Box Car Racer - Box Car Racer (2002) [iTunes Plus]

Box Car Racer – Box Car Racer. Box Car Racer was a short-lived project created by ex-vocalist, Tom DeLonge and reinforced with blink’s, Travis Barker, guitarist, David Kennedy and bassist, Anthony Davis. Taking a long glance at Tom’s work, I feel as if this particular project was aimed at personal issues since most of the production is a lot darker inclined sounding than blink’s stuff. If you despised blink’s sound then there’s a slight possibility this record may interest you. Opening up the album is the highlight track, “I Feel So”, being BCR’s debut single, this track was a true neat melody really if you’re ever trapped in a whirlwind of insecurities. Chorus was plain and smooth but with an addicting dazzling aftertaste that’ll stick to you like pink bubblegum for a while. Another track that caught me ears was, “Cat like Thief”. Rancid’s, Tim Armstrong, excelled super well with the production on this one. It’s always a refresher to hear how different vocalist adapt or sound on certain sound and Tim managed to rip it up. We make way to hear possibly Tom’s best work he has ever created; “Letters to God”. A perfect crafted acoustic track where tom spills his emotions as he pleads and begs God he really does not want to ascend. Lyrics are important on this one and the way the track concludes in a very explosive way is beyond radiant. “My First Punk Song”, pays homage to blink’s earlier works before main stream success. A fast paced silly punk song with comical lyrics that may even be sister songs with blink’s “Happy Holidays, You Bastard”. Skipping along we find a track named, “Sorrow”. This song is my 2^nd favorite track from this self-titled lp. A gloomy life-relating song that accompanied me last year around summer. I think I cried to this track once lmao. idk remember. The closing track labeled as “Instrumental”, defiantly hints Angel & Airwaves (No one knew that at the time) with the space-rock instrumentation. Overall, BCR was a good solid release and a way more maturing sounding album than anything blink has ever released. I would like to give a special thanks to Isaac because he made me revisit this album and he has a nice big...heart!