Although Blink-182 has a new addition in guitarist and vocalist Matt Skiba, their latest single, “Bored to Death,” finds them as capable as ever in crafting catchy and anthemic pop-punk. Many of Blink-182’s trademarks are present here — frenetic drumming from Travis Barker, subdued verses and sprawling choruses — and each of these combine to produce a terrific single in anticipation of their July 1 release of “California.”
“Bored to Death” finds vocalists Mark Hoppus and Matt Skiba particularly nostalgic and often weary. The pre-chorus finds Hoppus reflecting on “a long way back from 17,” and the lyrical content alternates between reflective emotion and self-deprecation throughout the track.
Overall, the lyrics range from decent to downright puzzling — the line “rescuing a tiger from a tree” comes to mind — but the band is able to make up for this loss through dynamic contrast.
The relatively quiet and introspective verses give way to the excellent chorus, which finds Hoppus and Skiba belting out the angst Blink-182 has always been known for, with cries of being “bored to death and fading fast.” Behind a cavalcade of drums and guitar, the chorus of “Bored to Death” is loud, brash and infectious. It’s the highlight of the track, and makes it an obvious choice as the both the first single of “California” and the band’s first new material of 2016.
All in all, “Bored to Death” proves an effective single. The lyrics of the track don’t always hit the mark, but Blink-182 has never been known for profound lyrical insights. Instead, they play to their strengths, and the results pay off.
“Bored to Death” rides off of the strength of its chorus, and it proves to be as powerful and catchy as anything the band has ever done. It by no means reinvents the wheel, but it knows its role and executes it well. “Bored to Death” is a well-crafted piece of pop-punk that echoes back to Blink-182’s prime, and serves well as both a single and a preview for their upcoming material.
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