Back in the old days

SELL OUT. The words uttered by every punk rock kid in America about most punk bands at some time or another. Blink 182 has recently been accused of selling out. Their album Enema of the State brought up the accusations due to the poppy sound of the album compared to the band's older albums. They supposedly have also sold out their morales too. Well Enema of the State was packed with songs about breaking up with girls. As you listen to this album, it becomes very clear that the only thing that has changed with Blink 182 is their popularity (and their drummer). Dude Ranch has a little more punk influence than enema, it is a little less polished, but it is still a cd that is worth the 15$ or however much you'll pay for it.

1.Pathetic: The cd starts of with instruments ablazin. Then Delonge and Hoppus begin to sing the hook filled verse as they carry on each other's sentences. The chorus has a nice hook to it. It is an easy song to sing to, none of the lyrics dig too deep but it is a nice tune. This is a song about screwingn up and trying to get it back together

"I know i'm pathetic/I knew when she said it/A loser, a bum/what she called me when i drove her home/There's no more waiting/sure no more wasting/I've done all i can but she still wants to be left alone.

2.Vouyer: A decent song. Not too many hooks in this one. It is just normal filler for any album. It is a song about a guy who peeps in a girl's window and watches her change. The song is forgettable compared to some of the other songs but is an amusing concept.

"I've made mistakes by looking in the wrong windows/Her dad is big and i have never seen his face."

3.Dammit: The biggest hit off the cd. This is a classic alternative/punk/pop song. The guitar hook is unforgettable. The verse is catchy as hell. You can't help but sing the chorus at the top of your lungs. A simple song really, but Hoppus sings the lyrics with more emotion than they do on most of the other tracks. This is a song about a broken relationship and having to go through life's problems on your own. Dammit sure beats the hell out of "What's My Age Again".

"It's alright/to tell me/what you think/about me/i won't try/to argue/or hold it/against you/i know that/your leavin/you must have/your reasons/the season/is calling/your pictures/are falling down.

4.Boring: A repetitive song with no hooks and no real chorus as far as I can tell. The song is unamuzing, but it is short so you will rarely need to skip it.

5.Dick Lips: The song starts of with a little riff and then Delonge comes in and tells us a story of getting in trouble and trying to get your parents to not punish you. The chorus is fun to sing along to. Although I don't understand what he means because it doesnt follow the song real well.

"We couldn't wait/for something new/and yesterday/i thought of you/left me to think as if i couldn't walk away/it's too late/i fell through

6.Waggy: One of my favorite Blink songs. Another song about girl problems. This one is not half assed compared to some other songs aka "Boring". Great one liners and a chorus that is amusing, yet I take serious because i feel like this homeboy sometimes. One of the highpoints of the C.D.

"I don't want to live this lie again/i know i'll get it right but i don't know when/I'll open my eyes/i'll suck in all my pride/i'll just jack off in my room until then."

7.Enthused: This is probably as close to an instrumental song on this album as you get. It wouldn't be a bad song if he would sing more. I like the guitar riffs, but I listen to Blink 182 for there lyrics more that their instrumental ability, which i have noticed they have quite a great deal. Another song about girl problems.

"Am I/strung out/crazy or not allowed to be the one who gets stupid over you."

8.Untitled: The track starts out with a slow beat and some bass rumbling a riff. The Delonge comes on to sing a song about giving up on a girl that he no longer likes and he won't be pushed around by her anymore. I like the song.

"I think of a while ago/we might have had it all/i was so stupid then/you needed time to grow/but now just as things change/as well my feelings do/in times things rearrange/i am so sick of chasing you."

9.Apple Shampoo: The unknown masterpiece on the album. Why this song was never released as a single is far beyond me. Hoppus sings the lyrics on here with more emotion than on most of the album combined. He was even quoted at one time as saying this was his favorite song of theirs. A song about breaking up with a girl who is moving on. Even if you don't get the album, get on Napster and download this song.

"And now i realize/i should have kissed you in L.A./but i drove home all alone/as if i had a choice anyway/where are you coming from/what are you running from/cause it's so hard to see/and if your feeling scared remember the time we shared/you know it meant everything/to me"

10.Emo: Blink takes a different approach here than on their usual songwriting technique. Both singers sing on here, just like on "Pathetic" but instead off spitting out the verse one after another, they harmonize their voices. Which actually works well. A song about a girl who is mistreated by her boufriend and the singer feels she is being stupid for staying with her.

"One more time you will laugh about it/and he'll never try to give you more/and i don't care he is such a dick/he treats you like you are a stupid who*re"

11.Josie: If you have Enema you may recall a song called "Going Away to College". That was the "ballad" on that album or that is as close as these guys' come. This song is an ode to the PERFECT girlfriend. She is always their for you, is never jealous when you hang out with your friends, and even brings him food "just because". Blink pull off this song with ease. If you liked "Going Away to Collefe", you may like this one too.

"And when/i feel like giving up/like my world is falling down/I show up at 3 a.m./she's still up watching vacation/and i see her pretty face/it takes me away to a better place/and i know everythings gonna be fine."

12.A New Hope: You remember that obsession you had with Princess Leah (i never had one because Star Wars was far brfore my time). This is the perfect ode to her, and it would probably make a nice single if it wasn't about Princess Leah(to the actress if she ever reads this, i still think your hot ;).

"I've got her in my head/at night when i go to bed and i know it sounds lame but she's the girl of my dreams/and of course i'd do anything for her/i search the moons of Endor/i'd even walk naked through the deserts of Tatooine."

13:Degenerate: A song that is mediocre. Nothing terrible or boring, just nothing as magnificent as "Dammit" and "Apple Shampoo". The beat starts slow but the chorus is a punk thrash out. A song about getting in trouble.

14.Lemmings: This song SHOULD have been a single Blink, and you know it. A simple guitar riff leads the song in the begginning. Then Hoppus sings this song with a fierceness that you rarely hear from this band. The song is about how you always grow up and things don't turn out like you want them to, but you always grow up. This is probably my favorite song on the album. This is Blink at it's best. Easily one of their top 5 songs along with "Adam's Song" "Dammit" "Apple Shamppoo" and "What's My Age Again".

"prime select and boxed of glazed/pulling fly bys on days when we were young/and innocent/elbow drop sundays when mark eaton got beat to sh*it/laughing at the bands we hate/our spots we used to skate well they're still there/but we've gone our own ways/i know it's for the best but sometimes i wonder will i ever ave friends like you again."

15.I'm Sorry: The guitar riff that opens this song is one that if you are a guitarist, you MUST learn to play. It is simple and to the point, but it just catches people's attention. This song is kind of sad, or at least it sounds really sad. Not that its bad, it is incredible. But any person can relate to this and probably has a friend they could play this for. It is a song about where the singer is talking to someone who is down on there luck. Delonge sings that it will get better. I really enjoy this song. This is one of the songs i would put up there with "Dammit". Even those who hate this cd, give the band props, this song does not follow the set pattern of most of their lyrical styles.

"Don't bide your time/cause it is almost over/and i know your down/i'll see you around/and i know it hurts/but your just getting older/and i know you'll win/you'll do it once again."

Thats it, except for the little special thing at the end of the cd but you'll have to buy the album for that. This is an EXTREMELY likable album. If you like Enema, you will probably like this. Punk purist will also like it because it does not have the pop sound that Enema did. Songs like "Pathetic", "Dammit", "Dick Lips", "Waggy", "Apple Shampoo", "Emo", "Josie", "A New Hope", "Lemmings", and "I'm Sorry" are classics that could all very easily made this band huge. A great album. Definitley worth your buck.