This is my first review, so don't be brutal.
I'm not going to start with a cheesy introduction to the band/the band's history. I'm simply going to jump right into the review.
ANTHEM PART TWO: A good start to the album, but significantly less of a start than on blink's previous albums. Carousel, Pathetic and Dumpweed were really standout tracks, with fast, energetic music. Don't get me wrong though, this is a great track. This song is sort of a rally cry for teens. Basically, they say if we're f***ed up, youre to blame for your influences. We didn't start all these wars, or have all these problems, so why should we be blamed for your mistakes. This song starts out with a chugging guitar riff, stooping right before the verse for some great bass lines, and some complex drumming. BOTTOM LINE - Not the best album starter, but has a strong message. 7.5/10
ONLINE SONGS: Starts out with a pretty good bass line, and some vocals by Mark, yet slowly growing right before the verse to allow a drum /guitar combination that sounds great. With a pick scrape right before the chorus, and the na-na interlude during the song, this is a pretty fast song with slightly dark lyrics. The lyrics bring Josie (Mark's love interest from Dude Ranch) back into the picture with mark expressing his hatred for her. BOTTOM LINE - This song is basically filler, but some damn good filler. 7/10
FIRST DATE: This is where the album starts to get fun. Starts in with some awesome drumming by Travis, and has some great-sounding palm muting in the prechorus by Tom. This song relates all the insecurities and thoughts that come to a boy's mind when getting a first date with a girl. Perhaps the highlight of this track is the interlude, with some great guitar stuff. BOTTOM LINE - Fun, upbeat song,(Hilarious music video!)with many chugging guitar riffs/palm mutes that gets you in a good mood. 8/10
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, YOU BASTARD: The first of the joke songs on this album. Hilarious lyrics (Dealing with certain sexual acts) mixed with jackhammer fast guitar /drums, this is funny stuff, but not something you would play to your mom. This song is a bit too immature for me. BOTTOM LINE - Fuuny, really fast song, but definitely not work safe. 6/10
STORY OF A LONELY GUY: This is a relatively slow song, on which Tom shows that when he tries, he can sing decently. Turn your subwoofers up for this song, I think the bass meshes perfectly with the palm mutes. A solid interlude in this song, and some great backing da-da-das from Mark. BOTTOM LINE - A solid track, not a highlight on the album 7.5/10
THE ROCK SHOW: Definitely a favorite of mine, this track starts out with everyone playing full force. Some great bass in this song, with fun lyrics, and the chorus is unbelievably catchy. Mark's voice is great on this track, and when his voice joins with Tom's during the chorus, it sound pretty cool. Something to look forward to on your second play of the album. BOTTOM LINE - Fun, upbeat, catchy. great song, a definite high point on the album. 9/10
STAY TOGETHER FOR THE KIDS: Just when you feel like you're floating on air after listening to The Rock Show, your heart gets ripped out and repeatedly stomped on. This is definitely the best, most mature track on the album, with serious lyrics dealing with divorce.Tom really gets the message through with his scratchy, yet powerful voice, and the simply amazing guitar on this track. Mark also sings the verses with plenty of broken hope in his voice, and his backing on the chorus. BOTTOM LINE - Beautiful, yet heartbreaking song. Definitely the strongest, most mature, and touching song blink has ever written. Buy the album for this song.10/10
ROLLER COASTER: An upbeat song, this song is definitely remembered for the interlude, with a bass solo and some sort of studio effect jumping back and forth through your headphones. This song has some good drumming, and some good guitar, but is really just shameless filler that once again, is pretty good. BOTTOM LINE - Average song, yet upbeat, and really fun 7.5/10
RECKLESS ABANDON: This is one of the darker songs on the album, with lyrics ranging from sex to drugs to teen partying. I think Travis really shines here (as always) with some solid , fastpaced, beats. Not really much more to say about this song. BOTTOM LINE - Dark lyrics, with some excellent drums 7/10
