Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 05/21/2002
If anyone ever got the feeling that, in spite of its success,
blink-182 has strayed much farther from its roots than the band ever expected possible (and possibly ever wanted), one listen to the eponymous disc from the side project of members
Travis Barker and
Thomas DeLonge would provide even more evidence.
Boxcar Racer removes the tongue-in-butt-cheek juvenility of the multi-platinum
pop stars, and what remains could fit in perfectly alongside any of the
emo output on indie labels such as
Jade Tree. While
blink-182 is known for providing poppy
punk, this is as different as
Bad Religion is to the band, just in the opposite direction, but the main divergence is lyrics that are retrospective and thoughtful -- witness
"Watch the World," which could fit on a
Dashboard Confessional record, with a libretto that boarders on poetry. This is a far cry from the party-boy ethos
DeLonge is best known for, and he wears the emotional depth well, with songs that are just as hooky as from his bread-winning main squeeze.
~Brian O'Neill, All Music Guide
;)
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