The big news here is that Airborne’s sound has altered so much over the years that early fans might not be sure if Dope Machines is what they signed up for. That's completely understandable, but as Pete Townshend once said, "music must change." Taken for what they are and not what preconceived notions say they should have been, “California” and “Time to Be a Man” are emotionally satisfying tunes that find singer Mikel Jolett acclimating beautifully. If songs like “Wrong,” “One Time Thing,” and “Hell and Back” divide fans, it’s important to note that the album’s closing tracks feel like a logical evolution for the group.
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