California .. Here we come ..

With a few weeks to let the new blink album resonate with me, I have a few thoughts. I can honestly say in the year leading up to this album release I was one of the people constantly defending Mark and Travis decision to move forward with Matt under the blink name. YouTube comments, twitter, Reddit I was on all of them. So while Im not a member of the Delonge cult I was still apprehensive about what the new blink would sound like. Since the passing of the great Jerry Finn(RIP) blink has fumbled when it comes to picking singles and what songs to promote. On neighborhoods Up all night and After Midnight were decent but songs like wishing well were looked over and probably would've performed better. On Dogs eating dogs we got boxing day and pretty little girl while when i was young and the title track DeD went without promotion that would've likely pushed blink back to their fans who had sort of given up with the unpolished under produced neighborhoods and the time between releases. That said in the lead up to California's release I was anxious to see what Blink would decide to promote as their first introduction as the new blink.

The first song we got and the single from the album was Bored to Death. This was a much better single choice than the previous albums, likely because they had a deeper song pool with better quality. Regardless Blinks new sound was welcomed by most, even some of the shunners who HATED Mark and Travis for the entire year leading up to the release had to admit, this blink is different but its not bad. Sure we had a bunch of people hate just because there was no tom and to them "this isn't blink, this is alkaline 44 or(insert some combination of bands here)", but they were absolutely the minority. Skiba's introduction to blink fans was fairly smooth, this is the one song where i would agree that he was singing like mark just to keep people from hating right away without giving them a shot. Well this was absolutely blinks best decision for a single since their reformation because the single topped the alt chart and appeased blink fans intriguing them to want more and build a buzz for the album.

Then came the day we finally got what we were waiting 6 years for, a blink album with 3 members all passionate about their band writing together in a studio bouncing ideas off each other the way an album should be written. Regardless if you like the new album you would have to admit it sounds levels above neighborhoods production wise. The songs on the album range from "this is def a blink song" to "there is no way this is a blink182 song", but in a good way. Without tom and the addition of Skiba they really needed to just let whatever was going to happen, happen. Making sure not to force any certain sound. Skiba is an amazing artist who didn't force his alkaline roots into blink while still bringing them along and remaining true to himself. He really sings his heart out and you can tell he wants to be there and cares about his art. You can really tell his impact on the lyrics as well, not that tom isn't a great song writer(he truly is) but Skiba complements mark as well. Subject matter in true blink fashion is all over the place yet sticks to what they always have. Some goofy, some love, some hate, some mad, some sad, but in a mature manner, that kind of admits "hey were 40 now".

All in all I welcome this next chapter of blink, Mark and Travis deserve to continue their lifes work if they want to, giving Matt the opportunity to really see another side of the music industry.  If Tom doesn't want to work with the band and is passionate about other things i think its great they all can agree to part ways and let the future take its course. Blink is touring all summer promoting the album and furthering the legacy that is blink 182. For everyone who decided they hated the new blink before they even heard what they sounded like your missing out.. Or more likely you were never a real blink fan anyway, you just liked 3 songs they played. Which is ok, most people are probably in that category Im just glad most people gave the guys a shot, they really put forth a valiant effort, at a time where most rock bands aren't successful after 40 they managed to further their legacy.

Can Blink continue legally without Tom, well they just did....

         When a founding member leaves a band, particularly a band with a massive fan base and catalog what happens? One would assume lawyers would be involved and a debate over what percentage of x y z said members are entitled to now and in the future. When Blink formed Viking Wizard Eyes LLC they essentially cut the label out of the picture. (even though BMG is still the parent company) If all 3 members have a controlling stake in the label we can assume they also have equal rights on band decisions. But how does this specific situation work, is there a majority rules clause, does said clause only apply to smaller issues and not massive decisions like bringing in a new member? Assuming Tom is still a stake holder in VWE he likely had a say at the very least legally in his replacement. Bringing in Matt from a public stand point was basically a no brainer since there are very very few people who are on the level needed to step in. Not that we needed the talent of a  Mozart or a Bob Dylan, but this decision was under a microscope to say the least. Blink fans cant agree on anything except that they disagree.

         Matt is definitely on the level and while losing our punk poet stinks, you wouldn't find a better replacement. Perhaps Tom did agree to bring in Matt for this album and tour with the intention of coming back in a few years for another cycle. This seems so far fetched because the alternative is more common with lawyers and a drawn out legal battle, tom seeking a massive payout or trying to retain rights to everything blink essentially stopping Mark and Trav from going forth with a new member. So the fact that we already have an album and a tour from this band with absolutely no public information on whats happening internally is amazing. My thoughts are Tom still has his hands in jar and rightfully so hes a co-founder and entitled to his lifes work. But then how does that work, he obviously keeps all of his royalties from previous albums etc. Does he get paid the same 33.3% he would of before hand on the new album? How about the tour? Would he get his 1/3 and Matt Mark and Trav split the remaining 66.6% meaning Tom actually would make 11.1% more than the rest of the band? In my head I think this has to be wrong, but I really cannot figure any other way unless Tom just layed down. No legal battle could mean few things, maybe Tom didnt want to go the lawyer route because he knew it would make an already ugly situation even more hideous. Still the money situation makes it funky there is no way he wouldn't fight for that if they were trying to take it. Could Mark and Trav just decided hey man you'll keep everything you have already and gain future percentages, just to make it painless?  I mean they are all insanely wealthy, in the $60-$70 mill range, this is plausible, but still weird to think about. Tom sitting on twitter and chasing spaceships while the new album goes #1 for only the second time in the bands history.  The other possibility is whatever Tom or his manager said about quitting or not performing with blink indefinitely in those emails ruined his legal case, putting him in a position where he knew it was an up hill battle. In this case I'm sure he still keeps a big portion of blinks merch, back catalog, tour etc... but maybe just not as much.

         In any case Tom could of made this blink album impossible to make atleast for a couple years by simply tying it up in court. Even if he knew he was going to lose because of his decisions he has enough money to make a hellishly long judicial matter. I'm certainly glad he didnt do this, this new album rocks, Skiba isn't just a place holder hes made his mark. (no pun intended)