On their new self-titled disc, blink explores their maturity in life and in music, by displaying the most respectable kind of punk they've offered to date. Maybe that side project Box Car Racer or their buddies Jimmy Eat World inspired the band to be a little more musically oriented than generally predictable. blink's last few albums haven't been bad, but they have been pretty standard. This time around, it's not typical; it's like a good book, flowing evenly and profusely throughout, never really giving it's audience a point where they get bored by detail.

The album sets off a wildfire, with new and above-average tunes like the snappy "Violence," in which vocalist/guitarist Tom DeLonge speaks with a jazz-like flair, while fingersnaps back him up. The mellow "Down," keeps a steady pace moving into the instrumental beat-driven "The Fallen Interlude," which resembles, believe it or not, Linkin Park (!). Not to say blink is rap-metal, but they get close to hard rock with the earthquaking "Stockholm Syndrome."

And judged by that song, this question may come up: can blink still rock the mic? Yes, indeed, just like old times, such as the lead single, "Feeling This," shows us (with its acapella end, its latin drum loop and all), as does the fairly simplistic "Go," and old-school inspired "Easy Target," which moves directly into the moody and dark "All Of This," featuring vocals by Robert Smith of the Cure. The band keeps it's roots intact, but throws the world a curveball by using programming, drum loops, and all kinds of new arrangements to expand their musical talents. Even using Tom a bit more on vocals doesn't hurt the band, giving them a rougher exterior than before. Bassist Mark Hoppus is a fine singer, but more clean-cut than Tom's made-for-punk voice is. Mark only sings one song by himself (the smooth rocker, "Here's Your Letter"), as the rest are more or less Tom's, with assistance by Mark.

This is growing up for blink-182, and this is sure to earn them some respect from many who have given up on them. They've ditched the sound that so many bands have stolen and tried to make their own (and failed at miserably), but now blink-182 has found their niche, and it's a good one. Some bands can't pull off a 180 like this, but blink succeeds, and it's a welcome change.


A Blink Album Made Me Cry   January 31, 2004
Kerry (Buffalo, NY)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

It's a bit odd to grow up with three guys that are at least 10 years older than you, but I feel that's what I have done with Blink 182. When I was in middle school they gave me something to laugh at and be happy about. It was really cool to know that I wasn't the only kid who felt like a loser and thought farts were amusing.
Now I'm a junior in high school and I look for emotion and beauty in everything, especially the music I listen to. It's like Blink caters to my personal taste, because this self titled album is beautiful and plunges deep into the heart of every emotion. There's still the bouncy, catchy song, "Feeling This" and then there are a few romantic and heartbreaking songs like "Down" and "I'm Lost Without You", and the song of hope in love, "Always". And there's even a lounge style song, called "The Fallen Interlude", which is definitly exploration for them, and it makes me proud. The most heart wrenching part of the CD is the prelude to "The Stockholm Syndrome" which features a woman writing a letter to her lover during time of war. It starts to put things in perspective. O, and let's not forget "All of This", the one with Robert Smith from The Cure. That one just regurgitates the most lonly feeling ever. There truley is a song for every emotion on this album because "Go" and "Obvious" are for angry days.
So I really suggest buying this album. It's kind of like reading a really good work of litterature. One word of caution, however: do make sure you have one of their earlier albums to put you in a lighter mood afterward if the negative emotions seem to linger more.


The beginning of the end or the end of the beginning   December 7, 2005
Christopher C. (Idaho, but miss Guam)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Any way you look at it it's an amazing CD. It was the first CD I got when I finally left home and came to live on the island of Guam, I was 19 and home sick. When I first listened to it I was disappointed and upset because it was not the same Blink I used to listen to while driving in my car with my friends on all those beautiful summers. So I shunned it for a while, but then I put the song "I Miss You" in the background of a video I was making of Guam to send to my family and friends. I listened to it allot and found that I really liked and it said how I felt at the time. Pretty soon I started to listen to more and more of the CD and in time found I liked every song on it. It is one of my favorite CDs I own now. Every time I listen to it, it reminds me of my time in Guam and the memories I will never forget of growing up.