Blink-182 Discography (Studio Albums)
"Blink 182" by Gaia715 via DeviantArt
Blink-182 has released eight studio albums since 1995, with an 8-year hiatus beginning in the mid-2000s, following the band’s fifth release. Their music has ventured from faithful skate-punk to goth and emo music, making them one of the more adventurous and successful bands of their genre and generation. On paper, they have forged a rewarding career despite toilet humor uprisings.
But past the surface, the story of Blink-182 comes to life in the subtle details underpinning the eight studio records they have released. From beginnings with drummer Scott Raynor to the band’s iconic and fruitful middle period to their reunion and amicable split from Tom DeLonge, the band has a lot going for itself – both in art form and history.
By spending some time with these records in an organic (listening) and intellectual (reading) sense, you can likely learn to appreciate this band all the more. Smoke if you got them, it’s Blink-182 time!
Cheshire Cat
Released: February 17, 1995
Cargo
The debut album of Blink-182 sees Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus, and drummer Scott Raynor craft together fast-paced and layered pop-punk tunes. The trio had previously recorded three demos before capturing the attention of the label Cargo. The album was recorded quickly by producer Otis Barthoulameu and engineer Steve Kravac (Ten Foot Pole).
Cheshire Cat has sold over 250,000 units and is considered a classic record by the band, featuring unique textures and attitudes adjacent to the California skate-punk scene, where Blink-182 found a fanbase. The record became especially popular in Australia, where the band’s irreverent sense of humor and fast-paced songs became readily accepted.
The band released the album under Blink until an Irish band of the same name infamously made the band change their name, adding -182.
Popular songs:
- “Carousel”
- “M+M’s”
- “Wasting Time”
Dude Ranch
Released June 17, 1997
Cargo, MCA
Whereas Cargo essentially thought nothing special of the band, chalking them up as a joke, major labels Epitaph, Interscope, and MCA had initiated a bidding war to sign the band. Blink preferred signing to Epitaph, citing their roster of punk bands like NOFX and Bad Religion. However, they ultimately elected to go with MCA, despite the record label’s diminishing success in the music industry.
Dude Ranch is the album that catapulted Blink-182 into national attention, mostly thanks to the singles “Dammit” and “Josie.” The single “Dammit” almost single-handedly got the band on the Vans Warped Tour, where they would become a staple of the annual punk-rock tour. The album became platinum-certified within only a few years – easily the most successful album the band had put out at this point. The band’s successful blend of pop-punk wasn’t enough to retain drummer Scott Raynor, however.
Even though the band was fortunate to have more session time than in their previous debut, the singers ran into constant problems. That required several stints of re-recording, which frustrated Blink’s artistic progress and newfound growth in songwriting. Additionally, the band struggled with their perception. Guitarist and singer Tom DeLonge confronted the assumption that punk bands signing to major labels were sellouts. He claimed that most people who shared this view were aging critics and argued that prominent classic punk bands like The Clash and the Ramones did the same thing.
Upon signing to MCA, the band threw a party. Scott Raynor would drunkenly jump off a balcony, breaking his heels. That forced the drummer to record all of Dude Ranch‘s drum parts in a wheelchair. It also foreshadowed escalating problems with Raynor, specifically his drinking.
Popular songs:
- “Dammit”
- “Josie”
- “Apple Shampoo”
- “Dick Lips”
Enema of the State
Released: June 1, 1999
MCA
If Dude Ranch is the album that got Blink noticed, Enema of the State is why the world fell in love with them. It was the first album Travis Barker drummed on, ushering in a new backdrop for the songs that fused ska, punk, and hip-hop beats. Additionally, songwriters Mark and Tom further improved their lyrics, vocal performances, and song structures, giving Enema of the State a heightened level of musical dynamics to set it apart from contemporary pop-punk releases.
Lyrically, the album represents a concerted effort of songwriters Mark and Tom to create songs centered around teenage angst and awry relationships. However, the tune “Adam’s Song” saw the group exploring more stern topics, namely depression and suicide – that track also includes the band’s first use of pianos in the mix, marking a mature musical departure, as well.
The band enlisted Jerry Finn as producer, who had produced Green Day’s epic Dookie five years before, aiming to evolve the band’s musical artistry into broader mainstream circles. Blink-182 melded their raucous punk rock sound with radio-friendly pop sensibilities and higher production qualities.
Popular songs:
- “All the Small Things”
- “What’s My Age Again?”
- “Adam’s Song”
Take Off Your Pants and Jacket
Released: June 12, 2001
MCA
Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, their fourth studio record, sees the band mature in some ways and stick to their guns in others. Still, the production on this album sets it apart from anything previous in the band’s discography, and moments of artistic risk paved the way for choices the band would soon make on their follow-up LP. The album’s title is a sly pun referencing self-pleasure.
“Stay Together for the Kids” is akin to “Adam’s Song” in that it sees the group tackling emotional and mental issues adolescents face – this time, broken homes and marriages. “Anthem Part Two” is the sequel to “Anthem,” which closes out Enema. The song takes a more serious approach to the same issue – the powerlessness of youth in the face of adult power.
Thanks to the singles “The Rock Show” and “First Date” the album received continued radio airplay. And “Everytime I Look for You” got featured in American Pie 2, making it the soundtrack of many kids’ high school careers.
Popular songs:
- “The Rock Show”
- “First Date”
- “Stay Together for the Kids”
- “Everytime I Look for You”
Blink-182
Released: November 18, 2003
Geffen
Blink-182, also known as the band’s self-titled or untitled album, was Blink-182’s last effort before a hiatus inevitably ensued upon growing tensions. But the songs on this record proved the band could do exciting new things. The trio explored new sounds like goth-rock and space-rock and increasingly mature lyrical narratives, tying it all together with the band’s refined pop-punk sound.
