“One more time…” Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker said to each other a few months after their first reunion in seven years. After a very successful reunion on stage, the musicians come to us with a new album, One more timeBlink-182 is the first time since 2011 with this exact trio. And it’s solid.
We wondered what the reunion on the mic between Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge would be like. In 2021, the first was diagnosed with cancer, which convinced the second to join the popular Californian pop-punk group that brought rain and shine in the 1990s and 2000s.
In an interview, Hoppus even said that chemotherapy treatments had significantly affected his vocal cords. But when you listen to “One More Time,” you don’t notice it.
What stands out when reading “One More Time” is the extent to which Tom and Mark share the microphone on all the tracks. There is no one here who wants to take more cover from their side. And above all, the voices of the two singers harmonize perfectly, as if they had never left each other.
Blink-182 is back with a new album, One More Time. With kind approval
In the heart
The album opens with “Anthem Part 3,” a nice nod to the other two Anthem songs that appeared on “Take Off Your Pants And Jacket” (2001) and “Enema of the State” (1999). During the long musical intro, Travis Barker’s drums take center stage. The musician, who also produced the album, is clearly in top form.
Dance With Me, whose music video pays homage to the Ramones, brings us back to what Blink-182 does best: catchy and inevitably youthful songs, even if the three guys are all in their fifties. When we first hear it, the “olé, olé, olé” of the chorus confuses us. But over time, we have to admit that there is a very catchy side that makes us nod our heads.
The fifth track, One More Time, is already a classic for Blink-182. Certainly one of the most touching songs they have written in their career. The musicians look back on their differences over the last few years and ask themselves why it takes a serious accident [ce qui était arrivé à Travis Barker] or illness [à Mark] so that they can find each other again after a separation. “Do I have to die to hear you say you miss me?” They sing. And it hits us right in the heart.
nostalgia
The group continues with the energetic “More Than You Know,” an uptempo track that feels right after the previous ballad. Nostalgia is also at the heart of this record, particularly on “When We Were Young and Childhood.”
There are a few short pieces towards the end of this album, which contains 17 tracks, including three interludes. But we have to admit that the three musicians were very inspired when they went into the studio. We can bet that her many fans around the world will warmly welcome this return. It just goes to show that friendship can conquer all.
*** 1⁄2 stars