Blink 182 finds success with mix of new and old
By BRIAN KORNMANN
Scene Music Critic
Blink 182 has traveled an unusual road to success within the music industry, and its latest album, The Mark, Tom and Travis show stands as a live collaboration of its musical and comedic efforts along the way.
Formed in 1991 by friends Mark Hoppus and Tom Delonge, the San Diego punk trio developed a rapid underground following based on their insane live shows and raw energy. The band's hard work in the underground punk scene led to a friendship with the very Blink-esqe punk icons Vandals. Under the Vandals supervision, Blink released its first album Buddha on cassette only in 1994.
Following the release of Buddha, Blink began touring heavily with the likes of the Vandals. The band spent considerable time overseas, particularly in Australia, where it developed a very large fan base that would pay its dividends over the next three years. Based on a growing reputation, and overseas popularity, Cargo records signed Blink to a one album deal in early 1995. Cheshire Cat was released in late 1995, and for the first time, the band gained national exposure within the United States. College radio picked up on the release and the album became a moderate success. Blink's big break, however, would not come until later.
In 1997, MCA records decided to sign Blink to a record contract, specifically because of the band's huge popularity in Australia. Because the name Blink already belonged to an Irish band, the band decided to re-christen itself as Blink 182, and in late 1997, released the Album Dude Ranch under the new name.
Dude Ranch brought Blink 182 nationwide success and airplay based on songs such as "Dammit," "Untitled," and "Voyeur." The band gained even more national exposure spending consecutive years on the Vans‚ Warped Tour and tours with Punk-Ska mainstays Less Than Jake.
Between appearing in American Pie, and working on their 3rd album, Enema of the State, Blink 182 kept busy for the next two years which lead up to the release of the band's 4th album, The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show.
The album is captured from 1999 live shows in both San Francisco and Los Angeles and mainly features songs from Enema of the State intermixed with some songs of both Dude Ranch and Cheshire Cat as well as containing the previously unreleased track Man Overboard.
For a live album, The Mark, Tom and Travis Show is about as good as it comes. The release captures Blink's sound very well and also does an excellent job of conveying the raw energy of a Blink 182 show.
Perhaps its best feature is the excessively crude, vulgar and disgusting commentary made by the band throughout the album. From guest appearances such as the voice of Satan, to repeated requests for crowd nudity and bowel function wisecracks, the release captures the hilarity that has always been associated with Blink 182's live show.
On the other hand, one decided weakness of the album is its over reliance on the newer, watered-down pop-punk Blink 182 songs from Enema of the State. Among many Blink 182 fans, Enema is recognized as the band's weakest release because of its poppy nature and (thanks to the wonders of Carson Daly and TRL) gross national overexposure.
Overall, the album is good, but does not stack up to the live albums released by the Pixies, NOFX, Less Than Jake or Pearl Jam in recent years. Nontheless, the album will appeal to both hardcore fans and to the newer Blink 182 fans as well. For fans who have some money to spare, and consider themselves a fan of Blink 182, The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show would not be a bad investment.
All Scene Stories for Tuesday, November 21, 2000
