amazing song both lyrically and instrumentally. Some of the album even somewhat calls back to the self titled which I loved, "Home Is Such A Lonely Place" is an immensely catchy song. "Cynical" which start the album has the best moment on the album which is Matt Skiba (Tom's replacement and frontman of Alkaline Trio) belting out the line "What's the point in saying sorry know?" The melody is catchy as hell and got stuck in my head and is definitely one I come back to a lot. Disappointingly Matt Skiba never has a song where he particularly shines through singing on his own through a full song. Which I wish he had been utilized more but oh well.
Then we come to the disappointing mundane songs "No Future" the song sounds like every member of the band is struggling to do anything of worth or substance. The vocal melodies sound forced, the chorus is just bad. With Matt screaming "No Future" as Mark sings near the end. Oh and lets not forget that this is done about 10 goddamn times. Cause everyone loves when choruses are overused the point of mediocrity and laziness. "She's Out Of Her Mind" another nothing special bland pop punk song that sounds thrown together at last minute. The title track "California" is the most forgettable song on the album. I remember nothing from the song at all, it did nothing for me, and even now writing this it's a blank in my mind what it even sounds like. Rabbit Hole has the absolute worst chorus Mark has ever written. The chorus melody sounds super lazy. The verses are the only redeemable factor.
Bad joke songs, lazy song writing, Under utilization of Matt Skiba, Forced melodies of whoo's, whoa's, na na na's, repeating choruses. The album is not bad. Blink 182 has written worse, but it's disapointing in comparison to Self Titled or hell even Neighborhoods. As much as I love Blink 182 this album is just so meh.
