- Pro
ANGELS AND AIRWAVES
Alternative / Rock
Angels and Airwaves' 2006 debut We Don't Need to Whisper signaled the beginning of a concept that not only continues, but flourishes with the release of the band's sophomore full-length, I-Empire. That's because the San Diego-based rock group, fronted by Tom DeLonge, has always considered both We Don't Need to Whisper and I-Empire two halves of its double-album concept.
While the band's debut addressed infinite possibility in the human experience, I-Empire furthers the topic, referencing the idea that the empire that one builds exists within oneself. "It's a way of looking at the world, as the world is yours," DeLonge says.
As for I-Empire's musical foundation, DeLonge notes that it's "a hybrid of everything about alternative music that I grew up listening to, like punk rock music and new wave. I am really excited for people to hear it."
The members of Angels and Airwaves created their own experience earlier this year, spending six months recording their latest release at DeLonge's studio in San Diego, with drummer Atom Willard, guitarist David Kennedy and new bassist Matt Wachter (formerly of 30 Seconds To Mars).
"Matt's a punk rock kid at heart," DeLonge says. "He grew up on the Descendents, Fugazi and Gorilla Biscuits all the bands that we grew up listening to."
Much like Angels and Airwaves' debut, I-Empire also delivers a diverse collection of songs, from expansive compositions to straight-ahead pop-oriented rockers, of which DeLonge notes, "sounds more like 'old Tom DeLonge,' but with these Angels and Airwaves choruses."
The album's first single, "Everything's Magic," immediately finds the tight-knit rhythm section of Willard and Wachter propelling the upbeat verses with an infectious drive, buttressed by open, melodic guitar riffing, and guided by DeLonge's grasping vocal delivery at the forefront. Just sit back and hold on tight, sings Tom DeLonge in the song, offering sound advice for the entire album.
An additional highlight from I-Empire is the straight-shooting "Sirens," of which DeLonge notes was loosely based around the folklore of mermaids calling ships to their destruction with their songs. "It's such a beautiful idea," he says. "So I wrote this song about a murderer, and the murderer is breaking into a house to take out a woman that he's obsessed with. But the idea was more about how the song is beautifully romantic, but it's an upbeat song. It sounds like an old Police song, which I think is the best way to describe it."
And thats just a sample of the evolution of the Angels and Airwaves sound that now continues with I-Empire. "I think it's going to catch [people] off guard as to what this band can do, as far as the diversity and how we do it," DeLonge says. "I'm just so passionate about it."
VIDEOS
AvA YouTube ChannelMaking of Everything's Magic
Everything's Magic
Location: Pitsburg, PA
Members: ack44
Death_By_Audio
perched in a chair near you!
1eleven
aye, well its obvious that you guys got a lot of
talent... one improvement that I\'d like to see as a
listener is to keep the intro\'s to the songs a bit
shorter. Awesome lyrics tho... The Adventure is one of
my favorite songs because of the meaning of the words.
Keep rockin
posted Jan 15
SpriteDelight69
You guys are the best band in the world. this band is
goin to make it even bigger than blink 182. keep doin
what ur doin and i cant wait till the next album. it
is also pretty cool to go to the same school as tom
delonge went to. Poway high.
posted Jan 12
Thichi
Hey..i heard rumors that Ava,ARE GOING TO bRAZIL...i
need to know if it\'s true..please answer me...thanks
leticia!
posted Jan 06
morganthefish
hey, you guys are amazing. seeing oyu at 89x stole
christmas was the best! Getting to meet some of you was
a dream come true. Keep inspiring me! =)
posted Jan 03
marissa the fucken ZOMBiE!
can you guys put up \"distraction\"?
posted Jan 02
2341
Add Comment here...
posted Jan 02
xtom182x
if you are reading this tom:i just have to say that you
are one of the most unbelievable people on this planet
and i am so glad i didn\'t die before i met you.
posted Jan 02