by Richard Leigh

Created on: March 12, 2008

2003 was the year that Blink 182 decided to turn all serious. Before this point they had never been anything but an energetic and fun Pop Punk band, but with their self-titled 2003 album they decided they were desperately in need of a change of direction. After the release of their album 'Take Off Your Pants and Jacket' in 2001, band members Tom Delonge and Travis Barker had gone on to form the band Box Car Racer as a serious side project to Blink 182. In 2002 Travis Barker also laid down the drumbeats for the self-titled Transplants album. Blink 182 was falling apart and something needed to be done in order to keep the band together, and thus this serious album was released. Given that the band then called it a day with their 'extended hiatus' in 2005, it would seem that nothing could have saved Blink 182 from disbanding, but at least they gave it their best shot and came up trumps with this excellent album.

Any fans of Blink 182 will know that the band had already tried out their serious side on 'Take Off Your Pants and Jacket' to great effect. Their 2001 quadruple platinum album contained the hit single 'Stay Together for the Kids', and with their self-titled album it can be seen that the band chose to continue along these lines that had already been tried and tested. The album opens with 'Feeling This' and as the band progress their way through this album rarely do they disappoint. 'Feeling This' provides a fantastic starting point for the album, the drums come pounding through first and as the track progresses always the band impress. This self-titled album from Blink 182 is seriously hard hitting throughout its entirety and as Blink 182 tear their way through this album there's just one moment of weakness in all of the album.

What I like most about this album is that the tracks flow on from one another. Each track leads nicely into the next and there is a great sense of continuity as Blink 182 progress their way through this self-titled album. I think the best example of this comes between the tracks 'Easy Target' and 'All of This'. 'Easy Target' is blessed with a beautiful drum beat, it's fast and impressive as Travis Barker smashes his way through the track with great intent. It then leads perfectly into 'All of This' as the drum beat slows and gradually changes. The progression here is truly sensational, the band go from lightening fast to super soft with no problems whatsoever. The change seems natural and there are no problems whatsoever as the

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