I-Empire

Last updated
I-Empire
Angels & Airwaves - I-Empire cover.jpg
Studio album by
Angels & Airwaves
ReleasedNovember 1, 2007 (2007-11-01)
RecordedJanuary – September 2007
StudioJupiter Sound
Genre
Length52:54
Label
Producer Tom DeLonge
Angels & Airwaves chronology
We Don't Need to Whisper
(2006)		I-Empire
(2007)		 Love
(2010)
Singles from I-Empire
  1. "Everything's Magic"
    Released: September 18, 2007
  2. "Secret Crowds"
    Released: February 5, 2008
  3. "Breathe"
    Released: June 20, 2008

I-Empire is the second studio album by alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves. It was officially released worldwide on November 1, 2007 from the Angels & Airwaves website, where it was available for download. It was then released on CD on November 5 in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and on November 6 in the United States and Canada. It is their first album to feature Matt Wachter on bass.

Contents

Production

Angels & Airwaves started work on I-Empire in the beginning of 2007. It was the first album ever recorded at Jupiter Sound (Macbeth's studio).

On May 20, 2007, in an interview with Alternative Radio, the band said that the album was 60-70% complete and that the record would be out in October or November 2007. DeLonge also stated that the album would continue the element of the first album, but "times ten" and that in a story, I-Empire would follow We Don't Need to Whisper; We Don't Need to Whisper being a "re-birth" of life, and I-Empire being an album about what you do after the rebirth. It has a slightly more mellow, ambient tone with lyrics focusing more on relationships and less about war and conflict.

On May 30, 2007, DeLonge stated in an interview with Kerrang! that the new album would be named I-Empire and "this is as exciting as rock 'n' roll gets!"

On July 29, 2007, as a part of the 'Everybody Hurts' tour, Angels & Airwaves played the studio versions of four new songs from I-Empire to their fans. The songs played were "Secret Crowds", "Sirens", "Lifeline", and "Everything's Magic", along with live acoustic performances of "Everything's Magic", "The Gift", "Good Day", "Do It for Me Now", and "The Adventure". These songs were all recorded and leaked onto the internet, giving fans their first glimpse of I-Empire, along with the acoustic set.

Release and promotion

Original release

On September 10, 2007, the group revealed the album's artwork. [1] "Everything's Magic" was made available for streaming via the group's Myspace account on August 29, 2007, [2] and was released to radio on September 18. [3] A music video was released for "Everything's Magic" on September 20. [4] The album was delayed multiple times before its official release. DeLonge originally stated that I-Empire would be released on October 16. The release date was later pushed back to October 23. The following day, I-Empire was fully leaked onto the internet, a week before its worldwide release. That same day DeLonge posted his response to the leak on the Angels & Airwaves MySpace. [5] The album was eventually released on November 6 through Geffen and Suretone Records. [1] On November 16, DeLonge announced on Modlife that the band were making a short film for the song "Breathe". The short film for the song was made shortly after, and was later released exclusively to premium Modlife members.

From late January to mid-March 2008, the band embarked on their headlining North American tour, playing sold-out theaters with Meg and Dia, Ace Enders and The Color Fred. "Secret Crowds" was chosen as the second single from I-Empire, although "Call to Arms" was also considered, after receiving lots of positive feedback and decent digital sales. The song impacted radio on February 5. [6] On February 25, "Secret Crowds" aired on MTV2, being the band's second single from the album to hit commercial heights with a music video. It has since gone onto Kerrang! TV and Scuzz in the UK. "Breathe" is the third single taken from the album, and the video was released on June 20, 2008.

Vinyl release

In January 2016, DeLonge's media company, To the Stars, announced the release of a 180 gram clear first pressing of I-Empire, available only to paid members of the company's website. The vinyl edition features bonus acoustic tracks, "The Adventure" and "Good Day". The record was produced on vinyl by SRC Vinyl and Stan Ricker Mastering. In early February 2016, SRC Vinyl announced a 180 gram gold-colored second pressing of the record, available exclusively on the SRC Vinyl website to the public.

