We Don't Need to Whisper

About We Don't Need to Whisper

We Don't Need to Whisper is the debut studio album by the American rock band Angels & Airwaves. Recorded at Neverpants Ranch in San Diego, California and produced by guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, the album was released on May 23, 2006 through Geffen Records. In February 2005, DeLonge (who desired to spend more time with his family) departed from his former band Blink-182 after months of heated exchanges and increasing tension within the trio and spent the following three weeks in complete isolation, contemplating his life, career, and future in music. Inspired by personal crises and global events, We Don't Need to Whisper was conceptualized as DeLonge taught himself to play instruments and created his own home studio. He recruited his longtime friend and guitarist David Kennedy of Box Car Racer, as well as drummer Atom Willard and bassist Ryan Sinn to form Angels & Airwaves, who were primarily inspired by arena rock groups such as U2 and The Police. DeLonge's later public statements regarding the band's music prompted media interest and concern from his relatives and family. We Don't Need to Whisper peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 and has since sold nearly 800,000 copies. Three of the four singles released in promotion of the album reached the top 20 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, with "The Adventure" peaking at number five. It received largely mixed reviews from music critics, many who celebrated the album's obvious musical influences but found its contents rather pretentious. A documentary film based on the recording process of the album and early history of the band, Start the Machine, was released in 2008. more »