(Pop-Punk) Blink 182 - Self Titled
 

Artist: Blink 182
Album: Self-Titled
Tom DeLonge - Guitar, Vocals
Mark Hoppus - Bass, Vocals
Travis Barker - Percussion, Drums
Released: MCA/Geffen Records

STOP! Anything you think you know about Blink 182 wether it negative or positive throw it away now. This album is going to suprise you wether you love pop-punk or despise it with fiery hate.

When Blink 182 went into the studio to record their 5th studio album they decided this was going to be different and believe me it is. By now you've most likely heard the pop-punk tune 'Feeling This' drifting around MTV or your local 'Alternitive' radio stations. Let me tell you now that song is a bad interpretation of the rest of the album. So what's changed with Blink? Well their sound mainly. The songs about incest and such themes are gone. This is a serious album. There are only 2 tunes on this album that go with a typical Blink sound 'Go' (Which manages to be Blink but more mature) and 'Feeling This'. So let's go through this album track by track.

Feeling This - Starts off with the spacey drums effect and small guitar riff before booming into the first verse. A resonable Blink song and it is very catchy however gets a bit bland.

Obvious - Well this is where the traditional Blink disapears. It starts with distorded guitars and comes into a verse. When you get to the chorus you will be thinking 'Wtf?'. However Obvious is a good song. Gets speedy at the end and becomes one of the best songs on the album.

I Miss You - Almost sounds like Good Charlottes 'Say Anything' at the begining. This is a slow song using acoustic guitars and piano. Travis plays a cool beat on this song and it's a pretty song. Very different to any acoustic Blink songs before.

Violence - The most unblink song of all time. Here you will be throughly confused as to what band this album is by. No bass, guitars or drums in the verse just singing? It's an experimental song and it pulls it off with a fantastic chorus. Travis has some kick as[I][/I]s fills in this song.

Stockholm Syndrome - Muse also happen to have a song titled this on their latest album and it's the best on the album. Same criteria applies here. Stockholm Syndrome is a classic Blink song. It has emotion in it and is very well preformed. If your a punk pureist or just hate Blink give this a listen and see what you think.

Down - This song has a very spacey sound and sounds almost a little like I Miss You. It could almost be a Box Car Racer song. It's emotional and slower yet again. Lyrically it's one of the best songs on the album.

The Fallen Interlude - An interlude. Nothing you will have ever heard on a Blink album before and it's somewhat intresting.

Go - This is Blink again but they are more mature. It's a **** catchy and fast song and destined to become a single. One of the best on the album.

Asthenia - By now you will have established this album is very different and be confused. Asthenia will probably bring you back to traditional Blink ground a bit. It sounds a bit like it could have been on TOYPAJ but yet like the rest of the album more mature. It's a nice song.

Always - Another nice song. A slow one but yet again emotional. It's catchy and has a traditonal catchy Blink chorus.

Easy Target - Wow. It's another of those Blink songs but more mature. It's one of my favourites on the album and it picks up the pace after 2 slowish songs. Standard catchy chorus and awesome verses.

All Of This - Robert Smith from 'The Cure' provides guest vocals on this song. At first they sound out of place but after a few listens you get used to it. It is another slow song.

Here's your letter - Great song. It's like Go or Easy Target. Blink but more mature. Mark pushes his bass talent on this song and makes quite an intresting bass line. It's a very good song and the 2nd best on the album.

I'm lost without you - A piano opens this song up. You can tell from the start this is going to be an emotional and slow song. It really fineshes the album off well. It's a beautiful song and really one of the best on the album. Travis busts out awesome drums fills at the end.

So overall wow. This album is so much different to anything Blink has previously done. If you love poppy pop-punk this album will put you off, if your a Box Car Racer fan you'll most likely love this album. This will change everyones opinions of Blink. It's an overall slower album but alot more mature. It certanely wont be everyones cup of tea. Give it a listen and prepare to be suprised.

