Reactions, Predictions, and Shock
And so for the next few years, blink-182 continued with rigorous touring, continuation of the same formula, and an evergrowing fanbase. All the while, imitators popped up everywhere, taking what the group had done and treating it like badly made condensed soup. Metaphorically speaking, these new groups added just too much water to the music, virtually eliminating any credibility it had in the first place. The songs weren't fun, but were rather boring, uninspired and weak; and so the de-evolution of pop-punk as a substantial genre began as it all the while became more and more popular. And so coming into 2003, blink-182 took a good look around them, as well as at their career thus far. For once, they desired direction, depth, and something new. The result was the groups untitled album, a well of experimentation and creativity. Critics stood greatly separated this time around, as did the fans. Many simply could not seem to get their heads around how blink-182 could have matured THAT much in just 2 years. A majority of the album focused on atmospherics, introspective lyrics, and the darker topics of life and love. Even Robert Smith of The Cure made a guest appearance on one of the tracks. But with growth comes the occasional fork in the road; and let's face it, Tom and Mark were itching to go in different directions. And so in early 2005, the group announced an indefiinite hiatus at a seemingly critical point in their career; as time passed, the hiatus evolved into assurance that the band would never play together again. Side projects Angels and Airwaves and (+44) were in full swing, and no words were held between Tom and Mark.4 years later, on 2/9/09, Thomas Delonge, Mark Hoppus, and Travis Barker appeared on stage together for the first time since December of 2004. And in this appearance they announced, in so few and modest of words, that they wanted to make music together again. With this casual statement and a large cheer from the audience the band ventured offstage. New merchandising has already commenced, a reunion site is up and running, and the group has announced work on a new album. Quite sudden? I would say so. And in that swift and fairly silent return, I am not quite sure what I see. Obviously there is a great deal of excitement simply over the idea of it all. But because of the vague announcement, no one is really sure where the group might plan to go from here. Four years of side projects and independence can have a profound effect on an artist's writing, and I am quite positive this will be no exception. I want something fresh, something lively, something more exciting than their untitled album. This is the group's chance to really push themselves and make this reunion into something; I strongly believe that they have strengthened as writers, and that the classic Hoppus/Delonge temperance has the potential to create some great and interesting music. While still nothing amazing, Delonge has pushed himself on guitar in the past four years, as well as accumulating a large array of effects on his sound; Hoppus has embraced dance and techno elements very much, as well as exposed himself to the production chair for many groups; and then of course we have the ever interesting drum work by Travis Barker.
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