On January 11, 2017, DeLonge and To the Stars announced via social media and the To the Stars official website that the entire Angels & Airwaves discography, including a re-pressing of I-Empire, would be released in a new vinyl collection collectively called Angels & Airwaves 2017 Hope vinyl collection. [7] The website also made all of the band's albums and EPs available individually. The collection was released exclusively through the To the Stars website and became available for pre-order on January 11, 2017 before being released on February 15, 2017. The re-pressing of I-Empire as well as the other albums in the collection are 180 gram transparent LPs each with their own individual o-card slipcase that feature a double-sided die cut "AVA" logo. [7]

Reception

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 54/100 [8]
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk.net 44% [9]
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Alternative Press Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Billboard Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]
IGN 77% [13]
Kerrang! Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg
NME 3/10 [14]
PopMatters 7.5/10 [15]
Punknews.orgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [16]
UnRatedStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [17]

I-Empire garnered generally mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average of 54, based on 13 reviews. [8]

Evan Sawdey from PopMatters said that despite the lyricism of the tracks feeling generic, he praised DeLonge for creating "grandiose pop-rock with a healthy dash of New Wave" that's far away from the aesthetics of his project's debut effort. He concluded that, "Where Whisper came off like an ego-driven side project, I-Empire paints the Angels as a fully-fledged band. Give them time: you may even forget that this was the guy who wrote "All the Small Things" to begin with." [15] Aubin Paul of Punknews.org praised the scaling back of length throughout the track listing that allowed for immediacy in its hooks and melodies, saying that it makes for "a better album, and Angels & Airwaves [is] a better band." [16] AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine called it "an easier record to like than We Don't Need to Whisper," commending DeLonge for giving his tracks more catchy hooks and immediate attention to the listeners but felt he was in a musical growing phase when crafting more mature content, concluding that "it marks a very small, very tentative progression toward [DeLonge] realizing that he can expand his sonic and emotional horizons without abandoning the pop songcraft that remains his greatest strength." [10] Scott Evil of NME said of the album as a whole: "Angels & Airwaves labour under the illusion that ‘mature’ equals ‘worthwhile’; and that means long, directionless songs swathed in echo pedals and factory-set keyboards." [14]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 9 on the US Billboard 200 chart, with just over 66,000 copies sold in its first week. [18]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Tom DeLonge; all music is composed by Angels & Airwaves

No.TitleLength
1."Call to Arms"5:05
2."Everything's Magic"3:51
3."Breathe"5:34
4."Love Like Rockets"4:50
5."Sirens"4:19
6."Secret Crowds"5:03
7."Star of Bethlehem"2:08
8."True Love"6:08
9."Lifeline"4:16
10."Jumping Rooftops"0:45
11."Rite of Spring"4:22
12."Heaven"6:39
Total length:52:54
UK and Japanese bonus track
No.TitleLength
13."It Hurts" (live from Del Mar)4:20
Indie bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."It Hurts" (live from Del Mar)4:20
14."The Adventure" (live from Del Mar)5:18
iTunes bonus track
No.TitleLength
13."The Gift" (acoustic)3:48
Target and vinyl bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."The Adventure" (acoustic)3:18
14."Good Day" (acoustic)2:46
Best Buy bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."Everything's Magic" (acoustic)3:04
14."Do It for Me Now" (acoustic)3:46

Personnel

Adapted credits from the liner notes of I-Empire. [19]

Charts

Album

Chart (2007)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [20] 31
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [21] 11
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [22] 77
Irish Albums (IRMA) [23] 70
UK Albums (OCC) [24] 29
US Billboard 200 [25] 9

Singles

YearTitleChartPosition
2007"Everything's Magic"US Billboard Hot 100 104
US Modern Rock Tracks 11
US Pop 100 92
UK Singles Chart 107

Release history

CountryRelease date
VariousNovember 1, 2007
South KoreaNovember 5, 2007
United Kingdom
CanadaNovember 6, 2007
United States

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom DeLonge</span> American rock musician (born 1975)

Thomas Matthew DeLonge is an American musician best known as the co-founder, co-lead vocalist, and guitarist of the rock band Blink-182. He is also the lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock band Angels & Airwaves, which he formed in 2005 after his first departure from Blink-182. DeLonge is noted for his distinctive nasal singing voice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atom Willard</span> American drummer (born 1973)

Adam David "Atom" Willard is an American drummer who has been a member of several notable musical acts. His career began in 1990 when he joined Rocket from the Crypt, with whom he remained until 2000. Subsequently, he joined the Special Goodness, the Offspring, and in 2005 became a founding member of Angels & Airwaves. In 2007 Willard departed from the Offspring to focus on his work with Angels & Airwaves, and in April 2009 he also joined Social Distortion, but left the following March. In June 2011, he joined the band Danko Jones and in October 2011 amicably left Angels & Airwaves. From 2013 to 2020, he was the drummer for Against Me! until their indefinite hiatus. Currently he is playing in the bands Plosivs, Lektron, and Alkaline Trio.

