The Enema Strikes Back! (The Mark, Tom & Travis Show - blink-182)

Member Name: Tcraze84

Product:	The Mark, Tom & Travis Show - blink-182
Date:	21/02/01 (688 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Classic blink-182, storming through a backlisting of some of their best material, which is played with enthusiasm and energy live.

Disadvantages: Some great songs missed out - only available on limited edition, so you'll be lucky to find it now.

In today's world of fast-moving trends, styles and constant changing of fashionable genres of music, it is extremely rare to find a case like that of blink-182.

Unknown to most, the San Diego punks have been around for approximately a decade now; though only came about major public exposure following the huge success that came of "All The Small Things", "What's My Age Again?" and the "Enema Of The State" album as a whole.

Not many people know that before this worldwide best-seller, blink-182 released three albums previous to this, and had a very different sound to the one that a lot of new fans have become accustomed to today.

The albums in question; "Buddha", "Cheshire Cat", and the 1997 release of "Dude Ranch" make up blink-182's discography (besides a few obscure promos) and chart the rise to the top of Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, Travis Barker and ex-drummer Scott Raynor.

Before they became MTV darlings, blink-182 were primarily an underground-style punk three-piece whose only goal was to headline their local music club. Though, compared to what they have achieved now, it seems petty in comparison.

And so "The Mark, Tom and Travis Show", a live album recorded from their recent tours, aims to chart some of the memories of the last ten years and bundle them onto one CD.

But - do not be fooled into thinking that this album was released as a "Greatest Hits" type of disc. Indeed it is not. And although a lot of their best work is played from all albums, too much good material is left off for it to truly achieve this accomplishment.

I'm sure most of you realise that, when buying a live album, you do not look for perfection in either singing or the music itself. Well..maybe you do, but I don't, and perfection will not be found on this album.

Opinions on the band's live performances have always be d
ivided by long-term fans. Many consider them to be a shoddy live band - and some, including myself feel that they come off perhaps better from it - the sheer energy from a live set, the humourous interaction with the fans and unpolished playing all either add to the blink-182 experience or remind everybody of how they started out.

The album carries a "Parental Advisory" label for a good reason - not only are there expletives and sexual suggestions within the song lyrics themselves, but between each song, Mark and Tom talk for a minute or so, and if you know the band, you will know their sense of humour is not always, er, socially acceptable! Though there is no chance of getting away from the in-song banter, the band also provide fans with an extra seven minutes of conversation and clips of some humourous moments on the end of the album.

Not really recommended for first time listeners as much as "Enema.." perhaps, the tracklisting takes some of the classics from all previous albums, as well as some new unreleased material and storms through them like a lemming on speed.

Many familiar songs are played far faster on this album - suiting their true style, and often sounding better for it in some cases.

The forthcoming single "Man Overboard" from the forthcoming new studio album is also tacked onto the end, not live, but is a welcome addition and gives us a taster of what to expect in the future.

Though not perfect, there is little faulting the band on their live performances - the guitars/bass/drums sound a lot better live, even if a few notes are occasionally dropped, but you appreciate just how well the guys can actually play their chosen instruments.

From the opening chords of the obligatory intro song, "Dumpweed", right through to the crowd-favourite finale of "Dammit", this album will not fail to make you laugh, make you sad ("Adam's Song" is superb
ly played), and..make you laugh again, before you realise just how good blink-182 really are, in their "natural habitat", or so to speak.

You'll have a tough job getting hold of it though; released as a limited edition CD, "The Mark, Tom and Travis Show" was quickly snapped up by myself and many other blink fans. And with an extra bonus of a great photograph-filled booklet and excellent cover artwork, as well as the music itself, this is an excellent album.

Just don't play it too loud in front of your parents though - they may not approve!

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