Seven years of bad luck. Seven deadly sins. Seven years of one legendary punk rock band’s inactivity.

But now, they’re back.

On September 27, 2011, Blink-182, comprised of members Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, and Travis Barker, reunited and released their new album Neighborhoods. Before the full release, two singles (“Up All Night” and “After Midnight”) were debuted. 

Compared to the band’s previous musical style, Neighborhoods has the same quality and influence on Blink’s listeners throughout the years. Despite the tumultuous breakup that occurred, the lyrics and instruments played on Neighborhoods are just as mesmerizing and as powerful as they have been since 1992.

The lyrics are what bind the listeners to the band, and they are what has escalated the band to success. On the 2003 album Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, the track “Stay Together for the Kids”, was inspired by the bitter divorce of Tom DeLonges’ parents. His voice blends the emotions of pure pain and sadness as he sings, “Their anger hurts my ears, been running strong for seven years”. This raw, passionate emotion was once again prevalent in Neighborhoods, notably on the track “Fighting the Gravity”, alluding to drummer Travis Barker’s tragic plant crash, and the death of his close friend DJ AM. There are many poignant lines of “When I’m beat and defeated, they’ll take you away, take you away from me”.

I’ve heard it said that time changes everything, and that nothing can be what it once was. However, based on the mellifluous and influential emotion shown consistently throughout Blink-182’s revered career, most recently shown on Neighborhoods, time has only allowed the band to achieve pure greatness. Blink-182 has enough talent to only move forward. Except this time, I hope it won’t take them seven years.