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PLUS FORTY FOUR (+44) by Neelofer Lodhy, Managing Editor

After a long desperate wait, fans have anxiously been waiting to go out and buy the Plus Forty Four album, and it's finally here! Since the indefinite hiatus of popular punk band blink-182 occurred, former band members, Travis Barker (drummer) and Mark Hoppus (lead vocals, bassist) formed the band Plus Forty Four. While Tom Delonge, also a former member of the band, formed Angels and Airwaves. The album hit stores on November 14, 2006, by the name of When Your Heart Stops Beating, and the band has signed with Interscope records. Many fans were disappointed and hurt by the uncalled for break up of one of the most popular bands in the world, blink-182. It had been a while since we had heard from either of the band mates, only that the band was on an indefinite hiatus. While Tom Delonge went to go form Angels and Airwaves, Barker and Hoppus went their separate ways and formed Plus Forty Four. Plus Forty Four band members include Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker, and guitarists Shane Gallagher (from the band the Nervous Return), and Craig Fairbaugh (from the Mercy Killers, and two other bands). Back around February, Plus Forty Four had released the song No It Isnt featuring original band member Carol Heller from the band Get the Girl who’s additional vocals are included in the song Make You Smile,but by summer 2006 she decided to leave the band, because she felt it was necessary to spend sometime with her family. This is where Craig, and Shane came in. For those of you who didn't know, Plus Forty Four, or their symbol (+44), symbolizes the calling code for London. Hoppus said he had chosen that specific name for the band because he has a huge passion for the city of London. This full length album includes 13 adrenaline rushing songs, including a bonus track of an acoustic version of the second track Baby Come On. Just recently Plus Forty Four has released their current single When Your Heart Stops Beating, which is also the title of the album. The songs on this album have a touch of blink-182 to them, not only because it has 2/3 of the band, but it has the same feel to it as blink-182 had. Junior Kendall Wright said "the album is really jammy! I like it a lot." The songs on this album also have a touch of electronica to it, because the band was originally supposed to be held in the genre of electronica. The song that includes this electronica touch is 155, a popular song by the band which seems to draw the attention of fans quite a bit, and which may also become a single. Another song which may become a single is also Little Death. But for now, it is all up in the air so we will find out soon enough. The album also includes an interlude titled Interlude which contains the drumming solo of Travis Barker. Great songs that are included on this album are, Lycanthrope, Baby Come On and the acoustic version, When Your Heart Stops Beating, 155, Lillian, Cliff Diving, Interlude, No It Isnt which was also redone for the album, Make You Smile, and Chapter 13. That's basically 90% of the album meaning its extremely good. You be the judge, go out and buy the album, When Your Heart Stops Beating, out now. You can also get more information on Plus Forty Four at www.myspace.com/plus44, and catch them on tour when they come to California, or Night One of Kroq's Almost Acoustic Christmas! These are shows that you definitely don't want to miss, so what are you waiting for?!

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