Rating 4.75/5 :thumb:

i heard some of their new songs and was quite amazed with what they've done. Their music has turned more emoish, especially in "stockholm sydrome" and a couple of other songs, i will most likely buy this album because i'm very happy with the way the band has adjusted their style since the last album. I dont really like "violence" though... it sounds way too awkward and the singing isn't at its best. Overall i also think thats its a great CD and i suggest it to all fans of pop-punk.

comment on the review: well done, you analysed each song pretty well :thumb:

my rating: 4/5

rating: 8/10

i prefer the new album over anything else blink has done

I don't like the idea that a band is more mature because they're making slower songs all of a sudden. Being immature was Blink's entire gimmick, and I think they did the maturity thing best on "Dammit." Oh well, at least it's an unbiased review (read: not from a bassist).

I'm not saying they are more mature because they are slower i'm saying they are more mature because they are changing the chords they use in their music, their lyrics and suchforth.

I found the album to be extremely unlike most anything Blink 182 has ever done before. It isn't the usual "poppy" sound with guitars like you'd originally think. They're trying something different, whether it works out for them or not, we will not know for a while, but for now, I am enjoying it, despite what is said about blink 182. If you can get past all of the stuff said about blink, and just buy the album, its actually pretty good. Not the best, but still, a good attempt at something new. So far I like-

"I miss you"
"Feeling This"
"Obvious"

Those seem to ring with me the most.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by YDload [/i]
[B]I don't like the idea that a band is more mature because they're making slower songs all of a sudden. Being immature was Blink's entire gimmick, and I think they did the maturity thing best on "Dammit." Oh well, at least it's an unbiased review (read: not from a bassist). [/B][/QUOTE]

People grow up - blink have grown up - get over it!

All I can say is wow. Blink-182 have finally gained my respect back and done something new and original (well maybe not super-original, I hear loads of Mark's big Bad Astronaut influence in here). I like the new sound quite a bit, although it sounds a little strange in some spots. My favorite tracks are "Stockholm Syndrome" (that's a killer beat in 1:07!), "Go", "Obvious", "Violence", and "Here's Your Letter", but as a whole, I like the album a lot. Thumbs up for the blinkers - they actually grew up and made something different!

My score - 8.5/10

Re: (Pop-Punk) Blink 182 - Self Titled
 

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by hybridofsound [/i]
[B]Stockholm Syndrome - Muse also happen to have a song titled this on their latest album and it's the best on the album. Same criteria applies here. Stockholm Syndrome is a classic Blink song. It has emotion in it and is very well preformed. If your a punk pureist or just hate Blink give this a listen and see what you think.
[/B][/QUOTE]
****it, I cant find the song anywhere......

Yeah it's bloody hard to download any new Blink. [url]http://www.mtv.com/music/the_leak/blink/blink_182/thanks.jhtml[/url] Is a link to the website where you can listen to the new album.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by obsoletemind [/i]
[B]People grow up - blink have grown up - get over it! [/B][/QUOTE]

Meh, I wouldn't call it growing up. They just sort of suddenly realized that they were adults and not fourteen-year-old boys.

It is a great album. They have that cool, kind of hidden track (you have to back the song up to hear it, or listen to it in full) right before Stockholm Syndrome. Its obviously a letter, but did they write it, or did they get it from somewhere else. The album flows so well too


good review man :thumb:

Well I think this is great news, because I was going to get it today, but my guitar lessons were cancelled so I didn't get the car. I'm getting it tomorrow, glad to hear the Blinkers are good.
Rock On

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by jimmymcmahon2001 [/i]
[B]They have that cool, kind of hidden track (you have to back the song up to hear it, or listen to it in full) right before Stockholm Syndrome. Its obviously a letter, but did they write it, or did they get it from somewhere else. [/B][/QUOTE]

It's a letter Marks grandfather wrote to his grandmother during world war two.

I am really liking this album alot and am on my 3rd or 4th listening at the moment.

Definately deserving of a (atleast in my opion)
4/5

alright,ill give you guys my review of what i think of the new album.ive listened to it at least ten times already.the highest of my ratings are 10

Feeling This - well,this is a catchy typical blink song.i knew there would be a single of this song on the fact that they put it out on the madden soundtrack entitled "action".i am glad that they decided to change the title to this song for the fact of the matter that it makes more sense.song rating 8-10.

