The kings of pop-punk blasted back onto the scene this summer with a new look, a new voice and a new number one hit. The power trio released their new album “California” on July 1 after releasing their single “Bored to Death” in April of this year.

Leading up to this album, there was a lot of controversy. This came from the ousting of founding member, Tom DeLonge. When trying to record their seventh studio album which would soon become “California” DeLonge would not show up to the studio for various reasons.

After his departure from Blink-182, Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba filled the role. Reviews and feelings have been mixed about him taking DeLonge’s place, but Skiba took over with so much drive and energy that it makes you feel like everything is going to be ok.

In my opinion, Blink-182’s new album “California” is by far their most well written and musically talented album yet. Hoppus’s voice which was once accompanied by a very whiney slurred voice is now paired with a strong, well pronounced voice. The energy that seemed lost after Blink’s last two albums is now back.

Recently, I was lucky enough to be in the front row to see the new era of Blink-182 when they played the Excel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. on Sept. 8. The emotion and love for the songs beamed off the stage. The crowd was also getting into by screaming every word to every song, even the new ones! At one point the crowd started chanting “Skiba! Skiba! Skiba!”

When I walked away from that show I knew the future of Blink-182 was looking in the right direction. Tom DeLonge is gone and there is nothing that anyone can do to bring him back.

Instead of looking back and not liking the album because you “miss Tom” I urge you to go back once again and listen through it.

As I listen through the new album every song pops like a Blink album should. Every song has a hook that will make you go back and listen to it. The songs that really stood out to me were, She’s Out of Her Mind, Los Angeles and Cynical.

She’s Out of Her Mind embodies every pop-punk kid. With the chorus line “She got a black shirt, black skirt and Bauhaus stuck in her head.” The lyrics grab you and pull you in, they make you feel like as if this girl was standing right in front of you.

Los Angeles is by far the most venturous song on the album. It shows a booming complexity in their song writing. When the song starts Hoppus is doing the back up right before each line. The quick vocal stops in his back up are phenomenal and almost put you on edge, gives you a shot of adrenaline when it starts.

Finally, the last song that really stood out was the first song off the album, Cynical. The song starts with Hoppus singing and playing chords on his bass guitar, something that isn’t seen in very many bands. The lines in the songs seem as if they are pointing a finger at DeLong. “Is it back again? Are you back again?”

Near the end of DeLonge’s time with Blink-182 the band felt that he would just come around when he needed the money.

The other line is “What’s the point of saying sorry now. Lost my voice while fighting my way out.” After their two previous albums the friendship between DeLonge and the rest of the band started to crumble. DeLonge in an interview with the Rolling Stone told the reporter “The only time we all really communicated daily was in Blink’s first, sort of, trimester.”

However, with the past buried, the future is looking bright for Blink. The new voice and album has proven that there is still power left in the band. Even though Tom DeLonge is gone, I believe Blink-182 is good hands with Travis Barker, Mark Hoppus and Matt Skiba.