Blink-182 - 'Bored to Death' REVIEW: First Song Since Tom DeLonge's Exit [LISTEN]

When Blink-182's Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker decided to continue the band without singer/guitarist Tom DeLonge, I wasn't too sure about what to expect from a band I hadn't cared about in around 16 years. Apparently, DeLonge wanted the band to move forward and mature, while the other two were content with the pop-punk/power-pop formula that has been making them money for so many years. So when Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio replaced DeLonge, it made a lot of sense. Now that the band has released "Bored to Death," the first single from their upcoming album, California, it's all coming together: Blink-182 will never change.

Before I get too into this review, or whatever you want to call this, I have to say that Blink-182 is one of the most important bands to impact my life. In middle school, I heard "Dammit" and "Josie" off of the amazing record Dude Ranch, and was hooked. Then Barker joined the band for Enema of the State, and the world fell in love. Let's be honest, Blink's music hasn't changed too much, aside from production quality, and they've churned out some solid records for years.

But that's kind of boring. What am I expecting from California, even with a lineup change and the addition of the dark-pop-rocker Skiba? Nothing, really.

If there are two bands in the world that are so similar in their descent into mainstream, it would have to be Alkaline Trio and Blink-182. Don't get me started on Green Day.

So with this new track, "Bored to Death," it's like Hoppus and Skiba have just explained both of their careers to me in one song title.

Yeah, I'll listen to the song a few more times, and I'll check out California when it premieres, but how many more times can these songwriters sing about being teenagers, longing to be young again, doing teenager things and the like? I mean, they're very old by now, making music that still sounds good, but is not saying anything.

This song makes me excited for new Angels & Airwaves, which is maybe the harshest thing I can say about music.

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Blink-182