To the Stars... Demos, Odds and Ends | |
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Studio album by | |
Released | April 21, 2015 |
Genre | |
Length | 25:51 |
Label | To the Stars |
Producer | Tom DeLonge & Aaron Rubin |
Singles from To the Stars | |
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To the Stars... Demos, Odds and Ends (often shortened to To the Stars) is the debut studio album by Tom DeLonge. It was released on April 21, 2015 (following his departure from Blink-182 in January 2015) through DeLonge's multimedia company also titled To the Stars. [3] The album To the Stars is said to contain tracks from DeLonge's "personal stash", [3] which include songs originally intended to be recorded with Blink-182, [4] [5] [6] [7] as well as tracks originally meant for Angels & Airwaves. [8] The eight-song album was released on vinyl, CD and digital formats. [9]
A few weeks after DeLonge announced his departure from the pop punk band Blink-182, through social media he expressed his interest in releasing demos he wrote for a potential Blink-182 album. [10] [11] The album To the Stars was formally announced on February 28, 2015, [12] and DeLonge later elaborated that the album was one of four albums he would be releasing in 2015; he intended to release two solo albums and two Angels & Airwaves albums, [13] but by the end of the year only the solo album and the Angels & Airwaves EP ...Of Nightmares had been released.
Leading up to the album's release, DeLonge released several songs for online streaming with accompanying music or lyric videos. He first released an online stream for the track "New World" on March 10, 2015. [14] A lyric video for the track "The Invisible Parade" was released on March 24, and the song itself may have been inspired by DeLonge's brother who served in Iraq as a Naval lieutenant. [15] On April 7, an online stream for the track "Circle-Jerk-Pit" was released, [16] and a few weeks later a music video for the track was released on April 21. [17]
The official music video for "New World" was released on April 2, 2015. [18] It was directed by Mark Eaton and consists of time-lapsed scenes of DeLonge destroying various instruments, a laptop and sound equipment at his studio Jupiter Sound in San Diego, using a Squier Stratocaster guitar and a sledgehammer. These scenes are interspersed with others of DeLonge wandering the streets of San Diego, holding the same destroyed Squier Stratocaster held together with duct tape. NME described the video as being "symbolic" [18] and Billboard said that it is "hard not to think of this as an eff you to his old band, as he packs up his stratocaster and hits the streets." [19]
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 49/100 [20] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [21] |
Consequence of Sound | D [22] |
Punknews.org | [23] |
Rolling Stone | [24] |
To the Stars received mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a rating determined by a "weighted average" of reviews from mainstream critics, the album received a score of 49, based on 4 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [20]
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic considered the album transitional, writing, "To the Stars does feel like a solo album but it also does feel a bit like a warehouse -- a way to clear the decks as he preps for the next great project." [21] Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone felt DeLonge unsuccessful in determining a "clear solo identity", opining, "if this "Suburban King" wants to rise again, he may need some help from his friends." [24] Mike Damante of the Houston Chronicle was passive, commenting, "For the most part, these demos are enjoyable, but it would be sad if they never reached the proper means for their purpose and were recorded for the projects they were intended for in the first place." [25] Kerrang! deemed it "a distinctly mixed bag". [26]
Credits for To the Stars... Demos, Odds and Ends adapted from liner notes. [27]
Chart (2015) | Peak position |
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UK Albums (OCC) [28] | 96 |
US Billboard 200 [29] | 70 |
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [30] | 9 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [31] | 6 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [32] | 11 |
"First Date" is a song recorded by American rock band Blink-182 for their fourth studio album, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001). It was released as the second single from the album on October 8, 2001. It was written primarily by guitarist Tom DeLonge, with additional songwriting credit to bassist Mark Hoppus, and drummer Travis Barker. "First Date" centers on the awkwardness and complicated emotions two individuals can experience upon initial meeting. DeLonge based the song on memories of his initial courtship with then-spouse Jennifer Jenkins.
Thomas Matthew DeLonge is an American musician. Noted for his distinctive nasal singing voice, he rose to prominence as the co-founder, co-lead vocalist, and guitarist of the rock band Blink-182 from 1992 to 2005, 2009 to 2015, and then from 2022 onwards. 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.
"Down" is a song by the American rock band Blink-182, released to radio on May 10, 2004, as the third single from the group's 2003 untitled album. The song peaked at number 10 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.
+44 was an American rock supergroup formed in Los Angeles, California in 2005. The group consisted of vocalist and bassist Mark Hoppus and drummer Travis Barker of Blink-182, lead guitarist Shane Gallagher of The Nervous Return, and rhythm guitarist Craig Fairbaugh of Mercy Killers. Hoppus and Barker created +44 shortly after the initial 2005 breakup of Blink-182 and before it was later reformed. The band's name refers to the international dialing code of the United Kingdom, the country where the duo first discussed the project. Early recordings were largely electronic in nature, and featured vocals by Carol Heller, formerly of the all-girl punk quartet Get the Girl.
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.
"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.
Angels & Airwaves is an American rock band, comprising lead vocalist/guitarist Tom DeLonge, guitarist David Kennedy, drummer Ilan Rubin, and bassist Matt Rubano.
Blink-182 is an American rock band formed in Poway, California, in 1992. Their current and best-known lineup consists of bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus, guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker.
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.
Box Car Racer was an American punk band formed in San Diego, California, in 2001. The group consists of guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge and drummer Travis Barker, both of Blink-182, and formerly alongside guitarist David Kennedy of Hazen Street. Anthony Celestino later joined the band on tour as a bassist. DeLonge created the project to pursue darker ideas he felt unsuited to his work with Blink-182.
Neighborhoods is the sixth studio album by American rock band Blink-182, released September 27, 2011, through DGC Records and Interscope. Their first album of new material in eight years, its recording followed the band's breakup and later reconciliation. Due to conflicts within the trio, the band entered an "indefinite hiatus" in 2005 and the members explored various side-projects. After two separate tragedies regarding the band and their entourage, the members of Blink-182 decided to reunite in late 2008, with plans for a new album and tour. It was the last studio album to feature founding member Tom DeLonge until his return to the band in 2022.
Love: Part Two is the fourth studio album by alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves, released November 11, 2011, via the band's own label, To the Stars Records. It follows 2010's Love, and its release coincides with that of the band's Love feature film, which includes music from the album. The first single from the album and respective music video, "Anxiety", was released on August 11, 2011. "Surrender" impacted radio on January 31, 2012. It is the final album to feature Atom Willard as the band's drummer and Matt Wachter as the band's bassist. It is also the last album to feature guitarist David Kennedy until his return in 2018.
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.
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.
California is the seventh studio album by American rock band Blink-182, released on July 1, 2016 through BMG as the band's only album on the label. Produced by John Feldmann, it is the first of two albums by the band to feature Alkaline Trio frontman Matt Skiba, who replaced former member Tom DeLonge. After touring and releasing the band's sixth album, Neighborhoods (2011), it became difficult for the trio to record new material due to DeLonge's other projects. After disagreements, the remaining members of the group—vocalist/bassist Mark Hoppus and drummer Travis Barker—sought separation from DeLonge and recruited Skiba in his place.
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"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.
To the Stars... Academy of Arts & Sciences is a San Diego-based company co-founded by Tom DeLonge, guitarist of Blink-182 and Angels & Airwaves; Harold E. Puthoff; and Jim Semivan. It is composed of aerospace, science, and entertainment divisions.
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.
…where DeLonge overindulges his proggy side.
The album has eight songs, all in the same punk-rock style that characterized Blink-182.
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