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 ass 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: