Written by Nick Garrastegui
Author’s Note: I will only be reviewing the original track listing of “California” as the deluxe version came out almost a full year after the initial album launch.
When a band has been around for as long as Blink-182 has, you can usually mark turning points in their discography. “Enema of the State” saw them skyrocket to the legendary status they have maintained for over 20 years, “Untitled” was the most experimental album, and “Neighborhoods” was the comeback after the breakup.
No album was surrounded by as much uncertainty as California was prior to its release. After 2012’s “Dogs Eating Dogs” EP, the band was pretty much radio silent.
That was until 2015, when founding guitarist Tom DeLonge once again departed the band. Things were different this time however, as remaining members Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker opted to replace DeLonge instead of breaking up again. This led to Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio coming in with some big shoes to fill.
“California” was released on July 1st, 2016 and was touted as a “back-to-basics album by the band prior to its release. They sought out producer John Feldmann to return to their roots after multiple experimental releases.
Track one, “Cynical,” wastes no time on kicking things off. The opening lines “There’s a cynical feeling saying I should give up” echo the emotions and critiques surrounding DeLonge’s departure perfectly.
With Skiba ending the song by screaming the words “What’s the point of saying sorry now?” it’s hard to not know what the song is about.
“Bored to Death” ushered in the "California" era and was the lead single off of the album. The song was an absolutely perfect introduction to this new era of Blink-182 and is one of my favorite tracks on the record.
It especially shows off Hoppus’ talent of writing catchy bridges, containing my favorite lyrics of “So let me buy you a drink / And we’ll pretend that you think / That I’m the man of your dreams / Come to life in a dive bar.”
“She’s Out of Her Mind” is another one of my favorites on the album. The track is an absolute ear-worm with not only catchy lyrics but instrumentals as well. It even features Barker’s daughter, Alabama Barker, playing piano on the bridge.
“Los Angeles” is one of the more experimental tracks on the album. The overall tone on both lyrics and instrumentals on this track is darker. It echoes closer to an “Untitled” vibe than the rest of “California.”
“Sober” saw songwriting help from Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump. Though this drew criticism from fans believing the band shouldn’t bring in outside songwriters, the track holds up. It has become one of my favorites over my numerous listens and continues to grow on me with each listen.
This album also saw the return of the band’s infamous joke songs. “Built This Pool” is a 16 second long track with the only lyrics being “I wanna see some naked dudes / That’s why I built this pool.” Fun fact: the “Is that really it?” heard at the end was Barker’s reaction upon hearing the song for the first time while recording it.
“No Future” still remains a standout track so many years later because of its signature Travis Barker drum beat during the verse. It flows nicely into track eight, “Home is Such a Lonely Place.” The song marks the halfway point on the album and slows things down a bit. It’s melancholic yet oddly hopeful in its lyrical exploration of loss and growth.
“Kings of the Weekend” is the album’s quintessential summer song. It’s an upbeat change of pace from the preceding track and has a chorus that you can’t help but sing along to, complete with one of my favorite lines, “Thank God for punk rock bands.”
Tracks 10 and 11, “Teenage Satellites” and “Left Alone,” feel very similar musically and it’s hard to mention one without the other. While both distinct in their sounds, the tracks stand out due to their more open feel tonally. They feel less abrasive than the frenetic pop punk occupying most of the album. “Left Alone” also truly showcases Matt Skiba’s vocal ability with an absolutely soaring chorus that seems to hit you out of nowhere.
“Rabbit Hole” instantly became a favorite of mine when it was released as a single and its lyrics are still some of my favorites. The opening lines of “Dear head / Shut up? I can’t listen no more” really make you feel for the narrator’s presumed anxiety induced insomnia.
“San Diego” is probably the most pensieve song on “California,” and for good reason. This particular track is explicitly about DeLonge’s departure from the band and its title comes from the original lineup’s place of origin. The chorus’ refrain “Can’t go back to San Diego” is tinged with the sadness surrounding DeLonge’s departure.
“The Only Thing That Matters” serves as an upbeat transitional track. It’s a short, frantic love song that leads us into the title track.
“California” is an ode to the band’s home state. It’s a beautiful, tear-jerker of a song that on my first listen I expected was the album’s closer. However, we get one last joke song in “Brohemian Rhapsody” where the lyrics “There’s something about you/ That I can’t quite/ Put my finger in” close out the album.
“California” still holds up five years later. It’s the perfect summer album that you can blast in your car and sing along with, complete with some more introspective tracks too.
On a more personal note, this is the Blink-182 album with the most meaning to me. They’re my favorite band of all time and until the “California” tour, I never thought I would be able to see them live.
I was able to see two dates of the tour and meet the band at one of them. That whole summer of 2016 was made better by this album and though it’s not most people’s favorite, I will forever rank it high because of the memories it holds for me. To quote Mark Hoppus, “Blink-182 life, for life.”
“California” is available to stream wherever you listen to music. You can keep up with the band by following them on twitter @blink182 and you can buy merch here!
What are your thoughts on the record? You can let us know what you think over on twitter @lgndsoftmrw!
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