(+44)
“When Your Heart Stops Beating”
INTERSCOPE RECORDS
Calling all pop-punkers: (+44) has arrived to make its statement
on the musical world. If you haven’t heard, the band ““
named after the international calling code for the United Kingdom
““ is the second musical project to emerge from the blink-182
breakup. However, if you’re purchasing the album expecting to
get your blink fix, you’ll be sorely disappointed.
Instead, what you will get is a solid album that draws on a
pop-punk base while adding elements of alternative and indie. (+44)
serves up a mixture of Alkaline Trio and the Cure, with a side of,
interestingly enough, Rilo Kiley.
Although there’s a harsh, gritty feel to the choruses of
most of the songs, the verses take on an ethereal tone.
Take “Little Death,” for example. The demure tones
used in the beginning give way to a big, distortion-filled sound
before cycling back to softer sounds. At first it may sound
schizophrenic, but when a band bases its whole sound on this
concept, it works to create an album that can be listened to no
matter what the mood.
“155” utilizes electronic beats excessively, but its
style actually works to harmonize with the distorted instruments
and drum beats.
“No It Isn’t,” the track dedicated to
Hoppus’ bitter feelings against ex-bandmate Tom DeLonge,
begins as a slower acoustic ballad, but allows the rage to kick in
as drums and distortion begin about halfway through.
“When Your Heart Stops Beating” is not all rock
songs, however. It’s hard not to grin when listening to
“Make You Smile,” a heartwarming indie rock duet
between lead singer Mark Hoppus and Carol Heller, formerly of punk
bands Get the Girl and Goodbye Radar. It’s a pleasant
surprise near the end of the album and shows (+44)’s
versatility.
Hoppus utilizes his talent in creating lyrics to which anyone at
any age can relate, but after more than two decades of making music
he shows the maturity of a veteran in the business. The songs all
explore simple concepts of alienation, becoming desensitized, and
the caustic reality of love.
These aren’t your average songs penned by a disturbed
teenager ““ they’re full-fledged stories, brimming with
emotion.