As the debate about Blink 182 rages on needlessly, with many coming to either love or hate the crude pop trio, there is one thing that is, in my mind undisputable – they have created some damn fine music in their time, and whether you like the new material or not, the old stuff is a little bit like Dr. Pepper.. to try it is to love it*
As ‘Pathetic’ explodes, you know this is going to be a different kettle of fish than enema, and you start wondering just exactly where that fourth chord went – but any doubts are cast aside after a couple of listens as you pay more attention to the switching of vocals between Mark and Tom and the catchy guitar riff. ‘Voyeur’ is a slightly less likeable track, but its fuelled ending is followed by the genius that is ‘dammit’; which is quite hard to dislike, combining damn good lyrics and singing from Mark which formulates a song which is charged with adrenalin and emotion, a hard thing to do successfully.
It has to be said I don’t think Tom sings as well as Mark, though he does a bit of variety into the sound which would have been lacking otherwise. Boring and Dick Lips are both pretty average tracks, listenable but ultimately fillers before the excellent ‘Waggy’ which seems serious (until we hear about the singer jacking off) one of the best last 30 seconds of any blink song can be found on this track as well – ‘its never over till its done; and I don’t think that you’re the one’ – drawing to a neat end.
‘Josie’, ‘Apple Shampoo’ and ‘lemmings’ are also all worth a long listen; ‘a new hope’ will appeal to star wars fans for obvious reasons. comic sprinklings in between the tracks also help the album appeal to its listener. This is an album you can stick on your stereo and listen to all day; at first samey, but then you start to realise why many blink fans are claiming their band went downhill after the end of this record and Scott Raynor’s career in blink – a classic.
nick
* I am not on the payroll of DrPepper in anyway shape or form. Still, I believe it to be the most refreshing drink for the youth generation.