Album #34 : Blink-182 - Enema of the State

Blink-182

Enema of the State (1999)

Oh, how I recall the drunken arguments about Blink-182. 

"THEY'RE NOT AS GOOD AS THEY WERE ON DUDE RANCH!" 

"OMG CHESHIRE CAT WAS THE TITS NOW THEY ARE TRIPLE M STAPLES!"

"THEY GOT THIS NEW DRUMMER AND NOW THEY SUCK!"

"EVER SINCE TOM DELONGE STARTED TO SING REGULARLY THEY HAVE BEEN SHIT! HE'S SO WHINEY! SHUT UP DELONGE!"

(The last one was me.)

Dammit (and to a lesser extent, Josie) threw the band into the mainstream spotlight. High airplay and MTV rotation meant the band were suddenly at the forefront of the pop-punk scene. When the time finally came for the group to record their third album, Enema of the State, they had fired their previous drummer and replaced him with Travis Barker. Upon the album's release, fans were given an even more refined pop-punk sound. It was the understandable result of a pop punk band recording with a major release budget and a high-profile producer (punk producer Jerry Finn). 

Is it 'teh shiz' though, or just commercial 'punk' pap? I decided to find out.

The Album

It's unfair to label Enema of the State as a complete departure from the faster, less-refined punk sound of the band's early releases....because it's not. Well, not entirely, anyway. Dig beneath the singles and you'll find several tracks that would not have been out of place on Dude Ranch. In particular, the songs Don't Leave Me, Dumpweed and The Party Song are typical slices of fast-paced melodic punk (speedy drums, fast riffs, urgent vocal delivery), and signal that the group could still turn on the typical punk rock sensibilities when they needed to.

The three singles are the least traditionally punk tunes on the album. Of the three, it's my view that What's My Age Again and Adam's Song are the pick of the litter. The former is a very catchy number about a person who simply refuses to 'grow up', though the song's close is a bit of a protest about always being told to 'act your age'; Mark Hoppus singing, "no one should take themselves so seriously, with many years ahead to fall in line, why would you wish that on me?" The latter is quite an affecting and distinctly un-punk song; a slow tempo, morose guitar motif and lyrics that are extremely evocative of loneliness (Hoppus penned the song reflecting on the solitary feeling he would often have after a tour, as he was the only band member not in a relationship at the time). There's also a sneaky reference to Come As You Are in there. All The Small Things is a pretty large-sounding tune, due to the numerous guitar overdubs, and it's a very basic pop song at its core. You can't deny its hookiness, but compared to its single counterparts, it offers nothing else, really.

In fairness to the band (and those drunken arguments) there are a few things that need to be straightened out. Firstly, say what you like about Travis Barker, there's no doubt the dude is a talented player. He does everything on this album, from typical supersonic punk beats to, on Aliens Exist, shifting seamlessly between rhythms without breaking stride. Secondly, for mine, Hoppus is a far better vocalist than DeLonge, even if he has his own occasional whiny moments (perhaps it's just a prerequisite for pop punk). Thirdly, decrying the group as 'selling out' is grossly unfair. Is it like Cheshire Cat? Probably not, no. But go back and listen to Dude Ranch, and you'll hear the foundations of this more polished pop sound.

It also needs to be said that the group captures the sounds and experiences of adolescence to great effect simply by writing about their own experiences. Lyrically we're not talking masterpiece level stuff; it's more like the American Pie of song lyrics; but coupled with the largely carefree pop-punk sound, it's pretty good stuff.

The Verdict

Enema of the State is alright. Its importance as an album is evident in the sheer number of pop-punk copycats that sprung up after its release. Whether the group's detractors like it or not, this album did more to consolidate Blink-182's place in the music world than any of their previous effort. It's not the best, most vital or emotionally charged punk rock you'll ever hear, and to my mind it doesn't hold a candle to groups like NoFX or Millencolin.

It's still pretty decent though, and worth checking out if you've got a spare half an hour and just want some mindless tunes to listen to for a bit of fun.

My rating: ***

Standout Tracks

Don't Blame Me

Aliens Exist

The Party Song

Tomorrow, we've got heads on sticks, and you've got ventriloquists.

(Yeah, that's a lyrical clue.)