Classic Rock Album of the Day- Blink 182- Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001) ***
Blink had a tough act to follow. To followup on the massively successful "Enema of the State", would be an almost an impossible feat. Enema was Quintuple Platinum, which is (was) a pretty amazing accomplishment right in the middle of the Napster era. I understand Punk is not for most people, and how I at least see the genre, are those few bands who best took forward the ideas, energy, speed, and chaotic flailing of the Ramones. The Ramones will always be the gold standard, but there were quite a few descendants that took the mantle, and did it well, and in the case of Blink did it in a slight handed Pop, and melodic way.
But more than anything, if you are a fan of drumming and percussion, what Travis Barker did on these two albums is nothing short of remarkable. No one in the past 25 years or so had done it as expansive, filled, and crushing than the tattooed wonder. Listen closely, and you would think some of what he accomplishes could only be done via electronic fill. But that is not the case. The guy is that good. Why he is not ranked higher among the greats is more likely a function of the lack of serious nature of Blink's music than his technical prowess.
Mark Hoppus, and Tom Delonge are not exactly slouches either in their craft. They are decent and competent as the rest of the Alpha-Numeric Punk acts of the era. What slightly sets them apart is what I consider somewhat of a pop sensibility. Not overt enough to infer Hook Central, but just a load of really good punk tunes. And I got a kick of these kids doing a parody and what the thought of what it was like in mid 1970's in their "First Date" Video. But let me add, that the latter part of the album contains several stupid pointless vulgarities that detracts from the album's full content and legacy.
The CD is 19 generally short 2-3 minute rides into modern Punk Rock and the adventures of youth, and is fun as hell. Instead of ranking these, I am going to assign the tunes a "quintile" ranking. 1 2 3 4 5 And maybe a short narrative, if warranted. I mean this is punk rock. This isn't designed to over analyzed. Plus I might add I know the quintiles aren't exactly symmetrical, but I did the best I could.
Fun Fact: All 7 of the last 9 Blink 182 studio albums charted in the Top 10.
Track No.
========
1. Anthem Part 2- 2
2. Online Songs- No new ground here. Similar to some of the stuff on Enema 4
3. First Date- Probably their biggest hit on the CD. Excellent take on teenage agnst. Drumming clinic in progress 1
4. Happy Holidays, You Bastard- If there is one knock on Blink's material, I swear that they do have some tunes that are almost similar, if not exact. Docked for recycling 5
5. Story of a Lonely Guy- The most thoughtful, and melodic song on the CD, and a pleasant melodic hooked effort.. 1
6. The Rock Show- Love story telling on a quaint, time period-ic, and effective level- 1
7. Stay Together for the Kids- Melancholy sad in the vein of previous Adam's Song. Not near as good or effective at the heart strings- 4
8.Rollercoaster- Most pure punk blasting chaotic piece on the CD. Excellent job boys. 1
9. Reckless Abandon- Middle of the road. 3
10. Every Time I Look at You- This is the point of the CD that starts falling off the cliff of creativity, 4
11. Give Me One Good Reason- Rehashed Dumpweed. 5
12. Shut Up- 3
13. Please Take Me Home- 2
14. Time to Break Up- Whoosh drumming!!! 3
15. Mother's Day- ??? WTF. 5!!!
16. What Went Wrong- Almost Greenday-ish ballad that strangely works. 2
17. F__ a Dog- Idiotic and pointless. Docked massively for pointless vulgarity. 5
18. Don't Tell Me Its Over- In the middle of the bottom garbage emerges a great song. 1
19. When You F__'ed Grandpa- No comment needed.
. 5
Blink had a tough act to follow. To followup on the massively successful "Enema of the State", would be an almost an impossible feat. Enema was Quintuple Platinum, which is (was) a pretty amazing accomplishment right in the middle of the Napster era. I understand Punk is not for most people, and how I at least see the genre, are those few bands who best took forward the ideas, energy, speed, and chaotic flailing of the Ramones. The Ramones will always be the gold standard, but there were quite a few descendants that took the mantle, and did it well, and in the case of Blink did it in a slight handed Pop, and melodic way.
But more than anything, if you are a fan of drumming and percussion, what Travis Barker did on these two albums is nothing short of remarkable. No one in the past 25 years or so had done it as expansive, filled, and crushing than the tattooed wonder. Listen closely, and you would think some of what he accomplishes could only be done via electronic fill. But that is not the case. The guy is that good. Why he is not ranked higher among the greats is more likely a function of the lack of serious nature of Blink's music than his technical prowess.
Mark Hoppus, and Tom Delonge are not exactly slouches either in their craft. They are decent and competent as the rest of the Alpha-Numeric Punk acts of the era. What slightly sets them apart is what I consider somewhat of a pop sensibility. Not overt enough to infer Hook Central, but just a load of really good punk tunes. And I got a kick of these kids doing a parody and what the thought of what it was like in mid 1970's in their "First Date" Video. But let me add, that the latter part of the album contains several stupid pointless vulgarities that detracts from the album's full content and legacy.
The CD is 19 generally short 2-3 minute rides into modern Punk Rock and the adventures of youth, and is fun as hell. Instead of ranking these, I am going to assign the tunes a "quintile" ranking. 1 2 3 4 5 And maybe a short narrative, if warranted. I mean this is punk rock. This isn't designed to over analyzed. Plus I might add I know the quintiles aren't exactly symmetrical, but I did the best I could.
Fun Fact: All 7 of the last 9 Blink 182 studio albums charted in the Top 10.
Track No.
========
1. Anthem Part 2- 2
2. Online Songs- No new ground here. Similar to some of the stuff on Enema 4
3. First Date- Probably their biggest hit on the CD. Excellent take on teenage agnst. Drumming clinic in progress 1
4. Happy Holidays, You Bastard- If there is one knock on Blink's material, I swear that they do have some tunes that are almost similar, if not exact. Docked for recycling 5
5. Story of a Lonely Guy- The most thoughtful, and melodic song on the CD, and a pleasant melodic hooked effort.. 1
6. The Rock Show- Love story telling on a quaint, time period-ic, and effective level- 1
7. Stay Together for the Kids- Melancholy sad in the vein of previous Adam's Song. Not near as good or effective at the heart strings- 4
8.Rollercoaster- Most pure punk blasting chaotic piece on the CD. Excellent job boys. 1
9. Reckless Abandon- Middle of the road. 3
10. Every Time I Look at You- This is the point of the CD that starts falling off the cliff of creativity, 4
11. Give Me One Good Reason- Rehashed Dumpweed. 5
12. Shut Up- 3
13. Please Take Me Home- 2
14. Time to Break Up- Whoosh drumming!!! 3
15. Mother's Day- ??? WTF. 5!!!
16. What Went Wrong- Almost Greenday-ish ballad that strangely works. 2
17. F__ a Dog- Idiotic and pointless. Docked massively for pointless vulgarity. 5
18. Don't Tell Me Its Over- In the middle of the bottom garbage emerges a great song. 1
19. When You F__'ed Grandpa- No comment needed.
. 5
