The Airborne Toxic Event – Hollywood Park

By: Robert Warren

The Los Angeles rock band The Airborne Toxic Event, which was formed in 2006, continually wheel out a unique sound by taking American Rock and adding orchestral arrangements in order to enhance their signature sound. They have produced five albums including such standouts as The Airborne Toxic Event and Songs of God and Whiskey. It’s been five years since their last album released, but they have recently shared a new one with their fans titled Hollywood Park. It is a record that hits deep into the topic of addiction and is a reflection of singer Mikel Jollett’s latest book titled Hollywood Park: A Memoir. This album, though, truly is an addiction all and of itself that is worth a listen.

As previously mentioned, this whole album stems from a memoir Hollywood Park, which took the lead singer Jollett years to write. Jollett even visited places he had spent time with his father, using notes and tape recordings to process his thoughts. He then turned that into a memoir for his father. When Jollet was going through a time of trying to process everything, he started writing songs to capture everything. This isn’t just an album here. It is thoughtful put together pieces of a life that Jollett recreated into a masterpiece.

The first single released on this album is “Come on Out,” which initially sounds upbeat. However, don’t be fooled as it’s actually quite heavy. It’s a piece that focuses on the “young and dumb” period in life. While the lyrics appear cheerful, the message is very austere. When watching the music video you realize how it unfolds into serious matters such as underage drinking and even the severe nature of screaming at the top of your lungs to a world that doesn’t listen. It’s a quite sobering song when you realize the intensity that is endeavored here. Lyrically the song portrays a lot of distress, but it’s very relatable. The upbeat nature of the song with a dark concept really works well here so you are not overwhelmed with sadness when listening to this.

One of my favorite songs on this album is the title track “Hollywood Park.” It was written by the frontman Jollett for his father. The song is a very meaningful one in that it sets itself to a memory where the artist can reconnect with his father, in Hollywood Park, which is a horse racetrack that the artist and his dad had spent much time together. Jollett’s father passed away in 2015 and this song is about that racetrack that bonded them. The lyrics state:

“Nothing could come between you and I

As the horses ran wild through the dark at Hollywood Park”

This shows the significance this location has to Jollett. This meaningfulness to this song, which is conveyed through the lyrics, along with the drums played by Daren Taylor, make this song a must listen. The concept of the song hits in the listener in the heart and it is really good.

If you’re looking for a song a little more lighthearted, there’s a really good one for you to enjoy on this album as well. The song “All the Children” is a much more upbeat piece on a topic we can relate to – being a child. It hits a different perspective on that matter, having you think about how when you’re a child and you’re being told what to do. Someone sets the standard of the way you should act and as you grow you figure out what to believe. It’s a good song hitting on the fact that we all grow up way too fast and it is very relatable. Plus, the chorus is very catchy, which will have listeners coming back to it.

When it comes to production this album is really put together well thanks to Mark Needham (The Killers). Needham, a multiple Grammy nominee, produced and mixed the songs on Hollywood Park, breathing life into this memorial album. Additionally, Jollett weaves a lovely tale through lyrics, vocals, guitar and keyboards. This is an album that really gives a voice to the voiceless and showcases a tell-all reveal. Musically, it is really the guitars that pop. However, it is when we hear the song “Come On Out” where drummer Daren Taylor shines.

The Airborne Toxic Event made Hollywood Park with so much depth, honesty and openness. It tells the life story of Jollett through emotional abuse to addiction.  Anytime there is an underlying feel like a real genuine emotional life story, the music quickly becomes easier to connect to as we feel for the writer. So, all in all, this is an album worth rocking out to. If you don’t listen for the beats then listen for the story. There is certainly a takeaway for everyone in this tribute.