|
 |
| |
| |
| Reviews |
> |
Albums |
> |
+44
- When Your Heart Stops Beating
(Interscope)
|
|
|
| +44 are precisely two-thirds of Blink-182 - Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus. Or, for the uninitiated, the “drummy” part and the “bass-playing, not-so-whiney vocals” part. Together with Shane Gallagher and Craig Fairbaugh (ex-Transplants) the band offer what Barker describes as a “continuation” of Blink-182. |
| |
But “continuation” doesn’t really serve the band much justice. For as many traits as the two founder members salvaged from the wreckage of their former project, they have added new subtle facets that offer real promise and interest in the form of debut album When Your Heart Stops Beating.
The album kicks off with single 'Lycanthrope', which in itself encapsulates a lot of the differences between +44 and “that band beginning with B”, which I promise not to mention one more time in this review. Hoppus seems to revel in the sole vocal limelight, finding a new range and tone in his singing, which marks a vast improvement on some of his past, rather flat efforts. The overall sound is reminiscent of latter-day Brand New, dark in tone and content whilst holding many of the tenets that pop-punk fans have grown to know and love.
Title track 'When Your Heart Stops Beating' and '155' showcase Barker’s new keyboard talents, which create a fusion between the sound you’ve come to expect from these guys and the darker, more dance-like stylings of Shiny Toy Guns and She Wants Revenge.
Despite this departure from the character of previous material, Hoppus’ ability to write a catchy hook or memorable chorus has not been undermined. 'Little Death' reaches anthemic levels and this is matched at several points on the When Your Heart Stops Beating.
My major complaint is that the overall output is not “raw” enough. In some ways it feels as if the band is holding back when it would serve them better to drive forward, making things heavier, darker and bolder in approach. A prime example comes in 'Lycanthrope' when Hoppus makes what can only be described as a cry of anguish, but it’s almost lost in the production, hidden underneath layers of instrumentation. And when he states, in 'No, It Isn't', "This is not goodbye/This is I can't stand you", it's hard to actually believe that he means what he's saying.
For so long, Blink-182 - okay that’s the last time I’ll say it - were the band that you wouldn’t admit to liking in front of anyone with a passing interest in music, but now +44 offer the perfect escape route to reveal that "dirty" little secret. By penning more thoughtful, intelligent music, these musicians will with any justice be given the credit they are well overdue. |
| |
| James Haddrill - 8/10 |
|
 |
Name:
Mat
| Date:
24/11/06 | Reply
But why are they named after the dialling code for the UK?
|
|
|
| |
| Reviews | News | Talk | Features | Archive | Myspace | Contact | Voices |
| All original content is copyright of TinyVoices.co.uk 2003 to 2007 |
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
