The Mark Tom and Travis Show (The Enema Strikes Back)

Silly fun 2005-08-06 Mentioning the name Blink-182 in front of Punk fans is a fun thing to do. If they're of the Old School, they often go off on a rant about how kids these days have no idea what Punk is, and Blink-182 definitely ain't it. Say the name to one of the clueless teens who so enrage the crusty Punks, and opinion is divided. Girls love `em because they're hot, the boys don't because their music sucks. So many emotions and so much controversy was never created by so little.

Blink-182 may have been Punk in the early days of their career, but by the time they recorded `The Mark, Tom And Travis Show', they were a Pop group with guitars. They aren't exactly the sanitised boyband type Pop, but Pop nonetheless. The guitar sound is nonthreatening, the bass respectable, and the drums just a slight bit sloppy.

The songwriting is simple, but is a formula which works well for the band The vocal melodies are simple yet lush, and generally carry the songs over top of the no frills instrumentation. The vocals sound very polished for a live recording, so either the members of Blink-182 are good singers, or there's been a degree of studio manipulation. You decide...

The band's between song ad-lib comedy performance is a highlight, to such an extent 29 extra short tracks of it are tacked on the end of the album. The humour is suitably juvenile and scatological. Of course, all three members rip each other, making fun of their sexuality, musical inability, appearance and mothers. Satan visits intermittently through the show, thanks to a vocal harmonizer. Topics for conversation include Tom Cruise, dressing in your mother's clothes and seducing your Dad, oral sex, getting sweaty, self-manipulation ("I was inspecting them for strange bumps"), and the ubiquitous dog jokes. Girls flashing at concerts is not a new phenomenon, and for most bands, it's a bonus for performing live. For Blink-182 though, it goes along the lines of "Boobies! You're too young. You're far too young".

The song "Family Reunion" consists of purposefully offensive lyrics, and "Country Song" isn't far different. It's the sort of thing 12 year olds laugh out loud at, and adults pretend isn't funny, but snigger quietly to themselves about.

The weepy "Adam's Song" is the only deviation from the dumb white kid Pop/Rock formula. It was a big hit for the band, and deservedly so. The song is restrained and respectful, and has some attractive vocal hooks which come across well in the live situation.

But still, songs like "What's My Age Again?" (One of the band members shouts"Here comes the slow pretty part!" mid-song), "All The Small Things" and "Dammit" are irresistible simply because they're good dumb fun.

There is little of any substance or real meaningful content on this entire album, but there isn't meant to be. Overanalyse the band, their image, their intentions and their impact all you like. This album is simply lowest common denominator Pop

- Amazon