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Sometimes I feel a bit ashamed of liking certain bands or records. At least I should. Somehow there is this unspoken resentment that you just don’t listen to these bands if you want to be taken seriously music-wise. Right now I’m knee-deep into something like this… I got serious case of blink-fever. Guilty pleasure-ish.
I don’t know how, but I went 15 years back in time (15 years already? whoa!) and listen to these old marvels over and over and over again. I think that’s what the kids call ‘blast from the past’. Or maybe not. Additionally – forfeiting any remainings of residual credibility – I like their new stuff as well and am really looking forward to any new records.
So, how did this come to pass? Back when blink-182 were huge, I never really actually listened to their records. However, you just couldn’t escape their music, even if you tried. At literally every party I went, at least some of their songs were played. For me it sort of started with their last record before the hiatus and really took off with Angels and Airwaves. At the risk of being heavily ridiculed, I hereby do admit to liking Angels and Airwaves to some extent. Guilty pleasure for sure, but I just adore the cinematic feeling of their songs. So I never really lost touch to what at least Tom DeLonge was up to. And when blink announced their reunion back in 2009 I was really psyched. And then nothing happened. Nothing at all.
Blink-182 – Neighborhoods (2011)
Fast forward to this spring. Sitting on an airplane on the way to Houston, TX, I browsed the internal music database. Not much to choose from for a dedicated anti-heavy-rotation guy like me. Except blink’s 2011 record Neighborhoods. And then it happend: I listened to this one record through the flight and sort of fell in love with it. Now, I dont think it’s a masterpiece, but there is something there. It combines the cinematic feel of Angels and Airwaves with the blunt straightforwardness of old blink-182. Also, you just have to love and admire the absolutely shitty artwork. Best song: Natives. Backup Best song: Wishing Well. Also check out their latest EP Dogs Eating Dogs!
So, there it is then. Two of my many guilty pleasures revealed. Feel free to ridicule, scathe or just plain insult. Or just post examples of your own guilty pleasures in the comments. Would be more fun, wouldn’t it?
Been gone a long time
I kind of lost my way, can’t find it
And I caught a short ride
To the grave and back this season
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Tankbreaker 