Customer Reviews
Is there - there is! - By: Matt182, 11 Mar 2008 
In 2001 Blink released what was their final immature albumin 'Take off your pants & jacket'. Then a year later Tom decided that he wanted to write something meaningful, something emotional & something definitely not Blink 182. It is a good job that Tom changed his writing style & wrote this because this may have been the start of the process towards AVA. The emotional & meaningful aspect is evident throughout Blink's final, self-titled album which is a better album than this one. I do think though that up to this point Boxcar racer beats any of the previous Blink material with no problem. Tom has found a more stripped down, indie sound to convey a meaningful attitude. This is far less pop & definitely more rock & there are some heavy partsin this album, like at the end of 'Letters to God' & all the way through Tiny voices, especially the chorus!
I think that Tom achieved what he set out to do & that is change his musical style & write mature songs. This definitely isn't evidentin My first punk song though! Tom was trying to criticise & make fun of these punk writers who have no idea about music & all they want to do is make noise & swear! That's what a lot of people would classify as punk, & this is for the posers! I don't really know why he chose to put this songin there because it is totally different from the rest of the album. I guess it was so the Blink fans wouldn't take him too seriously & to break the ice from the sober tone of the rest of the album.
Okay - now I'll do a track by track review:
1. I Feel So - A fantastic beginning to the album. The only single that was released from this album & it is clear that there is an emotional & meaningful song. Tom was trying to hope for the better & was reaching out to the fansin a similar way to AVAin this song. It actually reminds me of Everything's magic.
2. All Systems Go - A song about rebelling & definitely a Blink type tune. The title implies that the listener should be ready for this ride.
3. Watch The World - an awesome, emotional & powerful song. I love the lyrics, 'I watched this film that grew perfection, of all the things you do'. It is about getting through hard times, as a war is happening outside you are stuck there insidein shelter with the person you love the most. Sweet!
4. Tiny Voices - Less meaningful, I don't really understand the concept. If you listen closely you can hear the band having a conversationin the bridge!
5. Cat Like Thief - Another best song on the album. Really emotional & 'Don't leave her' gets me everytime. I really like this song. The verses are done by Tim Armstrong who has a similar Californian accent as Tom, but Tim can't sing & the vocals are bad. It makes you appreciate just how powerful Tom's voice is next to Tim's. I especially like the bridge where Armstrong is saying 'Holding, I'm holding, I'm holding on...' & Toom is singing 'Don't leave her' over the top of it - captivating!
6. And I - Another good song. I like the first line of the song, it comesin powerfully. Not really a song I can relate to, but it seems like it's about being tricked by a girl. I can definitely relate to the chorus though.
7. Letters To God - a meaningful & emotional song. The title says it all & it implies what it does. I learnt this song on acoustic guitar & I was really chuffed with myself. The acoustic adds to the emotion & there has never been a Blink song that uses acoustic.
8. My First Punk Song - This is the crazy song! You'll be laughing cause I was! You can hear Tom screaming F off at the end of the song!
9. Sorrow - A good song about a breakup & moving too fast. I really don't think there's any need for the F wordin this song. Tom uses them meaninglessly sometimes, just likein 'It hurts'.
10. There Is - Definitely the best song on the album. A song that I can really relate to, a song about hope & that someone out there feels the same way about a girl as you do.
11. The End With You - another song about being lost while an apocalypse is happening around you. Imagine beingin a shelter while the bombs are dropping. It reminds me of The Police's 'When the world is running down you make the best of what's still around'.
12. Elevator - The final proper (vocals) song. This one features Mark, who is a welcome addition to this song. He is a good touch too add on this song & his vocals convey a mood which is different from Tom's, but which suit this song. It is clear how much more powerful Tom's vocals are when they both sing the same lyrics.
13. Instrumental - Does exactly what it says on the can! A nice end, but I think this should've been included somewherein the middle, like +44's Interlude. It's quite a repetitive song, but it is pretty good. I think ending with Elevator would've been a better touch to the album as a whole. I think this would've been nice after 'My first punk song'.
14. I Feel So (Video) - The screen size on the computer is a joke. You have the hole screen & it's stuck upin the top corner of the screen! You would be better off checking it out on Youtube. Anyway, this is probably the only fault.
In conclusion, this is a great album!
Fantastic album - By: Dan, 16 Aug 2007 
This really is a first class album. Althoughin some ways, Boxcar did mark the beginning of the end of Blink-182, this album is still fabulous. Song songs are closer to Blink's punk roots, there is also a deep emotional side to the whole thing. The highlights of this album for me are 'Watch the World' & 'There Is' - the latter been possibly my favorite song of all time. That song is true genius.
Incredible - By: T. Benson, 29 Aug 2006 A beautifully dark concept album about the end of the world, Box Car Racer's debut is, simpley put, wonderful. A complete one-eighty from blink-182's previous poppy stuff. The album also hinted at towards blink was heading. As depressing as the subject of the album might be, I can't stop listening.
Simply breathtaking... - By: D. Jarenicz, 18 Sep 2004 I had heard "i feel so" & "there is" on tv a while back. It simply grabbed me as being a slight change of the usual high school teenage troubles of dating normally present on the older (enema of the state etc..) blink-182 albums. Yet at the same time you can still relate to Blink-182 with two of the members being presentin this band. Normally with an album you expect there to be some not so good songs,in this case that isn't true. Every song is great, buy this album you simply won't be dissapointed if you're a fan of Blink-182 etc. Roll on the next album! :).
Blink 182 the preview - By: , 10 May 2004 Because the album is mostly blink 182 it gives a real insight into what the guys are up to next. A big move away from the blink of old but a stepin the right direction. Its a fresh new sound but it ages quickly. Not an anthem but a good collection of tunes.
