Let's sit down and talk about one of my favorite albums of all time! Hit me up on Spotify: open.spotify.c... Socials: / alexmelton / alexmelton / alexmeltonmusic
Can this be like... a series? I would love to hear breakdowns and key moments of favorite albums just like this. It's so nice to just be enthusiastic and positive about these great albums and discuss where it hits hardest and why purely on a musical level without involving lyrics. It's a celebration of the riffs and ear-worms we all love.
Actually inspired me to listen to it right now on my walk. Sun is shining but its going down I have goosebumps and I love it when music makes me feel that way
Video games are the way a lot of people got into pop-punk back in the day. When you had soundtracks from games like Burnout 3 giving you bands like MCR, Yellowcard, Motion City Soundtrack etc it was kind of hard not to get into it
This video made me feel surprisingly emotional. Hard to believe that this album still feels so integral to my life despite it having been twenty years ago that it came out.
I'm lying on the couch after dinner, wife and kids here, and literally fighting back tears. I'm not even sure why..... But just a flood of emotions. Missing how life felt then. Missing how I felt then. Missing how powerful music was in my life and how strongly it motivated me. Nostalgia is such a tough thing to deal with for me. I love my life now and wouldn't change it for the world, but god damn if nostalgia doesn't bring up bitter sweet feelings too.
I still love the Untitled album most. I will never forget the first time I heard "Feeling This".. I was on a flight from Denver to New York and played that song the whole time!
It's not. It's not even a good Blink album. They were riding high on the success of Enema of the State and hadn't figured out what else to do, so they basically just rewrote that album (even starting with "Anthem Pt. 2"....subtle). It had all been done before. A lot of what makes the self-titled so great is that it's the opposite of this album. Blink completely exhausted their sound with this album, so they regrouped for the self-titled and put out their most interesting album. *That* is a great album. Pants and Jacket is filler.
This was great, immediately felt like we had an adolescence together. The rest of my work day will have a blink backing track now thanks to this nostalgia infection. Appreciate your work, Alex. Please keep it going for as long as you can :)
you HAVE to make this a series, this was incredibly edited, performed, and just made altogether. This is my favorite Blink album too so it hit even harder for me. One of my favorite parts of the record is in Reckless Abandon. Great song with a catchy everything but specifically after the 2nd chorus, around the 2 minute mark, Travis' little breakdown beat he does is SO. FUC*ING. GOOD. It just takes the song to a whole other level for me. God, I love this band. Props to you on the video once again. Hope to see more.
Favorite part of any Blink song.... "And I had that dream, about you again. Where you drove my car, right off the FUCKING cliff..." -- I smile every time I hear that line. It's just EPIC and so unexpected because you think he's going to say the same thing from the 1st pre-chorus. I love this album.
Tom always wrote the best riffs, melodies and catchiest music. But god damn. It's universally accepted that Mark wrote the best lyrics. All the classics. All the memorables. All the killer lines. All Mark.
I discovered the bonus track Don’t Tell Me It’s Over two years ago and it made me feel like I was listening to the album for the first time again. Magical.
the serious bonus tracks are like the best songs on the album imo strangely enough. dont tell me that its over, what went wrong, online songs, every time i look for you and once shut up picks up in the second verse are my top 5 on the album. reckless abandon gets an honorable mention
Omfg thank you! Back in the day I didn't have a ton of money so a lot of my music was from limewire/Kazaa and I remember getting this super awesome pop punk song called Hold On. My hard drive crashed and I never could find it again. I never found it again bc that actual freaking name was Dont Tell Me Its Over! Thanks for not only helping me relive some good memories but finally putting a close to one hell of a search
Just wanted to drop in and say I love your stuff. It’s nice to come across people who have the same level of appreciation for Blink. Nothing else triggers the same level of nostalgia as Enema of the State and TOYPAJI. Unmatched!
