Fan poll: 5 best blink-182 albums of all time
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blink-182 are having a moment. From their long-awaited reunion with Tom DeLonge and first tour together since 2014 to their triumphant performances at both weekends of Coachella (one where they headlined the closing night), it’s been a total blast to see play out. Before they embarked on their extensive global run, Travis Barker confirmed that their new record would be finished before they hit the road, and now the band are making good on that promise with the arrival of their latest album, One More Time…, out Oct. 20. We’ve already heard the singles “Edging,” “Dance With Me,” “More Than You Know,” and the title track — and no doubt there’s plenty more in store.
Read more: 10 criminally underrated blink-182 songs
As their new record draws closer, we asked our readers what the best blink-182 albums are of all time. From Dude Ranch to Enema of the State, find the top fan picks ranked below.
5. Neighborhoods
Neighborhoods featured the reunion of blink’s classic lineup after their 2005 hiatus and demonstrates the maturity the band experienced during their time apart. Essentially, blink-182 took their early punk classics and used more atmosphere (“Ghost On The Dance Floor,” “Snake Charmer”) at points. While it was the last record with DeLonge for a spell, it makes his grand return on their forthcoming LP all the more meaningful.
4. Dude Ranch
The best blink-182 albums were always snotty and juvenile. Dude Ranch, their second album and major-label debut, was made for blasting while ditching school with your friends to grab a burger instead. While Barker wasn’t behind the drum kit yet — that honor belongs to Scott Raynor on this record — the songs hinted at their wide-screen future. “Dick Lips” immortalizes DeLonge getting kicked out of school, whereas “Josie” pays tribute to an attentive girlfriend. “Dammit” even remains part of their setlist to this day.
3. Take Off Your Pants and Jacket
Despite the X-rated title, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket featured blink-182 getting more refined. From loveable cuts like “Roller Coaster” to getting deeper with their messaging, like their ode to fans with broken homes with “Stay Together for the Kids,” TOYPAJ is beloved for a reason. The band were, after all, riding the high of being one of the biggest rock bands in the world and wanted to push themselves even more. They certainly found a sweet spot between teen angst and great songwriting — and proved they had far more to give in the process.
2. Enema of the State
For a lot of people, Enema of the State was the first record that they bought with their own money. It’s a no-brainer, as the band combined gags, sex, and attitude in a way that perfectly appealed to teenagers. Except this time, they polished their playful, juvenile songs — courtesy of producer Jerry Finn — to create a record brimming with massive hooks that’d launch them into the stratosphere. From the devastating “Adam’s Song” to the music video for “All The Small Things,” where they mock pop stars of the day, Enema has no misses. Really, it’s right up there with Dookie, Milo Goes To College, and Smash.
1. Untitled
blink-182’s fifth studio album was marked by difficulty. The pop-punk crew weren’t in sync, as the members were coming off solo projects that weren’t quite a fit for blink and had different ideas about how they wanted songs to sound. Prior to entering the studio, DeLonge started Box Car Racer and recruited Barker on drums, whereas Barker joined Transplants. However, it’s fair to argue that those ventures led to their most experimental and imaginative album yet. Untitled attempts to move beyond their pop-punk roots, pulling alternative rock and new wave influences into their orbit. (The band even got the Cure’s Robert Smith to contribute to the back-half cut “All of This.”) Ultimately, blink got much darker and deeper, proving that they were capable of a lot more.
