It's more than obvious that Tom DeLonge wants his post-blink-182 project taken seriously.

The evidence: a pseudo-pretentious name (Angels and Airwaves), and an album title that begs to be said in a hushed British accent ("We Don't Need To Whisper.")

Also, none of the songs seem to be about farting.

To achieve this more mature air, most of "We Don't Need To Whisper" finds its inspiration in that bastion of rock 'n' roll seriousness, U2. Where better to look than the band fronted by the only rock star that could feasibly win the Nobel Peace Prize?

The only problem is, that the way "We Don't Need To Whisper" plays suggests the only U2 songs DeLonge has ever heard are "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," and "Where the Streets Have No Name." Each track on the album takes these two songs' formulas for importance and epicness — guitars drenched in delay effects and vocals that stretch out the words that matter — and flogs it like the dead horse it is.

The rest of the band's performance has little personality, but that's probably because its trying to play like other people. The only member who cuts a place for himself is drummer Atom Willard, who is granted the opportunity to sound like he's playing on a skyscraper-sized kit.

Unfortunately, he's granted this opportunity about 90 times during the album, rendering his massive snare and tom hits pretty boring.

Therein lies the rub of "We Don't Need to Whisper." Angels and Airwaves sets its goal — to become the next epic, life-changing band — so high, it's unachievable. It's not the first time a band has fallen to this temptation — I'm looking in your direction, Coldplay.

Take the climactic buildup (or lack thereof) on "The Adventure." As DeLonge starts a vocal round with himself, Willard tosses off some drum fills that should lead to some sort of crescendo, but no crescendo ever comes. They're called dynamics for a reason, gentlemen.

At no point on "We Don't Need To Whisper" does Angels and Airwaves ever rock.