Review: We Don't Have to Whisper
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that there's a Parental Advisory on
this CD, and we're still trying to figure out why. Lyrics are a
lot tamer than the category usually implies, although there's
one "F" word. There's some violent imagery and a general
feeling of depression and hopelessness.
Families can talk about what happens when an artist strikes out
on his or her own after being part of a well-known group. What
sorts of pressures does the artist face? What are the
advantages? Do you prefer Angels & Airwaves to
Blink-182?
Former Blink-182 member Tom DeLonge's press release tells us that he would like people to listen to WE DON'T NEED TO WHISPER in a dark room, with black light and candles. "All I ask is 50 minutes of a lowered heart rate," he's quoted as saying.But listening to WE DON'T NEED TO WHISPER in a darkened room, lowered heart rate or not, seems like the formula for one big long nap -- but missing the great bedtime story. The songs are so melodically similar that it's hard to distinguish one from another. On the other hand, some wartime death-and-destruction imagery, a gun and a death metaphor or two, and a "hell" or "bulls--t" here and there don't exactly support the "lowered heart rate" ambiance.
To summarize Angels & Airwaves' debut CD: Ten intense, badly written, monotonous songs. Whiny lead vocals. Overly synthesized instrumental tracks in a mushy mix. A handful of swear words (we're still trying to figure out why the Parental Advisory rating). The band does provide an instant or two of distraction, but for the most part, plodding songwriting plagues this project from beginning to end.
Blink 182
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