The needle is pointing a certain direction this week...
Blink 182 - No Fun/All In My Head
Did you think the Blink 182 reunion was really about three friends getting back together because they missed each other? Ha! The band is not readying to release a second album in this comeback phase, but rather attaching eight new songs to the record they've already put out, so their biggest fans who've already bought the album will have to now buy it again. That is a bullshit move even one of my favorite bands pulled (I did not buy the updated version of that one, out of principle), but it goes even beyond the cynical greed of a band that was once supposedly 'punk'.
They have put out the first two songs from the new batch, and they paint the picture of a band who doesn't want to be doing any of this. The first of these songs begins by interpolating one of their own melodies, which isn't a good sign. It gets worse when you get to the end of both songs and realize they are entirely about how much they don't enjoy being in this band and being on the road. So if they hate the touring life, why are they doing it? And perhaps the better question; Why do they think complaining to us about how hard it is to be them is going to engender sympathy?
That aside, these fall under the same umbrella as the album did last year. Blink hasn't had their knack for snotty pop hooks like they once did for many, many years. These songs have no bite, no comedy, and no emotional resonance either. They sound tired, which isn't helped by the continued muppet-ification of Tom's voice. Even the good moments now don't sound at all like Blink if he doesn't have his mouth shut. The only good thing I can say about any of this is that at least it makes me think about a "Muppets Go Punk" album, and how that would bring much more of a smile to my face than what Blink has been doing.
Jerry Cantrell - Vilified
Not much has changed in the world of Jerry Cantrell. This song could get plunked down in any Alice In Chains record and feel appropriate. His guitar has the same dark tone it always has, but perhaps there's a bit more bounce in the rhythm than in the truly grunge days. It rides a groove, waiting for the moment his wail can rise up. It's a solid track, if maybe a bit unspectacular for a lead single, but what I find most interesting is the question that comes to mind; Why another solo album and not a return for Alice In Chains? The extra vocal interplay could certainly help elevate this song even more. It isn't disappointing, but it isn't quite satisfying either.
Daughtry - The Reckoning
This is another experiment in release strategy, and perhaps I'm just too old for this stuff. This song is the latest to come off the first of two EPs that will someday combine to make a new album. I don't know... EPs rarely feel satisfying, and they never do when I know it's a stopgap before more music is coming. Anyway, this song serves as another reminder that Daughtry is one of those people who perfectly illustrates why I feel stuck in the past. I love his first two albums, but little else since then. This song has the kind of chorus I expect from him, with plenty of hook and power. The issue is getting there, where the song is rather dour. I'm not sure why his music lost its sheen over time, but it has less personality, and just comes across as less likeable to me. I think this whole project might be a bit too much trying on my patience to be worth it.
No comments:
Post a Comment