Have you ever come across a music artist that made you want to put your hands over your ears and bolt out of the room? That's exactly how I felt when I first heard Box Car Racer – what an eye-roll inducing experience. It seemed like every single song was just noise, lacking anything remotely catchy or interesting. Outrageous dance moves? No thanks! I felt my inner voice yelling at me to stop listening and grab my remote control for better tunes.
Have you ever been in a situation where you hear a new song or artist for the first time, and you immediately want to turn it off? I've been there too! One such instance happened with me when I first heard Box Car Racer. Their songs were an assault on my ears – nothing catchy or interesting. But my experience with them didn't end there. As they continued to pop up on my playlists, something got me hooked. And now, they've become one of my favorite bands! In this blog, I'll take you through my journey from hate to love for Box Car Racer.
First things first – what is Box Car Racer? It's a side-project band of Blink-182's guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge and drummer Travis Barker. They only made one album, which came out in 2002, before disbanding. For years, I'd been a huge fan of Blink-182 and their pop-punk energy. So when I heard about Box Car Racer, I was excited. But my excitement didn't last long after listening to their album. It seemed like they were going for a more serious, darker sound, which I didn't appreciate at the time.
But with time, something about Box Car Racer's music started to call to me. Maybe it was the way the songs were written – with heartfelt lyrics and inspired instrumentation. The more I listened, the more I appreciated what they were trying to do. The rawness of DeLonge's vocals and the intensity of Barker's drumming brought a whole new dimension to their music. And as I continued delving deeper into their album, I realized that every song had its unique story, its unique personality.
The real turning point came when I saw some of their live performances. I was taken aback by the energy and emotion, which I couldn't experience just by listening to their studio recordings. I started exploring their live recordings and watching their concerts online. It was then that I realized just how much of a powerhouse Box Car Racer was! It wasn't just about their music, but the passion and energy they brought to every performance.
It was in that process of exploring their live performances that I found some of the songs that clicked with me. And I and Elevator were two such songs that stood out for me. And before I knew it, I found myself wanting to listen to more of their songs every day. I had gone from an eye-rolling experience to a newfound appreciation for their music. It was like discovering a hidden gem that no one else knew about.
If you're like me and have a similar experience with Box Car Racer, I encourage you to give them another chance. Sometimes it takes a few listens, or a certain life experience, or a live performance for a band to click with you. But that magic, when it happens, is worth it all. Box Car Racer may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for those who enjoy alternative rock with passion and emotion, it's definitely worth a listen. Who knows, maybe you'll experience the same transformation that I did – from hate to love for Box Car Racer!