@@BeauTylerMakesMusic then they followed this up with their Untitled album... which was just a whole other level. But this will always be my favourite. This is where I heard them first and fell in love with them. I've never been the same since.
@@KingOfMischiefs I agree it was probably their best musical album, but for personal taste it had some pandering I didn’t dig (like feeling this). I loved emo, but I didn’t much like their version or emo. TOYPAJ is the one album, for me, that I love EVERY song. That’s all totally personal taste though. It’s a tough call for me really, because my all-time favs are on untitled. Just didn’t want it to sound like I don’t love that album too.
Love it. I'm torn, because I pretty much love all of the blink catalogue. I do think California is phenomenal in its own right...and a return to what made Blink, Blink...and it's incredibly overlooked and underrated. Sucks not having Tom, but still...
@@MHomer5401 I agree, and especially if you add the deluxe version of California, I think it's some amazing work. The Deluxe edition has some of my favorite blink songs on it
I LOVE that you highlighted Everytime I Look For You. Literally clicked on the video hoping to hear that. That and Aliens Exist are my favorite Blink songs no question. The breakdown hits me the same!
Great video mate. Love the format of this; Casually talking while casually nailing the music, discussing great albums. Would love to see another video like this on another iconic album
Man, I love your videos! This was such a cool idea to take us into your world of enjoying Blink 182. As a drummer, Blink 182 played a big role in my drumming developement and even now at 36 years of age, listening to their songs brings back so much memories.
I remember the first time I heard the lines, “Josie, you’re my, source of most frustration” and thinking that was an odd line yet so instantly memorable. It’s not like it’s deep or layered, it’s just a solid opener and made me appreciate the genre.
“Young and stupid LEFT wide open” It was those doubles with Toms throaty accents on certain words that always gave me goosebumps. The way this album was produced is insane.
What a fucking cool video man. Your recording and playing is awesome. Guitar tone is game over good! This album meant so much to me, still does. Always. Will.
Love the vid man! Stay Together for the Kids was the first song I ever learned on guitar. That opening riff just inspired me so much. Forever this album will be one of the greatest of all time
This was the first (and only) album that my parents ever confiscated from me. As a 10 year old when it dropped, even the album name went right over my head, so boy was I cheesed and confused when they said I couldn't listen to it anymore. Managed to make it one of my most listened to albums anyway. One of the greatest of all time.
When I started secondary school in 2001 everyone was getting the Marshall Mathers LP and my mum had heard that he sings about hating his mum so she refused. I'd heard a bit of enema from an older friend who lent me the album so asked if I could have toypaj. When fuck a dog came on she was not impressed 🤣
@@Jasonheartss One time I was in the shower blasting TOYPAJ and I could hear my mum coming up the stairs JUST as Fuck a Dog was about to come on, so I dashed out of the shower into my bedroom, naked and covered in soap, to frantically skip the song before she heard it...she then yelled at me for making a mess of the hallway just cause I wanted to change songs....
This was the first album I ever bought with my very own hard earned money. I'd play it every day multiple times. I learnt every song bass line to play along. Loving this!
Love this video that you put together! Something about Blinks simplicity is special. The tones, the structure, placement, the feeling, ETC… Technicality is respectable and impressive but taking very little and making it more than what you’d expect is very special. It gave us hope I guess, hearing something that sounded great and impressive but finding out that you could do it yourself without the struggles of technicality…
Man, I still remember the first time I nailed the fill in First Date. It's a rite of passage for kids who learned drums in the early naughties. It's absolutely iconic.
as a grown man, I hold blink, so so close to my heart, and this particular album aswell hearing your story about putting the album on your xbox and letting it play while playing Tony Hawk is a literal carbon copy of me as a teenager. This album has helped me get through some shit, and I made sure Tom knew that when I met him on a AVA tour back in the day. was the greatest moment of my life. Also, so stocked you had Anthem Pt 2 as your number 1 aswell... To this day, that song remains my favorite of all time. Love you & your content bro. Keep up the great work
So glad you included that guitar riff on roller coaster. I’ve always loved that and the drums supporting it. One of my favorite aspects of blink songs as well. It’s always done so well and that particular one is special to me. Great video, keep doing what you do man!
As an old school pop punk and mainly blink fan. I want to thank you, Alex, for making awesome, awesome content like this. I feel like there's not a lot of us out there anymore and for me, though we are a world apart, for me, you are single handedly keeping that old school pop punk vibe alive. Thank you!
Outstanding. Just talkin about these tracks makes me wanna take this album for a spin again. Your take on anthem 2 about Tom finding his AVA groove is so right. Damn I miss blink but I guess this is growing up……
Every Time I look for You is one of their most underrated and untalked about songs. But musically it's absolutely genius and it's one of my favorites by them ever. It was really cool to hear your perspective on this album and although I'm not a big fan of First Date, I agreed with what you mentioned about it. Also your drumming is definitely on point
Its always so weird the memories that songs latch onto, there is usually is no rhyme or reason. I spent a lot of time with Blink in middle school and when I listen to certain songs they can trigger a wave of emotions. For some reason when I listen to every time I look for you, I get taken back to this humid day in late august at the park. I was with my little sister, and we were searching for an ice-cream truck. I can remember all of the sounds of the birds in the trees and the kids playing soccer. The way the breeze would come as quick as it left, with me and my sister left chasing after it on out hunt for the dessert. But more than just the environment, I can remember all the feelings that were living in my body at the time; who I had a crush on and trying to figure out how to communicate that back. Its weird that this song is the one to land this memory but its the way it is. Music is beautiful like that, a normal day can turn into a nostalgic time machine all from one song written by 3 goof balls from so-cal. Thank you for the videos and plz do keep making them :)
im so glad that I found your channel bro. you're someone who matches the same level of unreasonable passion for blink-182 as I do. it's been a godsend. love all your stuff. keep going!
This is definitely one of the better videos I've seen in a while. Solid work my dude. I listened to TOYPAJ basically the entire summer it was released and still listen to it pretty regularly. It's for sure one of my favorite records all time. Thanks again man.
TOYPAJ is my favorite album of all time! This album always gets overshadowed by it's follow up, but I absolutely love TOYPAJ. As an young teen, this album meant everything to me. The anger, the angst, and the idiocy perfectly encapsulated what it meant to be a teen. You can always determine how into blink-182 someone is by having them rank their albums...if TOYPAJ isn't top 2, they are just a casual fan.
So being into their first album after they made it big makes you a true fan? That’s a very weird take. I was a fan starting at Enema, and then went backwards and got every album including Buddha and Cat. Those recordings were ROUGH up until Dude Ranch, but I still loved it. Anyway, TOYPAJ is likely my least favorite of the “good recording quality with Tom era.” To me, TOYPAJ had nowhere near the song quality of Dude Ranch or Enema, but was still in that same vein musically. Then the Untitled album blew my mind is by far the best thing they’ve ever done. Even Neighborhoods has higher highs than Jacket (though it has lower lows). So anyway, I would consider myself a true fan and TOYPAJ is maybe their weakest, most derivative, work…..and unless that was the first time you’d heard of Blink, I have no idea how you’d think ranking that album highly makes you a true Blink fan at all. I’d go: Untitled, Enema, the Mark Tom and Travis Show, Dude Ranch, and then probably Neighborhoods and Jacket tied after that. The REALLY old stuff is fun, but hard to rank…..and anything without Tom doesn’t count to me.
@@colbymcintyre6653 it's not because it was their first album after they made it, but because it is the "forgotten" one of the pre-split era. I strongly disagree about song quality...they grew in musicality, and the lyrical content on TOYPAJ about love, break-ups, and divorce were better than anything they had done in the past. Neighborhoods was okay, but doesn't have any songs that get me as hyped as Anthem Pt. 2, make me nostalgic for first love like Roller Coaster or Online Songs, or make me angry at my fighting parents like Stay Together for the Kids. To me, TOYPAJ is the perfect blend of Dude Ranch era pop-punk, Enema era comedy, and Self-titled era emotions. Neighborhoods was less emotional and less funny, which is part of what makes blink so great.
I never thought a reaction video can be any good, but this is pure awesome, I absolutely love it! Best RU-vid video I've seen in a while. Super impressed.
I was rocking ripped CD’s on my OG Xbox 360 back in the day and loved it while gaming. The good ole days. Thanks for the memories man, much needed! We would love to hear more about your favorite music memories!
Dude, I was beaming ear to ear watching this. Great recreations and great choices. As a fellow Blink and Tony Hawk fan this definitely hit home. For me, as much as I love the first side (First Date in particular) the second side is just so seamless and the perfection of the early 00s pop punk genre. It really struggles to get better than that! Top work bro
Omgggg, I've never broken down music like this 😍 Thank you for making this video!! Absolutely amazing, and I agree with every single moment you brought up.
That is incredible. You highlighted all my favorite things about that album. I have seen Blink several times and I always get emotional at how incredibly layered and skilled they are. Thank you so much for doing this video. Side note, you are incredibly talented. I also super enjoyed you doing cut time on the middle. I love cut time!
Alex........I absolutely love your videos, and this one is no exception! I have been a die hard Blink fan for 24 years. They were my youth anxty vibe all through high school and beyond. I have loved your content since discovering you a year ago. Thank you for doing these videos, I always look forward to them. You are an incredible musician. Keep up the nostalgia vibes!
I really enjoyed that, thanks! There is so much goodness in this album and it was a pleasure to watch you break it down. In the late 90s, Blink 182 was my number one band and when this album came out it was epic.
Mad love and respect to you, man. Everything you do with Blink is amazing. This is the band that really defined me as a teenager. Entering high school right when Enema came out, wanting to get into music, learning to play bass. When Take Off was released, I was so invested. I learned everything I could about it. To this day it's still my all-time favorite album. The one thing that stands out for me on that album is the vocals, in particular the harmonies. They have so many little bits and pieces throughout the whole album that are so fantastic. Every Time I Look For You and Online Songs are my two favorite songs. Would LOVE to hear you put out full covers of them. Keep on rocking, you're totally crushing it!
Man, I got emotional. I didn't really have someone to share my love of blink182 with back in the day and hearing someone speak about them and showing the same passion really is wonderful. It really shows that you, like me and I'm sure many others, listened to those songs back to back and with your own instrument in your hands fell in love with them. Very well done, and cheers, my friend.
Ay! I never comment on videos, but this one freaking hit home with me. Loved that album. LOVED loading mix CDs in my Xbox back in the day. As always, another great video.
Alexs' love of the music and breakdown of my favorite band... it's incredibly heartwarming. Reliving being at these concerts as a teenager and hearing these rifts for the first time. nostalgia got me like 'whoa'
Just came across this randomly. Thank you Alex, just reminded me and my inner kid self how much I love Anthem pt2 intro. The start of everything exciting and enjoyable in LIFE should have this as an intro. Could and will listen to it forever.
Amazing video man! I'm 35 and I remember this album like it was yesterday. So glad I got to experience that super unique pop punk era that has never really been replicated in my opinion. A few great bands and a few great albums really defined the early 2000s punk rock era and this is one of them. Great video again man well done !
I’m so glad someone has finally let the world know how much of a banger Everytime time I look for you is! My personal fav on the album! Thanks for sharing
Absolutely in love with this video. Such a huge part of my high school experience started when Enema came out and this album absolutely solidified it. I still listen to it often. I love that you put Everytime I Look For You and Roller Coaster on this. Two of my favorites that I also always thought were a little overlooked. Thanks for this video, absolutely made my day. And your chops are excellent as always.
