Ok so in continuing with bands that I grew up with back in the day, I’ve decided to put Blink-182 on the chopping block. Now like most people, I’ve really only heard their hits that were played on KROQ so let’s take a look……
Buddha- my first impression of this album is that this is definitely skater punk. Like this is the kind of music that I could see being featured in those skateboarding videos. The sound on this is raw and this is definitely not what most people think of when they think of this band. This was different but enjoyable so I’ll give this one 8/10
Standouts: T.V., Time, Point Of View
Cheshire Cat- definitely more of the same on this one which shouldn’t be a surprise seeing as how they were released a year apart. Like I said before, early Blink definitely has that skater punk sound going for it. So again with that being said, I’ll give this one 8/10
Standouts: Touchdown Boy, Wasting Time, Depends
Dude Ranch- ah yes so I think this is probably when I first heard of these guys. I remember that song Dammit being played on the radio a lot. I feel like here is where they start to perfect their sound a-lot better. This one is a little better and it still has that kind of rawness to it. I’ll give this one 8.5/10
Standouts: Untitled, Enthused, Voyeur
Enema Of The State- ah yes this is it. The album that most people know from these guys. I guess you could call this their breakthrough album. This has so many of their hits on it. Yes the subject matter is still silly and immature but that’s what this band is known for. I’ll give this one 10/10
Standouts: Aliens Exist, Adam’s Song, The Party Song
Take Off Your Pants And Jacket- some will say that Enema is their best but I would say that right now that album and this one are neck and neck. This is definitely a worthy follow up to Enema Of The State and I feel like when it comes to those albums, this one gets overlooked. Either way, this is a fun album. I give this 10/10
Standouts: Online Songs, The Rock Show, Reckless Abandon
Blink 182- man there was no escaping the song Miss You. It was played all the time on the radio. Now as far as the rest of the album goes, it’s great and it’s definitely their most mature. It shows that these guys can in fact write serious songs. Definitely an underrated album and if you haven’t give this one a listen. There is even a song with Robert Smith on it and it’s actually pretty good. I will also give this another 10/10
Standouts: Feeling This, Down, Stockholm Syndrome
Neighborhoods- so this would be the last album with singer/guitarist Tom DeLonge and honestly it kinda feels like it is. Now it is the first in about 8 years and his voice is deeper and it almost feels like some songs are phoned in. I don’t know it just seems to lack something. That said, I give this one 7/10
Standouts: Wishing Well, Natives, Heart’s All Gone
California- so now we are at the first album without Tom DeLonge who has now been replaced with Matt Skiba (Alkaline Trio). Now when bands replace a singer it usually goes good or it can go the opposite direction. Here I’d say it goes the opposite. The album itself is just ok and the songs for the most part are kind of boring. There are a few that are ok but overall this one is (like I said) just ok. I’ll give this one 5/10
Standouts: She’s Out Of Her Mind, Teenage Satellites, Sober
Nine- this one feels like a continuation of the last album. I don’t know I seem to like this album less than the other one. I don’t want to say that they are going the way that Greenday went with their recent albums but it kinda feels like it in parts. I’ll give this one 0/10
Standouts:
When it comes down to it, this is actually a fun band to listen to and the self titled is a great record. It had been years since I had really heard any of these songs so I must say that this was a fun listen. I feel like I had seen them in like 2003 and they did put on a pretty good show. Anyway definitely check out some of these albums and hopefully they don’t go the way that Greenday went with their newer stuff.
Final Grade: B
Album Rankings:
- Blink 182
- Take Off Your Pants And Jacket
- Enema Of The State
- Dude Ranch
- Cheshire Cat
- Buddha
- Neighborhoods
- California
- Nine
Sinister Reviews 