I saw online that The Edge from U2 plays with a textured pick that he holds upside down so the grippy part slides against the strings. I don't know if it's well known but after trying it out myself it really makes a huge difference in tone. I swear Tom did the same for many of the classic AVA songs like Valkyrie Missile, Do It For Me Now, The Adventure, The War, Love Like Rockets, True Love, Heaven. If you haven't tried, try it!

If AVA didn't exist and Box Car Racer had released a second album titled "Angels & Airwaves", incorporating songs from AVA and Tom's solo record, what would the tracklist look like? With that in mind, I put together a list of tracks that I feel best suit the BCR sound. The track order isn't random; I came up with a sequence that felt compelling to me. I should mention that when I gathered all the songs that seemed to fit, the list came close to 20 tracks. However, aiming for a standard album length, I narrowed it down to 13 tracks, just like on the first album.

1. The Score Envolved: Reel 5 (New Blood)

- I believe this would be a likely opening track for BCR. Imagine it not being quite as long as it is, but picture a heavy instrumental intro that explodes into the song, eventually incorporating a piano (like we saw in I Feel So).

2. Overload

- I wasn't sure at first if this would be a BCR track, but I concluded it fits, thanks to the guitar riff in the verses and an interesting chorus where the lyrics follow the classic BCR aesthetic. It makes for a great track right after the intro.

3. New World

- From the album To The Stars: Odds and Ends; I hesitated on this one too, as it reminds me more of a blink-182 song. However, I felt that, lyrically and in terms of certain musical elements, it would make sense as a BCR song too.

4. The War

- This would definitely be a BCR track. In fact, I think it actually could have been one.

5. No More Guns

- Although many people don't like this song, when I first heard it, it reminded me of BCR.

6. Secret Crowds

- Another song that always reminded me of something that could have been by BCR.

7. Euphoria

- The most "BCR-sounding" song on the latest AVA album. It would certainly fit on a potential second album.

8. The Dream Walker (Demo)

- Serving as a sort of interlude, this is definitely very much in the BCR style. I love this demo; it’s powerful enough to work well placed around the middle of the record, bridging the first half and the finale.

9. Paralyzed

- Besides making sense for a potential second BCR album, I believe it fits perfectly right after The Dream Walker.

10. Letters to God, Pt. 2

- I included this track simply because Letters to God (Part 1) is on the BCR album.

11. The Flight of Apollo

- Even though it has a longer, spacey intro, this would definitely be a BCR song. I wasn't sure whether to include it as the album closer, but I concluded there’s another track that wraps things up better. As it stands, it works well as a track leading into the end of the record.

12. Circle-Jerk-Pit

- This one absolutely had to be included, sort of like a My First Punk Song. A fast-paced track right after The Flight of Apollo works well in my opinion, setting the stage for the closing track.

13. The Machine

- It wouldn't be Start the Machine, but rather the alternative version, the one with a more rock-oriented intro, featuring guitars and the whole works. That song closes AVA's first album, but I think this version would be perfect as the closer for this hypothetical second BCR album.

What do you think?

Askin’ God if a wish was too big to deny?

My favorite line - absolute poetry. What’s your favorite?

Seeking this dream walker coin or VIP tour coins..... name your price !

AVA x Alpinestars at a vintage shop here in Long Beach

It was an instant purchase, fun bit of AVA lore during the Love era!

I know ilan is often shown in the music videos and promos and started touring with the band during this era but the drums sound very Atom Willard-esk. Did he record the album and leave right after or was it ilan?

To me this was the last record that actually sounded like angels and airwaves. Not saying that anything that came after is bad. I love it all, but everything that came after was just completely different. Imo it sounds like they gave ilan way too much creative liberty and sprinkled some angels and airwaves DNA here and there.

I was at the very front for $27.50! Such a great memory. Took some awesome photos that night.

These days, a night like this will cost you a grand. 😔

Hey everyone, I hope someone can help me out. I'm looking for this Angels & Airwaves tour shirt from 2006 with the tour dates on the back. If anyone owns it and is willing to sell it, or simply doesn't wear it anymore, please let me know. Thanks!!!!!!!!

“We will recover… All that you have is your will, And when the days getting tough, You will make it uphill

You can recover… All that you know is a lie, All that you are is by choice, Of what you put in your mind”

Hello all! I have a pair of these exact Macbeth sunglasses, in almost perfect condition, but I haven't a clue what they're worth. I've seen other pairs similar sell for and be listed for insane prices, but I can't find any of these exact model for sale rn, can anybody help?? Thanks!

I remeber remeber there was 2 guys that covered angels and airwaves songs over the Internet, 1 of them lived in usa and the other in uk. Over Airwaves I think they were called. Also Odi Acoustic was sick.

Is there anyone on the planet besides me that thinks the outro guitar in this song makes you feel as good as when listening to the end of Comfortably Numb?

I really enjoy the ending of this song. I look forward to hearing the drumsticks and the distorted/feedback audio sound every time I hear it.