Blink 182 has been subjected to more critical abuse than any band in the past 5 years. Punks said they had sold out and reviews by critics were seldom without a phrase along the lines of "no-talent juvenile clowns". This CD is a beautiful example of how wrong they both were.

The first thing you should know about this album is that it is not a punk album. This is a rock album. If you are looking for three chord bubblegum pop punk, this album is not for you. And, as I'm sure you already know, if you're searching for an album to talk down to people about because they haven't heard of it, this is not for you either. If you are looking for an album filled with vulgar jokes, this album is not for you. There is not one joke on this album, and you can count this album's obscenities on one hand. This album is for music lovers. Blink 182 went to great lengths to make this album an honest and musically accomplished work. In the jewel case's insert, every song has at least two of the band members talking about how the song was written, how the song was recorded, or what the song means to them. A real treat on this album is Robert Smith of "The Cure" doing vocals on the song "All of This" (How many "Enema of the State" fans do you think have heard of "The Cure"?). The most important aspect of this album is that Blink 182, although changing their way of making an album, has not sacrificed what Blink 182 does best. The songs are still honest insights on teenage emotion. Possibly one of the most amazing transitional aspects of this album is the way the songs stay with you, not in the catchy way Blink used to, but in a more intriguing way. Each song is very distinct, and you will not find yourself confusing them, on your stereo or in your head.

I don't think it's fair to say Blink 182 grew up. The subject matter of their songs has not changed and the message has not changed either. Blink has simply chosen a more mature and musical way to present their messsage. This album is Blink 182's magnum opus to date, but I wouldn't be suprised if this was just the beginning of a new Blink.

It's not blink-182's fault that they fell into the TRL crowd. It just sort of happened one day, in a cloud of irony, after they made fun of the usual TRL roundups, and ever since then, they've been staples on MTV. They could have at least tried to stray from this, but alas they did not. That never really hurt the band too much, except for the credibility they had earned earlier with punk fans. Now blink-182 was being called *gulp* pop music! The nerve! But, after achieving success with the formulaic pop-punk sound, blink-182 decided to change direction a little bit and grow the f*** up.

On their new self-titled disc, blink explores their maturity in life and in music, by displaying the most respectable kind of punk they've offered to date. Maybe that side project Box Car Racer or their buddies Jimmy Eat World inspired the band to be a little more musically oriented than generally predictable. blink's last few albums haven't been bad, but they have been pretty standard. This time around, it's not typical; it's like a good book, flowing evenly and profusely throughout, never really giving it's audience a point where they get bored by detail.

The album sets off a wildfire, with new and above-average tunes like the snappy "Violence," in which vocalist/guitarist Tom DeLonge speaks with a jazz-like flair, while fingersnaps back him up. The mellow "Down," keeps a steady pace moving into the instrumental beat-driven "The Fallen Interlude," which resembles, believe it or not, Linkin Park (!). Not to say blink is rap-metal, but they get close to hard rock with the earthquaking "Stockholm Syndrome."

And judged by that song, this question may come up: can blink still rock the mic? Yes, indeed, just like old times, such as the lead single, "Feeling This," shows us (with its acapella end, its latin drum loop and all), as does the fairly simplistic "Go," and old-school inspired "Easy Target," which moves directly into the moody and dark "All Of This," featuring vocals by Robert Smith of the Cure. The band keeps it's roots intact, but throws the world a curveball by using programming, drum loops, and all kinds of new arrangements to expand their musical talents. Even using Tom a bit more on vocals doesn't hurt the band, giving them a rougher exterior than before. Bassist Mark Hoppus is a fine singer, but more clean-cut than Tom's made-for-punk voice is. Mark only sings one song by himself (the smooth rocker, "Here's Your Letter"), as the rest are more or less Tom's, with assistance by Mark.

This is growing up for blink-182, and this is sure to earn them some respect from many who have given up on them. They've ditched the sound that so many bands have stolen and tried to make their own (and failed at miserably), but now blink-182 has found their niche, and it's a good one. Some bands can't pull off a 180 like this, but blink succeeds, and it's a welcome change.

Any way you look at it it's an amazing CD. It was the first CD I got when I finally left home and came to live on the island of Guam, I was 19 and home sick. When I first listened to it I was disappointed and upset because it was not the same Blink I used to listen to while driving in my car with my friends on all those beautiful summers. So I shunned it for a while, but then I put the song "I Miss You" in the background of a video I was making of Guam to send to my family and friends. I listened to it allot and found that I really liked and it said how I felt at the time. Pretty soon I started to listen to more and more of the CD and in time found I liked every song on it. It is one of my favorite CDs I own now. Every time I listen to it, it reminds me of my time in Guam and the memories I will never forget of growing up.

For all of you so called "punks" out there who claim that you don't like this new Blink 182 because it's not punk enough, all I've gotta say is: You haven't a clue as to what punk is. Punk has never been about how fast you play, or how hard your music is, or how many tattoos you have. It's an attitude. It's about not being close-minded idiots. Bands need to grow and change artistically. People change as they grow older. This is life people. This is what bands like Green Day, Rancid, and Offspring have done throughout the years staying true to themselves. Now Blink. They are older and wiser and have different things to say. When all of you "punk" teens out there are older and married and have 2.4 kids, you'll understand and appreciate this.

This new Blink 182 album is definitely a departure from the poo-poo, wee-wee humor and immaturity of their previous albums. It shows a true growth in their musical talent and is a good indication of where they're going as artists. Lyrically it's more mature. Even if you don't like this album, you've gotta respect them for experimenting with new sounds and for trying a new direction. Songs like "All of This" with Robert Smith, Stockholm Syndrome, The Fallen Interlude, and Violence make me excited to see where they will take their music from here.

This album sounds a lot more like Box car than past Blink, but maybe that's because Boxcar was a transition to what the new Blink would be like. This CD has the best music of any of their albums and Travis is absolutely amazing. Here is a song by song break down.

1.Feeling This- The first single which sounds a little like old blink. The cowbell part and the vocals at the end are awesome. Mark wrote the verses and Tom wrote the chorus in seperate rooms before they even talked about what it would be about.(10/10)

2.Obvious-The darkest song on the album. The choruses are the perfect speed and the chimes in the background make it very big. One of my favorites.(10/10)

3.I Miss You-An all acoustic song with a cool drum loop. The singing is awesome.(9/10)

4.Violence-Some cool percussion and a very cool guitar part for the intro. In the chorus, Travis changes the drum part in the middle of it to give it a groove. Sounds a lot like Boxcar.(8/10)

5.Stockholm Syndrom-A fast song that goes back and forth between Mark and Tom on vocals. The bridge is very soothing and cool.(8/10)

6.Down-A cool beat. Mark sings very good on this.(9/10)

7.The Fallen Interlude-An awesome beat with some cool percussion and some huge gigantic fills. (10/10)

8.Go-Mark's yelling is awesome in the middle of the song. The second verse is awesome with just snare. (10/10)

9.Asthenia-A little poppy, but a fun song. Fun hand claps.(9/10)

10.Always-A very fun song with some awesome cymbal parts and the thing in the background is a very fast tambourine(sounds like a hi-hat).(10/10

11.Easy Target- Awesome drum intro. but I think it's the worst song on the album. Still very good though. (7/10)

12.All of This- Awesome vocals from Rob Smith from the Cure. You won't believe that Blink made this.(10/10)

13.Here's Your Letter- Sweet chorus and sounds like some old blink. (10/10)

14.I'm Lost Without You- A little boring and repetitive but the end is awesome with the 2 drum sets playing. Best drums ever recorded.(8/10)