CD Review: Angels and Airwaves "We Don't Have To Whisper"

By now, you've heard "The Adventure" by Tom Delonge (of the now defunct Blink-182) and his new band, Angels and Airwaves -- and seen their flashy AVA logo which looks identical to that of American Airlines. But that's neither here nor there. "The Adventure" is far and away the best song on We Don't Have To Whisper the bands new tribute album to U2.

Anyone could see this transformation coming a mile away. Blink 182's self-titled last and best album left the punk sound altogether to create a subliminal rock record which even featured Robert Smith, lead singer of the Cure, on one cut.

Earlier, Delonge had formed a band named Box Car Racer which would turn out to be the forefather of this less impressive effort.

It's not that it's that bad. But the real issue is: why? Why make an album with electronic flourishes that were groundbreaking in, say, 1985. What's old is not necessarily new again -- or better for that matter. DeLonge's voice is another weakness. In years past, his whiny pitch was fine when he sang lyrics like "The state looks down on sodomy/ I never wanna act my age/what's my age again." But now he's absolutely wrecking lyrics like "And now I’ll stop the storm if it rains / I’ll light a path far from here /I’ll make your fear melt away /And the world we know disappear." Please.

This album started out with a lofty concept: recreate The Joshua Tree. But just because you copy the sound of an era doesn't necessarily make it a successful piece of music. Angels and Airwaves want to sound like they have an edge, when in fact the only band that really has him is the one people will choose to listen to over this poorly executed, over-hyped album full of vapid songs.

The Verdict *