Angels & Airwaves

Looking for a "more significant" means of expression after his blink-182 disbanded, singer/guitarist Tom DeLonge formed Angels and Airwaves in 2005. Comprised of former members of the Offspring and the Distillers, AVA (as they're also known) is an ambitious, far-flung concept from a songwriter better known for pop-punk hitmaking. While DeLonge's trademark emo-esque vocals are still evident, his lyrics delve deeply into optimistic themes of personal betterment and social change, perhaps arrived at during his involvement with the Kerry campaign in 2004. Musically, We Don't Need to Whisper is several degrees of complexity and grandiosity beyond blink-182, layered with guitar and synth overdubs, dramatic electronic flourishes and big-budget production.