<i>We Dont Need to Whisper</i> Studio album by Angels & Airwaves

We Don't Need to Whisper is the debut studio album by the American rock band Angels & Airwaves. Recorded at Neverpants Ranch in San Diego, California, and produced by guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge, the album was released on May 23, 2006, through Geffen Records. In February 2005, DeLonge, who wanted to spend more time with his family, quit Blink-182 after months of heated exchanges and increasing tension within the trio and spent three weeks in isolation, contemplating his life, career, and future in music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Adventure</span> 2006 single by Angels & Airwaves

"The Adventure" is a song recorded by American rock band Angels & Airwaves. It was released on May 18, 2006, through Geffen Records, as the lead single from their debut studio album, We Don't Need to Whisper (2006). The song received increased attention when it aired on a Smallville trailer. After the season finale of Smallville aired, "The Adventure" climbed to #30 on Amazon. The track was also played in the crowd warm-up session before Barack Obama's presidential election rallies in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Wachter</span> American musician (born 1976)

Matthew Walter "Matt" Wachter is an American musician best known for playing bass in the alternative rock bands Thirty Seconds to Mars and Angels & Airwaves.

"The War" is a song by the American rock band Angels & Airwaves. It was the fourth single from their debut studio album, We Don't Need to Whisper (2006), released on Geffen Records. The song impacted radio on October 10, 2006. It peaked at number nineteen on Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart in 2007. Tom DeLonge has described this song as anti-war, with specific references to the Invasion of Normandy in World War II. "The War" was the last song the band would play, during their We Don't Need to Whisper concerts, with Tom making a speech during the bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angels & Airwaves</span> American rock band

Angels & Airwaves is an American rock band, comprising lead vocalist/guitarist Tom DeLonge, guitarist David Kennedy, drummer Ilan Rubin, and bassist Matt Rubano.

<i>Start the Machine</i> (film) 2008 American film

Start the Machine is a documentary that focuses on the break-up of Blink-182, the genesis of Angels & Airwaves, and the making of their debut album We Don't Need to Whisper. It was released on DVD on June 17, 2008. The film is named after the closing track on We Don't Need to Whisper.

This is the discography of the alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves.

Modlife was a company owned by musician Tom DeLonge that used a customizable software platform to monetize the numerous aspects of a creative artist's work. Founded in 2007, Modlife created new revenue streams for content creators by rewarding fans with special products and experiences, including a high level of interactivity between artists and fans. In June 2014, the company was based in San Diego, California, United States.

<i>Love</i> (Angels & Airwaves album) 2010 studio album by Angels & Airwaves

Love is the third studio album by the alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves. It was released on February 12, 2010, on Fuel TV, and on February 14 on Modlife. The album was released free of charge due to "corporate underwriting". A "special edition" hard copy version of the album was scheduled for release on March 22, 2011, along with a second disc containing new music from the band. This was announced at a Q & A for the movie, which stated that it would be delayed to fall 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Box Car Racer</span> American punk band

Box Car Racer was an American punk band formed in San Diego, California, in 2001. The group consisted of guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge and drummer Travis Barker, both of Blink-182 alongside guitarist David Kennedy of Hazen Street. Anthony Celestino later joined the band as a bassist. DeLonge created the project to pursue darker ideas he felt unsuited to his work with Blink-182.

<i>Dogs Eating Dogs</i> 2012 EP by Blink-182

Dogs Eating Dogs is an EP by American rock band Blink-182, released on December 18, 2012 independently. Self-produced by the group and Chris Holmes, it was the sole recording that the band self-released after their departure from Interscope/DGC in October 2012, as well as their last studio recording with Tom DeLonge until 2022.

<i>The Dream Walker</i> 2014 studio album by Angels & Airwaves

The Dream Walker is the fifth studio album by alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves, released on December 9, 2014, through To the Stars. The album marks major changes in the band's lineup and production, as it is their first album to feature drummer Ilan Rubin, the first since We Don't Need to Whisper to not feature bassist Matt Wachter and the only album not to feature guitarist David Kennedy. It is also their first without longtime producer, Jeff “Critter” Newell, who died in 2012. It is instead co-produced by DeLonge and Aaron Rubin.

