Aimless Again Vs. Blink-182

posted in: Features • Rock

Anyone who is currently in their twentiess has, at least at one point in time, listened to Blink-182. The band’s combination of pop hooks, punk aesthetic, and general goofy humor endeared them to countless teenagers worldwide at the turn of the last decade. Whether you want to admit it or not, they were a big deal. And considering the amount of buzz their reunion tour and upcoming comeback album have generated, they still are. So with that in mind, our latest edition of Vs. brings you Aimless Again, a talented young group of musicians bringing their own take on pop punk to a new generation of kids.

Hailing from Long Island, Aimless Again use the same fusion of punk aggression and pop sensibility that helped Blink-182 achieve so much success. Their song “Flabbergast” is a perfect example of this balance. This song has all the elements of a great Blink song: punchy bass lines, fast and aggressive drumming, crunchy lead guitar lines and catchy vocals. They use the classic alternative rock dynamic of ‘soft, loud, soft’ to great effect here. Thunderous and energetic to start, the noise gets turned down for the verses to let the vocals take the spotlight. But once the chorus kicks in, the amps get turned to eleven and the drums pound away faster than ever.

“Pulse!” is another track that shows some Blink-182 similarities. Blink have been known for their use of two vocalists, sometimes with both singing on the same song. “Pulse!” uses the same technique, with both singers trading off lines during the verse and chorus. They also use this technique on the chorus of “S.M.F.” Although this track is a slower affair than their other songs, it still brings the energy to the table with aggressive guitar playing and emotive singing.

You may notice from the pictures above that Aimless Again have four members whereas Blink only have three. Utilizing two guitar players instead of just one, Aimless Again create a wall of distorted guitars that still seem to fit together perfectly. On “Flabbergast,” the rhythm guitar provides chords and palm muted playing to keep driving forward with the drums, while the lead guitar plays a catchy, hummable melody. When played together the effect is seamless, almost sounding like one instrument instead of two. And unlike Blink-182’s high production values on their recordings, Aimless Again stay more true to their punk roots. Using relatively lo-fi production, the overall sound of their recordings is very reminiscent of the skater punk sound of the early to mid ’90s. Punk music as a whole has always been rooted in its underground beginnings, and although some people think punk is dead, Aimless Again are proving that it is still alive and well.

Aimless Again’s debut album, Bill!, is available here.

Know an OurStage artist that can give a mainstream one a run for their money? Let us know in the comments!