(+44) - When Your Heart Stops Beating

A few years ago, it would have been impossible to imagine the members of Blink 182 occupied with anything that didn't involve poop jokes and pixilated private parts. Now Tom DeLonge is channeling early U2 with Angels and Airwaves while former bandmates Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker have reunited as +44, another numerical band named after the international calling code for the United Kingdom. The twitchy punk rhythms, adolescent accented vocals, and blockbuster choruses of their former outfit remain, as does producer Jerry Finn, but songs like "Baby Come On" and the spooky "Little Death" show the musicians finally delivering the substance that was promised on Blink 182's self-titled 2003 release. "A little death makes life more meaningful," Hoppus sings on that latter. --Aidin Vaziri Amazon.com

Punk Perfect

This album is a clear indication that the song writing talents in Blink 182 belonged to Mark Hoppus. Free of De Longe's whiny vocals +44 blast out fast, catchy pop punk classics at full speed. It took 3 listens to fall in love with this album, and it easily outclasses the offerings by Angels and Airwaves. A genre classic. August 5, 2008

Blink hit puberty

I am not a huge Blink fan, however I do like this CD alot. It sounds like a grown up version of Blink. As the title suggests, the lyrical content deals much with love and heartache. In addition to more mature lyrics, the music shows that they have progressed very much, they experiment more with their sound than they have in the past, which is great.

I look forward to their followup CD. June 9, 2008

on the same level as Blink182's Enema of the State

I got this CD because I'm a fan of Travis Barker's drumming. When Your Heart Stops Beating has the same vibe as Blink's Enema, but I think it's a little better. I like the +44 songs better than Blink's. This album is packed with powerful punk pop, and is an easy listen all the way through for me. I wish Carol Heller stayed on as their full time singer I'd like to hear that combination. Or at least if she was half-time singer that would be a cool mix. If you like Blink182, Green Day, or other "pop punk" this is a great CD to check out. Standout tracks include Lycanthrope, Baby Come On, When Your Heart Stops Beating, Make You Smile.

April 9, 2008

Fate Fell Short This Time

So here it is, the latest works of Travis Barker, Mark Hoppus, Shane and Craig. Much like many of listeners out there, I was hoping for more blink 182 which may have been the wrong approach, but ultimately I expected something new. What started off as an electronica band with a female voice [Carol Heather from Get the Girl], turned into a pop punk/rock band with synthesizers. Not nearly as epic as Angels and Airwaves tries to be this album takes a little more closer approach and at times creates an emotional effect.

Lycanthrope is the first track, and we don't hear alot here, just about how much last year sucked - and a bunch of filler lyrics [Hoppus references "teeth of a crocodile, in the mouth of the gun"] which come off a bit cheesy. Overall, the hook is fairly well done and this is one that will definitely be stuck in your head.

Next is Baby Comon' which is debatably the best song on the album. It's blink eske lyrically and overall sounds great - I would recommend the acoustic version since it has better flow than the rock version which transitions somewhat poorly from a quiet baseline to heavy percussion and loud vocals.

"When Your Heart Stops Beating" breathes life into the album by supplying a catchy beat and some angry lyrics as it tries to come off sentimental. This song feels like an anthem to those who lost their way when blink broke up. This song gets the blood pumping and unfortunately the mood is almost destroyed with the slow pace of "Little Death".

A little synthetic baseline leads you into "Little Death", which is reminiscent of a spacey track with dark undertones. This song feels unfinished as it picks up and continues into repetition making you feel like something could have been done with this song. Hoppus tries to be universal with this song but the lyrics are almost to vague and a lot of the meaning is lost.

This trend continues with "155" titled after the BPM. This song has more pick up then "Little Death" but you ultimately be confused by the lyrics once again. Is he talking about death again? A dip in the pool? A bitter view of love? You will never really know, since speaking in generalities is a common theme in this song.

"Lillian" finally makes sense, with an interesting intro, this song is actually about something comprehensible. Hoppus stays on track and really puts together a worthwhile finished song, and you can tell his heart is in it - unlike "Lycanthrope", "Little Death" and "155".

"Cliff Diving" is what you would expect to hear on this album: a poppy, riff ripping song with an impressive beat. This song will get you moving again after the last couple stagnant songs but it won't hold you up for long. Really brings out the careless feeling of summer as a youth, and hopes for second chances. Also stirs thoughts of the anxious feeling of meeting someone new, very blink-esce as well.

A very rhythmic "Interlude" is next on the track list, and is a great instrumental. I can't help but think that this could've had lyrics put to it.

The darkest song on the CD, Weatherman, is just down right depressing. However, you can't help but admire how different and dark it is. This song is the one Hoppus was trying to get at but could only scratch the surface with "Little Death" and "155". It seems like he focused himself and really identified a dark moment in his life. Very emotional, very cool, and the constant beat all combine to make a good song.

Right after Weatherman, you are in that cynical state of mind and to appease your mood "No It Isn't" is up next. This tune is about the break up of Blink and Hoppus puts to words what he had to hold inside when everything fell to pieces. If you asked me, I would have said the original demo sounded better with Carol's voice being much more apparent, however this version is great in its own way as well. The lyrics are perfect, no questions here, and he does an excellent job of expressing himself. The piano leads you into what seems to be a dark melody and then guitar comes crashing in like everything came crashing down and Hoppus doesn't leave you hanging, he hits hard and makes it hurt.

Then it's back to sentimentals with "Make You Smile", many claim this is the album's standout, I would disagree. It's a great song and it's different but you won't listen to it as much as "Baby Comon" or "Cliff Diving". Carol and Hoppus create a very surreal and romantic vibe but after you listen to it about 10 times, you will most likely think nothing of it. This song seems to elude to what +44 could have been or what it was like in the early stages of recording.

The last track is Chapter 13, which essentially is a song for the broken hearted about the final stage of romance on the brink of revenge. This song feels more like "baby comon" and "cliff diving" caliber and the catchy guitar will keep you coming back. A great way to end the album.

Overall +44 holds more promise in my mind then Angels and Airwaves or most bands out there, however this CD was a bit of a disappointment. It felt like the change from Carol Heather's exit left the band lost in terms of what to do with itself and had to step away from the planned electronica and be forcefully pushed into a rock/pop punk scene. Some song struggle while some are good, but nothing life changing here. I think people needed this CD for a bit of blink closure and got that, but if you were not into blink then there is little reason for you to buy this CD, listen through it at least once but if it doesn't grab your attention the second time through don't bother. Hoppus's attempt to be emotional was over done leaving this album with extremely vague lyrics and some that just don't make sense combined with just so-so musical performance, makes just an average album. Despite their flaws, +44 holds a lot of promise and I can't wait to see what they come up with next!
February 26, 2008

Left us wanting more

I bought +44's first album right away, and wasn't going to get Angels and Airwave's. When Blink-182 was together I wondered what would Mark do if he had the lead vocals all to himself. I thought he'd do a lot better than this first try. Don't get me wrong it's ok, but it's nothing special. I know they were selling this album as the "night sound" but there greatest fault is sounding bored and tired. Where's all the energy? Where are the solid, interesting lyrics? Know I realize Mark needed Tom to add some edginess and energy, and Tom needed Mark to break up his repetitiveness and bring a solid foundation in to balance off Tom's vocal limitations. Please guys give us something more next time. December 2, 2007

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