Blink 182 - The Self Titled Album

[F0wler]

I'm a Travis Barker fan. I'm "down with his rhythms," which always have a fill to keep me occupied and working hard to maintain the speed he does. However, I have a number of complaints regarding the new album. It's been out for around eight months now, so I'm assuming most of the people here have heard at least one of the songs on it. Call me cynical, but the new self titled album fails to create the impression the previous albums did. The only track that comes close is "I miss you." Other than that, its all pretty uniform. In the words of Tom Delonge himself, "what went wrong?"

"I'm sick of always hearing, sappy love songs on the radio..."

Unfortunately, the new single "Always" - "Come on let me touch you......Always" is almost exactly what the band declared themselves independant of three years ago. Ever since the band "Boxcar Racer," formed four years ago in order to move on from the "dumbass" mentality Blink 182 had grounded themselves in with the "Take off your pants and Jacket" tour, Rifts had seemingly developed between Delonge and bassist Mark Hoppus. Hoppus had been left from the new band, something he was, naturally, less than enthusiastic about. In my opinion, the Boxcar album was one of the most thoughtful and well crafted albums I have ever bought ;) and made me hope for a second. Unfortunately, the whole point of Boxcar was to make Hoppus rethink his policy on "dumbass" songs, and allow Delonge to make more significant decisions regarding song writing.

In my opinion, the new album has fallen far short of "Take off Your Pants and Jacket" and generally involves lame, "sappy love songs" like "always" and "I'm lost without you." The only real songs of note on the album are "violence," and "obvious," although even these are nowhere near as good as "Stay together for the kids," and "Adams Song," or "Story of a Lonely Guy."

Anyway, I'm interested to see what other zp members think, of course, and would be intrigued to see anyone who could shed further light on their change of style.

F0wler

[Potato]

I thought "What's my age again" and "All the Small Things" sucked monkey ass, so the change of pace is kind of nice. Less whiney and annoying.

[hawkburn]

I've liked anything they've ever made myself. The new album I didn't like as much, although I do like "feeling this" and "here's your letter" as well as "miss you" but anything else on that album I don't like. But I have everyone of their albums to date. I don't think I could ever turn against them.

[random]

pretty good album, theres always going to be tracks you don't linke hehe

[F0wler]

I've liked anything they've ever made myself. The new album I didn't like as much, although I do like "feeling this" and "here's your letter" as well as "miss you" but anything else on that album I don't like. But I have everyone of their albums to date. I don't think I could ever turn against them.

"I'm feeling this" is the closest to their older material, wheras "I miss you" is a change I like, but obviously, I'm not so fond of some of theor other songs from the album.

[IshareManyFilez]

I agree with you. I have every Blink 182 album and am a pure die hard fan and personally I miss the poppy punk rock songs that joked around about peoples girlfriends, STDS, sex, and relationships. Blink 182 has now turned into a depressing monster.

[crackerjacker]

i love blink 182.
i dont have all their albums however i wouldnt mind having them all.

[RobinSena]

The transition is classic.
The first two albums, both indie, were produced entirely by the band itself (sans Travis, of course, Scott Raynor being the old drummer). The singing style is immature, both in experience and in the lyrics. Also ,on Buddha, you can tell Mark was sick.
Dude Ranch was the first on a major label, and the last with Raynor. The style was a little harder than their debut and sophomore releases, probably the work of a producer working with the band, something usually stipulated on contracts with big labels.. The song Damnit, used in the movie Can't Hardly Wait, precipitated their rise to stardom, and set the stage for -
Enema of the State and TOYPAJ, both albums meant to appeal to a broader demographic then with previous albums- young girls - were a unwelcome mix of pop and rock.
The self titled release is the most mature release yet, and is a solid record. Upon the first listen, I thought it was too big a departure from previous records for me to like, but the album eventually found its way into my CD player consistently.
Their a solid band and wonder how much longer they will be around.

[F0wler]

I realise they are still talented musicians, but many of the songs seem to have departed almost entirely from their roots, somehting that I wasn't that happy about, becuase I thought TOYPAJ was by far their best work. Songs like "Anthem 2" and "Stay Together for the KIds" as well as "First Date" (That video is fantastic!!) had a distinctive sound and look to their videos. Now, the videos like "I miss you," while being a solid song, have very little point, while "Down" heralds a new low in rock video production.

Now, the band are releasing "Always" which I think is sickening, as if they have cast off what made them famous, and their fans also, the band has the responsibility to grow, but slowly to ensure that their fans are not left behind, scratching their heads, wondering if what they heard was really a song they had written, or something the label had puhed upon them in order to promote other such music.

I'm just not so happy with this album.

[RobinSena]

I was satisfied with the album - thought of it as a incredible maturity.
Enema and TOYPAJ had insightful songs (Anthem and Anthem 2, and Stay together for the Kids are great songs from singers with experience there- I know Mark's and Tom's parents got divorces, not sure about Travis), but I didn't like how the songs seemed to scream for raido and MTV play. Whenever a band you like starts to appeal to young girls, you know something is wrong.

Overall, for me the sorrow is what gets me - the lugubrious and melancholy tone of the album is superior.
As a side note, Sing the Sorrow from AFI is another fave of mine - the sorrow, always the sorrow, is what is most sincere for people, probably the only emotion that has such universality.

[F0wler]

While I understand your position toward the album, I feel as though Tom's often bleak outlook was adequetly expressed in the self titled "Boxcar Racer" album, a song specifically entitled "Sorrow." I just wonder how long Blink 182 can continue to ride the "cold and sad race horse," having moved on from the "dumbass pony." Depression is an easier topic to song about, the sheer volume of songs written on subjects of this nature emphasise this point. I wonder would it be more difficult to write material that does not reflect upon loss of life, or the impending destruction of the world?