Reviews
Blink 182 - Blink 182
by Rich on 20031231
Blink 182 and their label Geffen have been saying this was a "different album" for a while now, but would it really be any different to any of the pop punk pioneer trio's previous efforts? The answer: Yes, most of the time. The album opens with the first single Feeling This, which builds up with flanged drums and edgy riffs to the sing along chorus at the end of the song. The next song is also one of the more catchy songs on the album which although again is slightly different to what Blink have done before it's nothing ground breaking. But both a great songs. I Miss You is the first song on the album that has anything drastically new for Blink. An all acoustic song that isn't about Fucking a dog. This is a great song with heart felt, clever lyrics that are a real step forward for the band, but this still isn't anything that most pop punk bands haven't done before (Dashboard Confessional, Mae). The next song Violence has large elements that push boundries and too Blink's credit the things they come up with are actually things that I have never heard being tried before in the genre. Their are spoken word sections on the song that are great and very original. The next few songs (Stockholm Syndrome, Down) are again good solid songs but don't really sound too much different to heavier Blink 182 songs but they have obvious Boxcar Racer influences. Down then leads into The Fallen Interlude, which is a drum and bass style section that although being very different to everything on the album fits in well. Go follows and returns more towards the old style of the band, this is definatly one of the weakest songs on the album. Asthenia on the other hand, although being again very similar to older Blink songs, is built up well and is one of the best songs on the album, due partly to the effects and experimental drumming. The next notable song is most probably the best song on the album, All Of This, featuring Robert Smith of The Cure. This is one of the slower songs from the album build up quite extensivly of effects and percussive tones. Robert Smith really adds something different to the song and for a while you forget you are listening to the same band the wrote What's My Age again and Dammit. A true masterpiece. The last two songs on the album don't quite compare, except for the intro to the album's finale, a slow piano song with Delonge passionatly singing "I swear that I, can go on forever again" but unfortunatly this doesn't last more than a minute before the whole band kicks in, ruining the mood slightly. In conclusion, possibly Blink's strongest album, either way a brilliant one but not the one that people will remember. On that front Enema Of The State and Dude Ranch haven't been topped.Rating out of five: 4