Obvious - i like this song.its diffrent from any other blink song.song rating 9-10

I Miss You - the accoustics sound very good mixed in with the bass riffs and drum solos here.8-10

Violence - i really like how this song starts off.it gets better and the lyrics are very well writen to match the name of the song.9-10

Stockholm Syndrome -the letter part is very clever.however,it gets a tad bit boring after you listen to it alot.a first two or three times you'll want to hear it but after you know what it means you get bored of it.it was a good idea to add the letter and to give the song its meaning.song rating 7-10

Down - This song has a very spacey sound and sounds almost a little like I Miss You. It could almost be a Box Car Racer song. It's emotional and slower yet again. Lyrically it's one of the best songs on the album.(i pretty much agree everything that the first review of this.it does indeed sound like a bit like boxcar,and i also like the fact that jack sermen(think thats his name)came in and did an interlude for that song after it was perfomed.song rating 8-10

The Fallen Interlude - An interlude. Nothing you will have ever heard on a Blink album before and it's somewhat intresting.agreed,it sounds alot like a rap song but with a bunch of cool drum riffs travis added into the mix.i like it and its kinda like a chillin out song, but im not a big fan of rap.song rating 6-10

Go - fast and catchy.i do like this song,i just wish they wouldve worked more on it to make it longer.it looks like this could be the next single they may put out.but what do i know?song rating 7-10

Asthenia - this is by far my favorite song on the album.at the begining of the song theres nothing for the first 50 some seconds.then its all put together and starts rocking.very good lyrics,and i liked the fact that tom wrote this song about an astraunut in lost in space.song rating 10-10

Always - . It's catchy and has a traditonal catchy Blink chorus.9-10

Easy Target - this sounds like it couldve been a cover song mixed in with blink lyrics.its a great song and another one of my favorites.9-10

All Of This - this doesnt sound like blink at all,but thats because they added robert smith to the mix.i dont remember mark being in this,but tom has a good deal of vocals in this.im not much of a fan from the cure,but if you like them,then youll like this song.8-10

Here's your letter - Great song. It's like Go or Easy Target. Blink but more mature. Mark pushes his bass talent on this song and makes quite an intresting bass line.i agree with most of this guys saying on his review,but im getting kinda tired of writing.song rating 8-10

I'm lost without you - A piano opens this song up. You can tell from the start this is going to be an emotional and slow song. It really fineshes the album off well. It's a beautiful song and really one of the best on the album. Travis busts out awesome drums fills at the end.im not really into this,its the only song that i dont like that much on the album besides the falling interlude.i have to get a few more listens to like it but it is indeed a beautiful song.song rating 6-10

well that about raps it up on my review.the overall standings gets a 9/10.

i liked the guiitar in it, but i still cant get passed his voice. it really bugs me. overall for music i would give it an 8 out of 10

that cd kicks enormous ***, 10/10 I love the guitar, all the effects, (they had some good ideas liek in "Stolkhome Syndrome" they used the shower) and the vocals are great.

I really like the album after finally getting it. After the first listen I was like what that's it? But now that i've listened to it more it's grown on me it's probabaly an 8.5 its definitely different and better than Boxcar racer. I think Mark's vocals are a little lacking, I really missed his vocals on BCR and he isn't on this album near as much as Tom is. Tom's voice gets kind of annoying, I think Mark has the better voice, not sure why he doesn't get to sing an equal ammount..?
Great Album nontheless.
Later

I read the review and was a bit skeptic of Blink changing their sound so much, but got the cd since I've been a fan for about 5 years. The lyrics are weak in spots (particularly "Violence"), Mark's voice sounds like it's degenerating in some tracks, and Tom's vocals don't fit in some songs. They did surprise me with their instrumental techniques, though. It's nothing compared to some bands, but I think it's great that they're trying new things and getting more experimental. Also, the fact that they got Robert Smith to sing on one track is an instant brownie point or two. Although it's not revolutionary, I enjoy it and it's good to see that they're not entirely sticking to their old formulae. 3.5/5 here.

Iv listened to blink well for ever they started in 1993 and Iv been listening to them since 1994 they got me into punk Iv watched pretty much their whole career unfold even be for travis who is a much better drummer than scott and just plane amaizing they have grown up I love this album an they are still the insanly imature and funny guys we all love nothing has changed but the music !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stockholm Syndrome is the best song on the album, it's AMAZING vocal clashing, and some singing we've never heard from mark before. Little shaky if it's your first time listening to it, but you get used to it, and learn to love it.

