Hello There, The Angel From My Nightmare (Blink-182 - blink-182)

Member Name: rleigh

Product:	Blink-182 - blink-182
Date:	12/03/08 (761 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: An excellent Pop Punk album showcasing the serious side of Blink 182.

Disadvantages: 'Asthenia' is disappointing, provides the album with its one moment of weakness.

2003 was the year that Blink 182 decided to turn all serious. Before this point they had never been anything but an energetic and fun Pop Punk band, but with their self-titled 2003 album they decided they were desperately in need of a change of direction. After the release of their album 'Take Off Your Pants and Jacket' in 2001, band members Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker had gone on to form the band Box Car Racer as a serious side project to Blink 182. In 2002 Travis Barker also laid down the drumbeats for the self-titled Transplants album. Blink 182 was falling apart and something needed to be done in order to keep the band together, and thus this serious album was released. Given that the band then called it a day with their 'extended hiatus' in 2005, it would seem that nothing could have saved Blink 182 from disbanding, but at least they gave it their best shot and came up trumps with this excellent album.

Any fans of Blink 182 will know that the band had already tried out their serious side on 'Take Off Your Pants and Jacket' to great effect. Their 2001 quadruple platinum album contained the hit single 'Stay Together for the Kids', and with their self-titled album it can be seen that the band chose to continue along these lines that had already been tried and tested. The album opens with 'Feeling This' and as the band progress their way through this album rarely do they disappoint. 'Feeling This' provides a fantastic starting point for the album, the drums come pounding through first and as the track progresses always the band impress. This self-titled album from Blink 182 is seriously hard hitting throughout its entirety and as Blink 182 tear their way through this album there's just one moment of weakness in all of the album.

What I like most about this album is that the tracks flow on from one another. Each track leads nicely into the next and there is a great sense of continuity as Blink 182 progress their way through this self-titled album. I think the best example of this comes between the tracks 'Easy Target' and 'All of This'. 'Easy Target' is blessed with a beautiful drum beat, it's fast and impressive as Travis Barker smashes his way through the track with great intent. It then leads perfectly into 'All of This' as the drum beat slows and gradually changes. The progression here is truly sensational, the band go from lightening fast to super soft with no problems whatsoever. The change seems natural and there are no problems whatsoever as the band drastically amend their approach.

At the centre of this album is 'The Fallen Interlude', it takes on a Hip-Hop approach and is for the most part a Travis Barker drum fill. The drum technique of Travis Barker is absolutely excellent here and with this interlude he really shows off the terrific talent that he possesses. Travis Barker was one of my main influences in learning to play the drums and always he impresses me with his vast array of talent. There are few that can play the drums with such speed as he, he takes relatively simple drum beats and plays them at such a rate as to make them sound anything but simple. I can't find fault with the man's drumming and always on this album his technique is greatly impressive as he smashes and crashes his way through every one of these tracks with no difficulties whatsoever. I could easily listen to an album compiled purely of the drum work of Travis Barker, the sound he creates when drumming truly is phenomenal.

As Blink 182 progress their way through this self-titled album, only at one point do I ever feel that they're not at their best. This is with the track 'Asthenia' in which I feel that the sound the band produce here is a little tiresome. It is the only point on this album with which they even border upon dull, but nonetheless it is included on this self-titled release and is one track that I never feel particularly inspired by when listening to this album. To me it just sounds a little lifeless, and whilst the rest of the album is greatly impressive and highly energetic, the band lack substance on this track and really fail to ignite.

This self-titled album was the last album that the band released before going on their extended hiatus, and whilst it's greatly upsetting that they decided to put things on hold perhaps forever; at least there are a number of tracks here that show the band at their very best. 'Always' for example comes complete with a terrific chorus and never do the band disappoint as they fight their way through this one. Blink 182 have always been one of my favourite Pop Punk bands, and in this album are contained a number of my favourite tracks of theirs. 'I Miss You' is another powerful track from this release and the aforementioned tracks 'Easy Target' and 'All of This' are favourites of mine from this album also. There are so many stand out moments from this release that it actually makes it extremely hard for me to mention them all, it truly is an excellent album though and aside from one song all of the tracks present on this album are hugely impressive.

If you're a fan of Pop Punk music then I thoroughly suggest that you give this album a listen. There are so many excellent tracks on this album that to pass up the opportunity to give it a listen truly would be quite ludicrous. 'Enema of the State' is without doubt my favourite of all the albums released by Blink 182 between the years of 1992 and 2005, and yet this self-titled effort came so close to snatching that crown away. Were it not for the one moment of weakness on this album then it would perhaps be my favourite of the six studio albums of Blink 182; even though it's not my favourite that the band released it is definitely still an excellent album and one that should be listened to by all. There are so many brilliant tracks on this album and everyone out there should take the time to listen to this album at least just the once even if never again after. Some will perhaps not be particularly enthralled by what they hear here, but fans of Pop Punk I feel should be greatly impressed by this Blink 182 classic.

Summary: 'Blink 182' is an excellent album from the band, a brilliant Pop Punk release.