Enema of the State

| Blink 182

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Enema of the State

Enema of the State is the fourth studio album by American rock band Blink-182, released on June 1, 1999 by MCA Records. After a long series of performances at various clubs and festivals and several indie recordings throughout the 1990s, Blink-182 first achieved popularity on the Warped Tour and in Australia following the release of their sophomore effort Dude Ranch (1997) and its rock radio hit "Dammit". To record their third album, Blink-182 turned to veteran punk rock producer Jerry Finn, who previously worked on Green Day's breakthrough album Dookie (1994). Enema was the band's first album to feature second drummer Travis Barker, who replaced original drummer Scott Raynor. The group recorded with Finn over a period of three months at numerous locations, including their hometown of San Diego and in Los Angeles. Finn was key in producing the fast-paced, melodic mixes, creating pop punk with a more radio-friendly, accessible polish. Lyrically, the album is inspired by adolescent frustration and relationships. Guitarist Tom DeLonge and bassist Mark Hoppus primarily culled stories from friends and autobiographical situations to craft summery tracks revolving around breakups, suburban parties and maturity, as well as more offbeat subject matter such as UFO conspiracy theories. The cover artwork for Enema of the State features porn star Janine Lindemulder famously clad in a nurse uniform, and the title is a pun on the term enemy of the state. Enema of the State was an enormous commercial success, although the band was criticized as synthesized, manufactured pop only remotely resembling punk, and pigeonholed as a joke act due to the puerile slant of its singles and associating music videos. The album sold over 15 million copies worldwide, catapulting the band to become one of the biggest rock bands of the turn of the millennium. "What's My Age Again?", "All the Small Things", and "Adam's Song" became hit singles and MTV staples, generating heavy radio airplay. Enema of the State had an extensive impact on contemporary pop punk, reinventing it for a new generation and spawning countless tributes and acolytes.-"Wikipedia"

Critic Reviews

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  • Sputknik Music

    What blink-182 offer on this album is a variation of the same song structures, poppy choruses and boyish, immature lyrics that defined their previous two full-length releases.  

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  • Stereogum

    Each song on Enema Of The State perfectly encapsulated all the restlessness and silliness becoming a teenager in suburban America, perhaps better than any ’90s teen movie ever could. 

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  • Immortal Reviews

    Blink-182 really sounds on top in Enema Of The State. The music has an underdog essence to it, which is what helped people gravitate towards them in the first place. Enema Of The State is a lot of raw, fun energy that keeps things moving ahead at all times. From the big opening of 'Dumpweed' to the final hurrah of closing track 'Anthem,' the band never lose that sense of being in the moment. 

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  • AV Club

    Despite the moronic title, Blink 182's well-publicized love of scatological stupidity generally takes a backseat to self-aware tales of doomed relationships, as it blasts out 12 hummable would-be singles with infectious "na-na-na-na" choruses that make Green Day sound turgid and ponderous. 

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  • Indy Metal Vault

    Loads of fun, relatable lyrics, speed, and party vibes are all over the place despite it being a very consistent effort with strong writing.  

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  • Plugged in

    In the punk tradition, these three San Diego natives machine-gun their lyrics over frantic guitars. Lots of energy. 

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