EVERYTIME I LOOK FOR YOU: I like this track. It's not a stand out song, but the parts when Mark and Tom trade off lyrics back and forth show that their vocal capabilities are there. Some piano in this track, which mellows the constant guitar and great bass. Drums are good here, too. My favorite part of the song is when tom is left palying a guitar riff by himself, pauses, and everyone jumps into this powerful kind of bridge. BOTTOM LINE - A step up from filler this track is suprisingly good. 7.75/10
GIVE ME ONE GOOD REASON: The lyrics on this track really are true in present day America. Everyone is trying to be popular, and part of the cliques and act all poser-like. Tom clearly states "give me one good reason why we need to be like them". A highlight on this track is Travis drumming his heart out, and that suprisingly powerful, touching interlude that starts in at about 2:13 into the track. BOTTOM LINE - Listen to this for the lyrics, drums, and that interlude (not that it's lacking in everything else). 8/10
SHUT UP: This is one of my least favorite tracks off the album. Clearly too much use of the F-Word for no reason. This song actually has some great bass, the part of the song during and after Mark says "i'll run away" and it slows down is great, but this is clearly filler (still good filler). BOTTOM LINE - nothing to get excited about. 6.75/10
PLEASE TAKE ME HOME: I Like the fast chorus mixed with the slow verses of this song. A great way to end the album in my opinion, especially with Travis's awesome drumming peppering the song here andthere, especially right before the chorus. BOTTOM LINE - A great ending for a greater album.8.25/10
Pros: Stay together for the kids, The Rock Show, interludes, palm mutes
Cons:Shut Up, Not enough bass
BOTTOM LINE: This is my favorite blink-182 album, and if you don't have it, you NEED to go buy it right now. Every song on this album reminds me of summer (especially the rock show, roller coaster, etc.). A classic album in my opinion. 4/5
***BONUS TRACKS***
Ok, Let me explain the bonus tracks to you....
The first million copies of this album were packaged as special edition CD's. There were 3 special additions. One had a disc with a red palne on it, one with yellow pants, and one with a green jacket. each one of these had two brand new songs, one regular, and one joke, in addition to the normal album.
*RED PLANE*
TIME TO BREAK UP: An awesome song, told by Tom about a girl that used to piss him off, and he wants her back. Arguably Travis's best drumming , this song is an example of the best stuff the man has ever played. Some great, chugging guitar riffs by Tom, and some good bass by Mark, this is a reason to buy Red Plane, even if you already have the original. BOTTOM LINE - A Great, upbeat, very fast song with some amazing drumming. 9.25/10
MOTHER'S DAY: This is the joke song of the album, with the lyrics comprising of "F***ing and sucking and touching" over and over, which can be pretty funny. An acoustic song, there can be nothing said regarding drum/bass. BOTTOM LINE - Funny song, and some solid guitar 6.75/10
*YELLOW PANTS*
WHAT WENT WRONG: A beautiful song, all acoustic, telling about a girl who ruined Tom's life. The interlude is outstanding, incorporating clarinet into the mix. Again, a reason to own the Yellow Pants is this track alone. Definitely the favorite extra song of mine.BOTTOM LINE - Awesome song, with a beautiful interlude, and some good singing by Tom. 9.5/10
F*** A DOG: This is the funniest of the three joke songs, basically taliking about wanting to do certain things with dogs regarding the anus. Listen for the chorus when Tom and Mark sing together (sounding like vikings) and when Mark portrays the pirate (sounding like a mexican rasta)
BOTTOM LINE - Best Joke song of the three, with some funny voices. 8/10
*GREEN JACKET*
DON'T TELL ME THAT IT'S OVER (HOLD ON): A pretty good song, but doesn't stand out. Some great guitar, and drums, and a solid chorus. A pretty neat bass solo hidden somewhwere in here too. BOTTOM LINE - This one won't sell the album, but is good nontheless. 8/10
GRANDPA: A funny joke song, this is Mark singing about someone having sex with their grandfather. Pretty nasty, but funny. Especially the line about rubbing his genitalia in broken glass. BOTTOM LINE - A little to gross, but funny. 7/10
BOTTOM LINE: Look for these on ebay. If you can only get one, go with Yellow Pants.
