Blink-182

Blink-182, the eponymous fifth album by Blink-182, is what you'd expect from the band, and a little bit more. If you know me, you probably know that I hate this genre, but I reviewed the album as objectively as possible, because, as you know, reviewing can never be TRULY objective. Lyrically, Blink-182 is as girl obsessed and lovesick as ever, churning out track after track of whining about heartbreak. However, there are some rare experimental gems on the album, and Blink-182 often succeeds when they focus on the instrumental aspect of their songs.

The first track, "Feeling This", clearly shows that boys from Blink-182 don't really care about lyrics, as they write the typical "let's screw some girls and have fun" lyrics characteristic of the pop punk genre. However, the music is undeniably catchy and the main guitar riff is intriguing enough to catch my attention. The entire song is a bit harsher than what is typical of songs in the genre, though the harshness is largely added by the verse guitar riff. The chorus was fairly unimpressive, featuring generic modern production and overdubbed guitars that makes the song fall into the swamp of generic alt rock once again. The melody is catchy, but that's only to be expected from Blink-182.

"Obvious", the second track, is aptly named. The lyrics describe a cheating female (If Blink-182 is anything, it certainly isn't original) and lack even the slightest bit of subtlety.

"I saw you again... I know you f***ed him again"

Yeah, I get why you called the song "Obvious".

Now, I actually don't dislike the song. I think it's probably one of the best things I've heard from them, musically. It's much heavier than a typical pop punk song, and there's a little break in the middle with a fantastic chord change. And though the lyrics are generic, the song itself certainly isn't. It bears similarity to "Stockholm Syndrome", the other rocker on the album.

The third track, "I Miss You", is the ultimate testament to generic music. I won't even bother going over lyrics, but the music is a typical pop song buildup that has been done since the 60s. The song is completely forgettable.

Oh yeah, there's autotune, which destroys the song's attempt at a sincere love ballad.

"Violence" is definitely the gem of the album. Though the simile (violence compared to heartbreak) is weak, the song is well constructed, with an atmospheric intro that is followed by dry spoken parts which fit the song perfectly. The song has some excellent guitar work, and a riff that anchors the otherwise weak chorus. But most importantly, "Violence" is original, and that's what makes it noteworthy.

The rest of the album contains a massive load of mediocre and generic filler, but "The Fallen Interlude" is a sweet treat. With an atmospheric piano ostinato and excellent beat, it serves as a fantastic sequel to "Down" (which is an excellent example or unoriginal and uninteresting filler), with emotional (I know, I was surprised Blink-182 could be emotional) singing at the end, in a whispery fashion. "Go" is also an interesting track, and the only one with lyrics that aren't about lovestruck teenagers.

As I came to the end of the album, only one more track got my attention. "Here's Your Letter", though as generic as "Down", has one virtue: its killer bass line. However, if anyone is truly interested in good basslines, I recommend The Uplift Mofo Party Plan by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Flea's a fantastic bassist.

Blink-182 delivers. That's the best I can say about the album. It offers nothing innovative or original, nor does it carry much substance. But it delivers for the fans, and it excels at what it is; it is a straight up pop punk album aimed at a teenage audience. Though it contains an appalling excess of filler, the band battles through with an impeccable sense of melody. All in all, a fairly satisfying listen for the average listener.

7/10