The new approach to songwriting and arrangement came after a short break the band initiated following the continued success of albums Enema of the State and Take Off Your Pants and Jacket. Tom and Travis started the punk-band Box Car Racer, and Travis joined the supergroup The Transplants. These side projects became integral to Blink 182’s evolution on this record and, unfortunately, growing tensions between Mark and Tom.
Blink once again enlisted producer Jerry Finn to help create the record and bring the band’s ideas – including interludes and more effects on guitars, vocals, and drums. However, not all Blink fans were excited by the band’s shift in vision. Still, the album sold well in the United States, with 2.2 million copies moved, and it was well-received by critics.
Thanks to lead singles “Feeling This” and the enduring hit “I Miss You,” which would arguably become the band’s most well-known track, the album became exposed to significant airplay on the radio and MTV.
Popular songs:
- “I Miss You”
- “Feeling This”
- “Always”
- “Down”
Neighborhoods
Released: September 27, 2011
DGC, Interscope
Neighborhoods saw the exciting return of Blink-182, and fans everywhere became instantly stoked. The batch of songs on this record might be the band’s most underrated, as many fans felt divided about the output. Still, if you enjoy the band’s previous record, this album picks up where they last left off and travels further into the unknown in an exciting way.
The band reformed after Barker’s near-fatal experience in a 2008 plane crash, which killed four passengers, including Barker’s friend and collaborator DJ AM. The album art features a tribute to this late artist and friend. While some expected the band to return to their bratty pop-punk roots, Neighborhoods did the exact opposite. The album saw even more experimentation in darker musical textures and lyrics. While some critics welcomed this continuation from the last record, others felt it easy to dismiss.
The album debuted at the number two spot on Billboard 200, with “Up All Night” and “After Midnight” released as singles, performing moderately well among fans of alternative rock radio. Still, Neighborhoods struggled to sell as many copies as the band’s past three releases. This album is the band’s last to get released on Interscope Records and the first record to get produced without Jerry Finn, who passed in 2008.
One of the most prominent critiques of the album is how it got recorded. The trio often recorded their parts separately in home studios, scarcely seeing each other. Some argue this inevitably affected the musical chemistry on the album. However, others acknowledged the long gap between records might account for some disjointedness.
Popular songs:
- “Up All Night”
- “After Midnight”
- “Ghosts on the Dance Floor”
- “Heart’s All Gone”
California
Released: July 1, 2016
BMG
California, their seventh studio album, represents another shift in Blink-182’s music. Founding member, guitarist, singer, and songwriter Tom DeLonge quit the band, and he got swiftly replaced with Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio. The split between Tom and the rest of the group occurred because of DeLonge’s other projects standing in the way of the trio recording new material. The new lineup and sound reintroduced Blink to younger audiences.
California is the only Blink record released under the label BMG. The album got produced by John Feldman, known for performing vocals and guitar in the pop-punk/ska band Goldfinger. Although the band had previously recorded demos with DeLonge before the split, the band, now with Skiba, opted to record new material with Feldman. That resulted in roughly 50 tracks recorded, with 28 getting completed overall. D*Face, a street artist from England, created the album art.
In some ways, California represents one of the band’s most successful releases. It debuted at number one in the US for the first time in 15 years, and it reached the top of the UK charts – a first for the band. The band scored radio airplay and streams thanks to the two lead singles, “Bored to Death” and “She’s Out of Her Mind.” But while some critics welcomed the band’s return to a straightforward pop-punk sound, others felt the album was over-produced. A deluxe edition featuring eleven new songs was released the following year.
Popular songs:
- “Bored to Death”
- “She’s Out of Her Mind”
- “Home Is Such a Lonely Place”
Nine
Released: September 20, 2019
Columbia
Though the album is technically the band’s eighth, they considered it their ninth, including their 1994 demo album, Buddha, in their discography. After touring extensively for the well-received LP California, the band got busy writing and recording songs with the previous producer John Feldman. However, this time around, the band would employ additional producers and songwriters.
Musically, it is a continuation of California. The album emphasizes modern pop songwriting while incorporating electronic and hip-hop textures into their classic pop-punk sound. Lyrically, the record got praised for its dive into moodier themes driven by founding member, bassist, and singer-songwriter Mark Hoppus. The album explores political topics, including a bar massacre close to Barker’s residence.
The album topped the charts in Austria, Australia, Canada, Germany, and the UK. It debuted at the third spot on the US Billboard 200. The band embarked on a tour with Lil Wayne (who dropped out after a few dates following lukewarm audiences). Although the mixed-genre bill was unsuccessful, many praised the band for attempting to combine audiences across genres.
Popular songs:
- “Darkside”
- “Blame It on My Youth”
- “Generational Divide”
- “Happy Days”
- “I Really Wish I Hated You”
via GIPHY
On paper, they have forged a rewarding career despite toilet humor uprisings.Blink-182 has released eight studio albums since 1995, with an 8-year hiatus beginning in the mid-2000s. Their music has ventured from faithful skate-punk to goth and emo music, making them one of the more adventurous and successful bands of their genre and generation.
But past the surface, the story of Blink-182 comes to life in the subtle details underpinning the eight studio records they have released. From beginnings with drummer Scott Raynor to the band’s iconic and fruitful middle period to their reunion and amicable split from Tom DeLonge, the band has a lot going for itself – both in art form and history.
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