Angels & Airwaves: No Weak Link In First Album
When we first heard that Blink 182 members Tom, Mark, and Travis have collectively decided to take on an indefinite hiatus (read: break up) we can’t help but feel disappointed because we may be seeing the last of a great band. We all thought we’d never hear another good music from any of the three members until Tom announced his new band, Angels & Airwaves.
I didn’t think that a new band, whether it is fronted by Mark, Tom, or Travis will sound as good as they did before simply because they sound good collectively. Their individual talents complement each other that’s why they kept on producing great music. However, Angels & Airwaves proved they can prove themselves as a competent band when they released their first album We Don’t Need to Whisper.
To start this critique of the album, let me say that Tom is an amazing musician and you can expect him to do magic regardless of what band he plays in. In each track of the album, Tom’s wonderful and powerful vocals shone through. Add to that the great performance of each instruments, you have a great track in your hands.
Since I don’t really expect the record to break barriers and knock me off my feet, it was surprising to hear a great album. It’s mix of good lyrics, strong guitars and percussion, nice rifts and arrangement, you are left with incredible music.
Tom has headed a more serious path with regards to his music with Angels & Airwaves. Together with his new team, he has created a good album, something worth listening to. He has helped make very good music that speaks of relevant topics such as war, loss, hope, and space. The songs in the album are very good in their own way. Each has a life of its own. They do not disappoint.
Angels & Airwaves showcased their superb ability to play the instruments in the album. You will hear every rift, strum, and beat perfectly timed to fit the lyric and melody. In order to give due importance to their musical ability, they have made their introductions long. One track, Valkyrie Missile, had an introduction that runs 2 minutes and 40 seconds. Another track that had a quite long introduction is Distraction, with 1 minute and 9 seconds.
If you listen carefully, you will see that aside from the good lyrics, great melody and sound, you will be captivated by what the band is trying to say with their songs. The message is what clearly reverberates to the listener. The songs will haunt you. Made better by Tom’s power vocals, you will feel the emotions–raw and intense. Though we have to note that although the songs are great, the lyrics are not as remarkable as one would think. They tend to be repetitive and too plain at times. Nevertheless, the impact of the album is undeniable.
As an end note, one cannot say that Angels & Airwaves is just another wannabe band. You can say that Tom’s involvement has helped a lot in the outcome of their first attempt to enter the music scene but one must also take into consideration the individual talents of the other members. In the end, they, as a group, were able to create a noteworthy and memorable music.
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