From space cases to more mature, love struck songs

   With Angels and Airwaves’ latest album “LOVE,” front man Tom Delonge has seemed to come a long way since his punk rock days in Blink-182. Just as every Blink CD in the past has progressively matured, AVA (the band’s abbreviated name) follows in Delonge’s old footprints. Released for free download on February 14, AVA’s third album “LOVE” uniquely stands out against their 2005 debut “We Don’t Need To Whisper,” and 2007’s semi-lackluster, “I-Empire.”

   Though Delonge strives to supply fans with an epic musical experience, bringing listeners to places they have never been before, his attitude for taking over the world and revolutionizing music can get old pretty fast. In past albums, Delonge has delivered an abundance of space themed songs, Sci-Fi synthesizer effects and lyrics about saving humanity. This album however does not completely abandon those themes, but instead showcases in songs such as “Shoved” that simple is sometimes better.

   In 2009, there had been much skepticism from fans and critics about this new release. Delonge is known for his overproduction and lyrical emphasis on the universe and war, exploring weird futuristic sounds that can distract listeners from the instrumental music of the band, exemplified in the song “Hallucinations.” Though Delonge sticks to his usual strange vocal style, (not fully pronouncing each word and weirdly emphasizing syllables) his voice seems to be more subtle on this album, especially on the song “Clever Love.” Surprisingly, his low range vocals are quite refreshing and mend well with the airy guitar riffs in the distant background.

   Musically, there is nothing much different or revolutionary about AVA’s sound on this record. The main downfall is that the band cannot get past their original style of writing. In fact, Delonge has a tendency to rip himself off.  The new single, “Hallucinations” is a rock anthem, similar to Blink’s 1999 hit “All The Small Things,” while borrowing a riff from a 2003 song “Asthenia.” The power house on the record, “Epic Holiday” even stunningly resembles AVA’s 2007 single, “Everything’s Magic.”

   As typical Delonge fashion, there always needs to be something epic.  The band plans to release an independent movie this year based off the “LOVE” soundtrack. The album temporarily serves a tool for fans to capture and experience the emotions portrayed in the motion picture. However, fans can get lost in these emotions during AVA’s six minute songs when two of those minutes are simply instrumentation. “Hollywood” aside, this album offers so much more than a movie soundtrack.

   With heavy resemblance to bands like U2, The Cure and Blink-182 circa 2003, this record serves as a steady enjoyable listen. With catchy as hell songs such as “Young London,” “Clever Love” and “The Moon-Atomic (…Fragments and Fictions),” Delonge still proves he has the skill for writing charming melodies. The most surprisingly element for fans is that the overall tone on the album is much more subdued. The songs themselves are pure, simple and enchanting, just like how true love is supposed to feel.

   Though Angels and Airwaves may be a lot of people’s guilty pleasure, this album could overall solidify a stronger fan base.  So this month, give “LOVE” a chance, it doesn’t cost a thing!