Older and more successful but no less fascinated by the same things as their adolescent fan base (toilet humor, sex, and awkward social situations), Mark, Tom and Travis greet 2001 with another platter's worth of chugging guitar riffs, infectious hooks and plenty of moxie. The album opens with the sequel to the last cut on ENEMA OF THE STATE. "Anthem Part II" is a generational rant focusing on the hopelessness felt by teens taken lightly by the world because of their age. Blink 182 does a fine job tapping into the universal theme of unrequited love ("Story Of A Lonely Boy"), divorce ("Stay Together For The Kids") and surviving the social perils of high school cliques ("Give Me One Good Reason").
Lest this become a musical equivalent to a Judy Bloom book, Blink throws in plenty of inappropriate moments of Sandler-esque proportions. There's the 40-second, jack-hammer fast diatribe against an ex-girlfriend involving unnatural acts with her parents ("Happy Holidays, You Bastard"), ennui-killing acting out ("Reckless Abandon"), and kicking back with a cute girl at a Vans Warped Tour show. Despite their goofy rep, Blink-182's combination of vulnerable lyrics and pop smarts blow away any notion of these guys being another dumb punk band.
A1 Anthem Part Two
A2 Online Songs
A3 First Date
A4 Happy Holidays, You Bastard
A5 Story Of A Lonely Guy
A6 The Rock Show
A7 Stay Together For The Kids
B1 Roller Coaster
B2 Reckless Abandon
B3 Everytime I Look For You
B4 Give Me One Good Reason
B5 Shut Up
B6 Please Take Me Home