Enema of the State

by blink-182, Jerry Finn, Tom DeLonge

Overview

Hard-core pop-punkers Blink 182 return with a seething mass of juvenile junk and adolescent aggression that's pure, post-Green Day power thrash, culled from the darkest regions of teenage wasteland. It might sound derivative, but that's exactly what they're gunning for, and on this ingeniously titled modern-rock hit they lighten the load with one-joke wonders like "Dysentery Gary" and "Dumpweed." Like the Descendents before them, Blink 182 turn suburban dysfunction into a minefield of comic-ironic yucks and adrenaline-fueled, sugar-pop hooks. Sure, they supplant classic punk's political content with songs about, well, trying to get drunk and laid as often as humanly possible -- but there's just enough classic, dorky vulnerability to make the songs resonate with more humanity than these punks ever intended.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/01/1999
Label:	Mca
UPC:	0008811195021
catalogNumber:	11950
Rank:	49

Tracks

1. Dumpweed
2. Don't Leave Me
3. Aliens Exist
4. Going Away to College
5. What's My Age Again?
6. Dysentery Gary
7. Adam's Song
8. All the Small Things
9. The Party Song
10. Mutt
11. Wendy Clear
12. Anthem

Album Credits

Performance Credits

blink-182   Primary Artist
Tom DeLonge   Guitar,Vocals
Mark Hoppus   Bass Guitar
Roger Manning   Keyboards
Travis Barker   Drums

Technical Credits

Jerry Finn   Producer,Audio Production
Sean O'Dwyer   Engineer
blink-182   Arranger
Tim Stedman   Art Direction
Mike Fasano   Drum Technician

Editorial Reviews

If the title Enema of the State didn't give it away, it should be clear from songs like "Dumpweed," "What's My Age Again?," and "Dysentery Gary" that moving to a major label isn't a sign of maturity for blink-182. "Dammit (Growing Up)," the first single from their third album, Dude Ranch, brought them a wider audience and the attention of major labels, which was just too tempting to resist. They signed with MCA, but the only sign that Enema of the State is a major-label effort is the somewhat cleaner production and the fact that they could afford porn superstar Janine -- all decked out as (surprise!) an enema nurse -- for the album cover. Of course, the lovely Janine is as much an indication as "Going Away to College," a catchy little number that pretty much repeats the narrative of "Dammit": blink-182 is not growing up, no way, no how, nowhere. And that's fine, because few of their peers are quite as blissfully stupid and effortlessly catchy as them. Sure, they might not show the emotional depth of Green Day, but they have good tunes and deliver them in a speedy, punchy fashion. Enema of the State isn't going to change anyone's life -- unless it's the first time a 13-year-old boy has seen Janine -- and it will likely irritate old codgers, but it's a fun record that's better than the average neo-punk release.

All Music Guide - Stephen Thomas Erlewine