I give the album a 5/5, with Stockholm, Easy Target, and Obvious being my favorites.
Easy Target has an okay verse, but you just get so pumped up and blown away by the chorus. It's so catchy, like you've heard the tune before, but you love it. Obvious, just a classic song, and the speding up part at the end is just someting to bob your head to.
5/5, once again.

is the album heavier than other blink songs? like some of the riffs on the boxcar racer record? or is it all pretty poppy punk stuff?

Its a mix of both
IT's a lot like Box Car Racer though, Obvious prob has the heaviest distortion in it, but theres other that use the distortion wisely. But theres also the accoustic riffs Tom loved in BCR, in songs such as "Miss you". Download a song or two, and if you like it, buy the album. The songs id recomend you download are "Stockholm Syndrome", "Obvious", and "Miss you". It gives you a nice mix of the material on the new album. But if you REALLY want to hear how blink has changed, download "Violence". But if you like how blink was back a few years ago, download "Go" and "Feeling This". Those are the only songs that show what blink used to be.

I loved this album!!

Being a drummer i am amazed at some of the things travis comes up with, he's definitely one of the most original drummers of today - not just in technique but in the way he plays, he loves to play very fast beats and drum fills and it fits in perfectly with each song. One of the best songs he's ever put a drum beat to was probably "The Anthem Part 2" which i thought was excellent!

I started listening to Blink 182 around the era of Dude Ranch, but grew extremley disenfranchised with them over the period of the next few years. However, after hearing this album, they have regained my respect though not to the degree they once had. It is good music, and it does shine, but something tells me they're making an atempt at clinging onto this new emo scene that is starting to break into the mainstream, with the likes of Dashboard Confessional, etc.

I still plan on buying the album. In any event, I am pretty impressed with them this go, especially after such piles of putrid crap as Enema Of The State and Take Off Your Pants And Jacket.

violence shocked me at first by the way it sounded. it doesnt sound like anything that they would do, but they did. but after awhile i got used to listening to the song.

id give the cd a rating of 8/10

some of the descriptions of songs in the booklet are stupid though, like they claim the songs are writtten about a special topic.... but when you listen to the song and read the lyrics it has nothing to do with what it claims... and also there is no methaphoric lyrics that could link it to that topic as well...

that might ave just confused u but oh well

If you like the old Blink182, then prepare for a shock because the guys have "grown-up" and their songs are about war, peace, love, and even space. You woln't find the silly songs about masturbation or Tom's parents spliting up (Stay together). Though what do you expect, the guys are all about 30 and married and they (as well as band) are viewing themselves as "punk elders"

Songs
----------------
"I miss you" - An all acoustic instrument song. It may not sound like it, but trust me it is. Very slow to.


"Always" - It is probally just me, but I do get a small "Stay together" vibe from this one in the very beginning of the song. This song is one of the few that sounds like them (or as close as they got). It's kinda slow as well.


"All of this" - Ever heard of Robert Smith? He sings lead in this little jewel. Sounds like it could have come off the 1982 Cure's album "pornography"


"Down" - one of the good songs on this cd. This one also sounds like the old guys sorta. Has a strong emotion about it. Varible speeds as well as strengths. It starts kinda easy and then hits you and then goes back to being easy.
-----------------

There is of course more on the cd but those where the ones I liked. I suggest using iTunes or something like that, buy two or three songs (3 bucks) and see what you think before you spend 15 bucks on the whole thing. If you are a big Blnk182 fan it is a decent investment, but if you are a diehard "old style Blink182 fan" then stay away becuase you probally will not like it.

RATE: 3/5 :)

ps>> Check out Jan 2004's issue of Guitar world for a full article/interview with the guys about their new cd and where they are going next. Very interesting.

dude these guys have grown up a lot and it really shows. i love this cd its so much better than there otheres wich i also liked but o well this one owns.

I Haven't Heard The Album So Don't Criticise Me

Feeling This - Not As Good As Other Blink Songs But Something New For Them To Try. Hopefully They Go Back To Their Old Style Of Song Writing.

You should have read my review. I said in there Feeling This is the worst interpretation you could get of this album. It's the most poppy and in my opinion the worst song on the album. The rest of the album is alot better.

[QUOTE]I'm not saying they are more mature because they are slower i'm saying they are more mature because they are changing the chords they use in their music, their lyrics and suchforth.[/QUOTE]


I believe thats called selling out...

