Pop-punks Finest. (Enema Of The State - blink-182)

Member Name: seano1993

Product:	Enema Of The State - blink-182
Date:	17/09/09 (24 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Catchy, good drumming, fun songs,

Disadvantages: A few songs let the album down.

"Enema of the State" is an album by Californian pop-punk band Blink-182. Blink 182 are one of the frontrunners in this pop-punk genre that seems to have gradually creeped into the mainstream music charts over the last 15 years. This album came out 10 years ago, and is regularly listed by critics as one of the best albums of this new generation of pop-punk bands. I only recently discovered them via listening to Green Day's older stuff, which brought to my attention this pop-punk explosion that I seemed to have missed out on. Generally I find most pop-punk to be awful and generic, and was glad to see this album bucked that trend.

The album kicks off with "Dumpweed", a song that starts the album off with a bold statement of what Blink 182 and the rest of the album is going to be like. The energetic guitar riff and fast drumming complement Mark's limited voice. Mark Hoppus' voice isn't great and the other vocalist Tom DeLounge isn't any better. But they manage to fit in well with the ridiculous lyrics on this album and anyway if you are buying a Blink 182 CD it is not for the beautiful singing or brilliant insightful lyrics. Instead the lyrics are entertaining and humourous, like on one of the best songs on the album "Whats My Age Again", featuring the hilarious verse of

"Then later on, on the drive home
I called her mom from a pay phone
I said I was the cops and your husband's in jail
This state looks down on sodomy"

I was suprised when I listened to track seven, "Adam's Song". Nearly all the songs on the album feature toilet humour ("Dysentery Gary" being a prime example") or immature lyrics about girls, college etc, but "Adam's Song" shows a tender side to Blink-182 in a serious song about suicide. It starts off with a bass-line from Mark and some unorthodox but effective drumming from Travis Barker. The guitar doesn't come in till the chorus and it is a side I would like Blink 182 to show more often as it works well. The lyrics aren't great but don't detract from the emotion in the song. Its a rather sobering song in between two fast and up-beat songs "Dysentery Gary" and "All the Small Things".

You don't have time to digest the powerful "Adam's Song" before you are hit by "All the Small Things". This is a good test if you are wondering if you should buy this album or not. Listen to "All the Small Things" and if you like it you will enjoy "Enema of the Stae" and vice-versa. Its Blink 182 at their best and a great sing-along anthem.

So far I've been very positive about the whole album but unfortunately there are some negatives as well. "Wendy Clear", "Going Away to College" and the last song on the album "Anthem" aren't very good and let down the album. Also the Tom Delounge is't a great guitarists and a lot of the songs do get a bit repetitive and sound similar.

Overall this album is just a bit of fun and pop-punk at its best. Its never going to win any awards for brilliant song-writing or guitar work, but its hard not to like the infectious pop choruses and youthful enthusiasm throughout this album that keeps it going.

Summary: Great album for anyone who likes pop-punk.