Blink 182
Enema Of The State
»
Blink 182
Enema Of The State
MCA, 1999
RiYL: NOFX, 10 Foot Pole, The Living End |
A little over your head? Thats okay, the material on Enema Of The State isn't. The band has its listeners in mind when writing tracks like "Aliens Exist," an ode to X-Files culture. "I know the CIA would say, what you hear is all hearsay" bassist and singer Mark Hoppus whines in his nasal tone that makes the vocals strangely appealing and create a regular-guy attitude.
Instead of aiming at high school antics Blink-182 has grown up, a little. The group is now tackling twentysomething issues with tracks such as "Going Away To College" and the first single "What's My Age Again" a goofy lament penned by an ADD-afflicted 23-year-old. But neither one tries highbrow tactics at roping in listeners, instead there is a constant pop hook running through each track that seems almost second nature to punk fans.
And it is. All the music has been written before or to some extent played by punk bands for years. But punk has never been about original music, just playing it loud and fast. Blink-182 does all that but they also encapsulate the overall sound in the three minute timeframe of a pop song. "Adam's Song" is a classic punk textured song, but Blink-182 goes through a range of three different styles with the vocals maintaining intensity and emotion, even through the song's lulls.
Even with all the similarities running through punk's past, Enema Of The State is the best sounding disc to come from a punk band this year. Its high energy and humorous tone allow for some very easy listening.
DAVID THOMAS |