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Blink 182, Self-Titled

Reviewed by Sean Finney

OK, so the Blink-182 guys could have put out just another tried and true punk pop album, and would have done fine riding on the coat-tails of their past success, but gratefully they didn't.

This self titled cd is nothing less than mind blowing. Starting with the first track and first single "Feeling This," the band kicks off a full on jam that sounds both familiar and new. Instead of sticking to any one formula, they spread their musical wings on tracks such as "I Miss You" that incorporates lush strings and signature piano lines, and "Down," a slow jam, trip hop infused instrumental.

But don't worry; there is plenty of the standard Blink-182, in your face, bubble gum punk to make even the most die-hard fan happy for days. As always, the songs are glued together by great harmonies and solid guitar work by Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus. This time around, the songs are driven less by guitar work, and more by the inventive and solid drumming of Travis Barker. He provides a percussive backbone that is both frenetic and solid all at once. The kid is a monster behind the kit. Many of the songs explore new time signatures, as well as song structures that don't exactly follow the standard "rules" of songwriting, which makes for hours of great listening. I think it's all these elements combined that make this band stand out among the glut of pseudo punk bands like Jimmy Eat World and Sum 41. Hopefully that will give them staying power for years to come. As well as great tunes, the enhanced CD comes with video clips and interactive content. I would like to think they were added as a way to thank the fans for shelling out the $19 for a new release, but in all reality it's probably to combat illegal downloading. Whatever the reason, it's great to have something more than just audio tracks to enjoy.

Bottom line: This CD is a breath of fresh air and worth your listening time.

Rating: (2 1/2 out of 4 stars)