clairejaygreen: Mark Hoppus Calls New Blink-182 Album 'Expansive'

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Mark Hoppus Calls New Blink-182 Album 'Expansive'

Bassist says upcoming project reflects the band's past and even gets a bit dark.
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Jim Cantiello

Mark Hoppus
Photo: Jason Kempin/ Getty Images

It's already been described as "ambitious" and "weird," and now Mark Hoppus is tossing another adjective onto the ever-growing pile of descriptives used for Blink-182's upcoming album: "expansive."

That's what he told MTV News backstage at Z100's Jingle Ball in New York, but he didn't stop there. Hoppus also hinted that the band's forthcoming disc will also be an all-encompassing affair, one that not only harkens back to Blink's past, but also touches on the dark days they've had in the present, including the deaths of longtime producer Jerry Finn and friends Chris Baker and DJ AM.

"We've gone through a lot of really heavy stuff over the past few years. ... There's plenty of heavy stuff to write about," Hoppus said. "I think in moments it will [be dark]. We're still just barely getting into the whole writing process. We have about three or four songs done. I wouldn't say it's going to be a dark record; I think it's really an expansive record. There's stuff that sounds like what we were doing on the last Blink record, and there's stuff that sounds like what we were doing 10 years ago and stuff that we've never done before."

Of course, whether all that equates to a "mature" album is a matter of debate, one Hoppus wants no part of. Because after a lengthy hiatus and several dark days, he and his Blink mates are now focusing on the future — and it looks bright indeed.

"There's going to be a new record, tours, the whole deal," he said. "We're in the studio pounding it out right now, and it's going really good. It's been so great to be back in the studio with Tom and Travis creating a new album. We can't wait to get it out there."

What are you expecting from a new Blink album? Let us know in the comments!

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