<i>To the Stars... Demos, Odds and Ends</i> 2015 studio album by Tom DeLonge

To the Stars... Demos, Odds and Ends is the debut studio album by Tom DeLonge. It was released on April 21, 2015 through DeLonge's multimedia company also titled To the Stars. The album To the Stars is said to contain tracks from DeLonge's "personal stash", which include songs originally intended to be recorded with Blink-182, as well as tracks originally meant for Angels & Airwaves. The eight-song album was released on vinyl, CD and digital formats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everything's Magic</span> 2007 single by Angels & Airwaves

"Everything's Magic" is a song by the American rock band Angels & Airwaves. It was the lead single from their second studio album, I-Empire (2007), released on Geffen Records. The song impacted radio on September 18, 2007. It peaked at number eleven on Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart in 2007, making it their second-biggest hit.

<i>Chasing Shadows</i> (EP) 2016 EP by Angels & Airwaves

Chasing Shadows is the third EP by American alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves, released on April 8, 2016, through To the Stars. Similar to the ...Of Nightmares EP, Chasing Shadows is a companion piece to the first book in the Sekret Machines series, co-written by Tom DeLonge and A. J. Hartley. Along with the EP is a planned documentary series. It was the second EP released by the band following DeLonge's exit from Blink-182, whom he returned to in late 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rebel Girl (Angels & Airwaves song)</span> 2019 single by Angels & Airwaves

"Rebel Girl" is a song by the American rock band, Angels & Airwaves. The song was released on April 30, 2019, as the first single for their album, Lifeforms, and is their first music release through Rise Records. The song was written by Tom DeLonge, Ilan Rubin, and Aaron Rubin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiss & Tell (Angels & Airwaves song)</span> 2019 promotional single by Angels & Airwaves

"Kiss & Tell" is a song by the American rock band, Angels & Airwaves. The song was released on August 29, 2019, as a promotional single for the band's 2019 North American Tour, and appears as the final track on their sixth album, Lifeforms. The song was written by DeLonge, Ilan Rubin, and Aaron Rubin.

<i>Lifeforms</i> (Angels & Airwaves album) 2021 studio album by Angels & Airwaves

Lifeforms is the sixth studio album by American alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves. The album was released on September 24, 2021, and marks the longest gap between albums for the band following 2014's The Dream Walker. It is the band's first album with bassist Matt Rubano, who replaced Matt Wachter in 2019, and the first with guitarist David Kennedy since 2011's Love: Part Two.

References

  1. 1 2 "Angels & Airwaves reveal album art". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. September 10, 2007. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Angles & Airwaves post new single". Alternative Press. August 29, 2007. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  3. ↑ "AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly". AllAccess. September 11, 2007. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Angels And Airwaves post "Everything's Magic" video". Alternative Press. September 20, 2007. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Angels and Airwaves - Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". Myspace. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly". AllAccess. January 29, 2008. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  7. 1 2 "To the Stars Inc". Archived from the original on 2017-01-18. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  8. 1 2 "I-Empire by Angels and Airwaves". Metacritic . Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  9. ↑ "chorus.fm". chorus.fm. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  10. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "I-Empire - Angels and Airwaves". AllMusic . Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Alternative Press review". Alternative Press . Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  12. ↑ "Billboard review". Billboard . Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  13. ↑ "IGN Music review". Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  14. 1 2 Evil, Scott (November 9, 2007). "Angels & Airwaves". NME . Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  15. 1 2 Sawdey, Evan (January 7, 2008). "Angels & Airwaves: I-Empire". PopMatters . Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  16. 1 2 Paul, Aubin (November 6, 2007). "Angels and Airwaves - I-Empire". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  17. ↑ McMartin, Trent (November 28, 2007). "Angels and Airwaves: I-Empire". UnRated. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  18. ↑ Hasty, Katie (November 14, 2007). "Jay-Z Leapfrogs Eagles, Britney For No. 1 Debut". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  19. ↑ I-Empire (media notes). Angels & Airwaves. Geffen. Suretone. 2007. B001010102.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Angels & Airwaves – I-Empire". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  21. ↑ "Angels Airwaves Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Angels & Airwaves – I-Empire" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  23. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week {{{week}}}, {{{year}}}". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  25. ↑ "Angels Airwaves Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.