[QUOTE=EastBR]I believe thats called selling out...[/QUOTE]

Gah.... That statement is just...wrong.
Please stop.

[QUOTE]Gah.... That statement is just...wrong.
Please stop.[/QUOTE]

OK your right, its the same sound as when they started. Sorry, my mistake :thumb:

:rolleyes:

The bass is still piss poor, as is the guitar. Very bland, very mediocre, nothing special.

Wow, if you had asked me a while ago if Blink had any good songs, I would have said "Adam's Song" and "Stay Together For The Kids" were their only good songs, with Dammit being a decent song. This album is so much better now, although the guitar and bass is a bit weak.

[QUOTE=jimmymcmahon2001]It is a great album. They have that cool, kind of hidden track (you have to back the song up to hear it, or listen to it in full) right before Stockholm Syndrome. Its obviously a letter, but did they write it, or did they get it from somewhere else. The album flows so well too


good review man :thumb:[/QUOTE]actually, its letters from Mark Hoppus's grandfather to Mark's grandmother when he was in the war. They're read by Joane Whaley.I've downloaded every song after hours of frustration.

The best Box Car Racer album by Blink 182., November 18, 2003
Reviewer: Joe (see more about me) from Shanklin,Isle of Wight,England
As a Blink 182 devotee I was looking forward to this immensely,
and then I heard 'Feeling This'.That rocked me to the core.If it wasn't for Tom DeLonge's distinctive whine then it would be completely unrecognisable.As it was it was more Box Car Racer than Blink,and certainly not classic Blink 182.Yet,unfortunatley it's the most Blink Blink song on the album.Oh dear.I listened to it with my friend,and we were both shocked as to what lay within the disc.

In both our opinion,this is the worst Blink album.This really is the sound of Blink 182 selling out.Before,they may have never strayed far from the original Blink template,but they played for the fans.This is an attempt at reaching more fans,which is okay,but not at the extent to which they alienate fans who stayed loyal to them during the'We hate Blink 182'times(which featured constant slagging off aimed at Blink)by completley overhauling their music.

Roughly 4 of these tracks are good,mainly the ones with a hint of Blink 182 left in them.'Down' and 'Asthenia'are good,but the only real standouts are 'Feeling This' and 'Go'.The opener to 'Stokholm Syndrome' is a joke,as is 'The Fallen Interlude' and the horrific verse of 'Violence' and for christ sake,the last song,'I'm Lost Without You' simply chugs for 6 and a half minutes.A 6:30 Blink song!?!What happened to affluent bursts of 3 minute punk?Where's the killer riffs,and the memorable,singalong melodies?This is the first Blink 182 album where I've come away with a feeling of boredom.This is also the only Blink album with a majority of 'skip' tracks.Listen to 'Carousel','Reebok Commercial' or 'Dancing With Myself' and think about this Tom DeLonge being the same Tom DeLonge behind this album.

Influences here are obvious,AFI and The Rolling Stones are present her,and more obviously Led Zepplin on 'Violence' and The Cure(with Robert Smith's vocals)on 'All Of This'.Also,the album has quite obviously been tinkered with to an extent,with samples,looped beats,and a polished overall sound cropping up.In fact Mark and Tom have a very poppy vocal technique on the album,and to be perfectly honest,at times (vocally)sound like Busted.Tom's voice is still as nasal and recognisable as always,but is over polished and lacks the rough edge that lit up songs like 'All The Small Things' and 'Stay Together For The Kids'.On the plus side though,Travis Barker's time with the Transplants semms to have served him well,as his drumming on the album is exemplary.

To sum up,'Blink-182'is flawed and souless,but look hard enough and persevere there is some good lisening to be had,nothing that will change your life like 'Dude Ranch','Enema Of The State' or 'Take Off Your Pants And Jacket' did,but it's okay.Tom may have ditched the Blink of old for a more Box Car Racer approach in order to gain wider appeal,but at what cost?I personally would like to give him a sharp slap to the face and tell him to wake up,but others may like this.On things for sure though-this album will split the fans like never before,so this once-great institution of punk-rock may have to suffer a backlash due to this new direction change.
All together"Will the last one out please shut the door...."

i've been reading some great reviews in this thread. i've been tempted to buy this album. well done everyone. :thumb: