Kay

Cheshire Cat is just silly and fun, it's energetic and amusing - to me it literally sounds like hanging out with dumb friends dicking about on their instruments making each other laugh. it basically has the personality and charm blink have been selling and riding on for years. It's definitely an acquired taste but it has the soul of the blink ethos. Dude Ranch is like Cheshire but better, the songs have more structure, purpose and thought, the guitar work is slightly better and not so 'samey' sounding whilst still maintaining it's grit and sloppiness that's iconically Tom. It has the silliness but also packs a punch and has bitchin' harmonies and trade offs that end up becoming part of blinks general make up. It's fast, it's stupid but it's tight and just generally awesome and has some solid mature moments sneakily hiding here and there. There's more immediacy to it which I've always felt is lost with the later releases. How well do you know the songs or have you just not really listened to them? because I'd recommend just throwing them on in the background on occasion. I got into Dude Ranch when TOYPAJ came out - the two albums were a gift when I was 12 because I was a little bit insane about Enema when I got into them. I adored TOYPAJ for sure but Dude Ranch was the sleeping winner for me and it gave me so much more enthusiasm for learning guitar and getting into that kind of music. I'd argue it was a gateway into punk as a general genre for me than their other records. and following that Cheshire was just a comforting oddity, more blink to consume and fall in love with. I magically got into most of blink really close to each other, with Untitled being the first anticipated and clued in release anticipation cycle for me. I do think how and when you get into them makes a drastic difference on your perspective.

Or they're getting old and stupid. I'm leaning towards that.

I have a soft spot for Cheshire, I adore it even though it's technically a total clusterfuck. I find it charming and fun, but I know I don't listen to it as much as certain others. still knocks the shit out of California, though. Dude Ranch for me is in a sweet spot, it has the energy, snot and drive of their early career but with slightly more thought out structure for some solid songs and better production (in my head, I know loads of people piss on it's production) and it's just before the pop machine took over and stuck their oar in. it's a magic place and to me it captures everything I love about blink.

I was more than pleased when I saw the sock account name, not gonna lie. never leave us, teleprompter.

1. Dude Ranch 2. TOYPAJ 3. Enema 4. Untitled 5. Cheshire 6. Neighborhoods 7. literally anything else they've ever released pre 2016 8. California doesn't make the list. 3, 4 and 5 are interchangeable for me though, very close.

It really wouldn't, you only see me in very rigid context my friend. It's not like I hate all music, hell I love Frank Turners new record that dropped on Friday.

Eurgh. the first one was the only one worth watching and it's a tad overrated, why make more?

If they randomly busted out 'Emo' now I'd die of shock but would be over the goddamn moon, I wouldn't even mind Skiba being there because he'd suit the "BECAUSE SHE FELL RIGHT OFF THE BED" bit.

am I the only one who just basically hates all of it? California, new stuff, and simple creatures? I don't even like Rebel Girl but it's more tolerable at least.

one of the worst on California and that's saying a lot as they're all pretty terrible. the lyrics are cringe but the song itself is just really fucking dull.

I'm still laughing / horrified at it. it's like a train wreck.

but seriously "Tommy" he called the fucking kid "Tommy" just what.

Will this be a rare moment where both sides agree and we all mutually hate it? *crosses fingers*

Just gonna post what I said about the video in the AVA thread here as I imagine this'll have more traction - Wow. that was fucking stupid. Makes blinks stupid 'durr teenagers like skateboards and vinyl records' video for BTD look way more palatable in comparison. just the fuck haha, like I was into the feel of it until the stupid "omg he's here he has a motorcycle" thing and the wah wah little friend zone mental freak out at the end (sidebar - he named the character Tommy? really?). the 'story' and the performance aspect really don't gel well together either, the contrast colours and abysmal lighting of the performances mixed with the soft focus story just clashed horribly. also the fuck to the titles... Jesus lol.

Wow. that was fucking stupid. Makes blinks stupid 'durr teenagers like skateboards and vinyl records' video for BTD look way more palatable in comparison. just the fuck haha, like I was into the feel of it until the stupid "omg he's here he has a motorcycle" thing and the wah wah little friend zone mental freak out at the end (sidebar - he named the character Tommy? really?). the 'story' and the performance aspect really don't gel well together either, the contrast colours and abysmal lighting of the performances mixed with the soft focus story just clashed horribly. also the fuck to the titles... Jesus lol.

Well it's hard to memorise a song when you write, record and master it in 5 hours.

Damn, he's looking alright isn't he? might have to hand my gay card back in.

Alright, lets rally a war cry. Who's for shit posting / disliking this video?

99% sure Mark did most of the guitar work on the +44 record anyway, I always assumed Shane and Craig were mostly there as touring guitarists only, considering how much of the record was effectively done before they even got on board. Jan just has a hard on for hating Skiba, there's nothing known enough about Craig or Shane to comment nicely or negatively, responding on Myspace of all things isn't a qualifier of anything, he's just finding any excuse to wear his slam skiba hat.

Tom had major back issues around then, that's why BCR happened partly because a lot of different serious issues happened at once (being in hospital, his gran dying, his brother going to war) its why he wrote Letters To God. The dependency on pain killers is afterwards, probably from the healing process.

Yeah Craig and Shane had zero identity in +44, it's hard to remember they were even there.

Well, I disagree. I straight up love 3 of them and that's more than I can say for his previous two albums, and none of them annoy the shit out of me which, again, is more than I can say for his previous two. I don't see what the problem is apart from some being a bit dull.

It's definitely not amazing but it's not the dumpster fire people keep acting like it is. There's a handful of good tracks, more than I can say for anything since tape deck.

God his pain in that first version was harrowing. felt like I'd been punched in the stomach when I first heard it.