
Blink-182’s global superstardom proved that, no, the world hadn’t had enough of pop hooks, potty humor, and punk energy. But the band’s albums, however, are the biggest reason for their legacy and help the California trio rank as one of rock’s biggest bands.
When in 2022, the original line-up consisting of Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus, and Travis Barker reunited, tickets to their world tour sold out in mere minutes. Both the pop-punk genre and blink-182 have had surprising staying power.
Today I’ve funneled through all the fart and dick jokes, reexamined their discography, and ranked blink-182’s albums from worst to best.













Blink-182 Albums Ranked
12. “Buddha” (1993)
As with other famous pop-punk bands, neither blink-182’s future success nor their ambition were evident at the beginning. On “Buddha,” they’re kids happy to play punk tunes with their friends.
This is basically a skatepunk demo. Songs are short, fun and hard to distinguish from similar-minded groups. Still, “Carousel” and “Sometimes” show promise. “Buddha” is the first of the blink-182 records in terms of order of release, but, no doubt, the least impressive one.
11. “Cheshire Cat” (1994)
Many 90s punk bands got by simply on youthful enthusiasm and silly humour. Blink-182 was hoping to do the same. “Cheshire Cat” achieves its goal: it’s a party-punk record that doesn’t leave the audience demanding more.
“Cheshire Cat” is made up mostly of the demos that had been included on “Buddha.”
Traces of the band’s soon-tobe-famous sound can be found in songs like “Romeo and Rebecca,” but Blink wasn’t yet ready to give Green Day or the Offspring a run for their money just yet.
10. “Nine” (2019)
“Nine” finds blink-182 leaning further into the warm pop sounds that had ensured longevity for many of their peers, such as Fall Out Boy or Panic! at the Disco.
Once again, “Nine” is a pleasant record. “Happy Days” and “On Some Emo Shit” show that blink-182, under any iteration, makes more likeable pop-guitar songs than most groups.
The band even concern themselves with weightier material on tunes like “Hungover You” and “Black Rain.”
But Matt Skiba’s talents aren’t ever used too much here. Pop producers and writers are brought in as the band fishes for a modern hit.
Nobody was very concerned with the content of the record. It allowed Blink to continue touring. It was quickly forgotten once Tom DeLonge had rejoined the band, and Skiba had been allowed to focus on Alkaline Trio.
And it showed what most of us knew all along. Blink-182 have always been more pop than punk.
9. “Dogs Eating Dogs” (2012)
“Dogs Eating Dogs” is an EP that was supposed to help blink-182 transition to another chapter in their career. It’s an intriguing exercise.
Largely speaking, DeLonge had got his way with “Neighborhoods.”
On “Dogs Eating Dogs,” Hoppus and Barker highlight the sound that they’d worked on with the band +44.
It’s a modern-sounding record filled with ghostly electronic elements.
This all works best on “Pretty Little Girl”, where the band’s new music is assisted by Barker’s long-time collaborator, rapper Yelawolf.
But “Dogs Eating Dogs” didn’t help make DeLonge happier. He departed after this release.
8. “California” (2016)
“California” proved that blink-182 could survive without Tom DeLonge. It all works as a result of accumulated goodwill and pretty strong songs.
The difficulty of DeLonge’s departure is relieved by the quality of his replacement, Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba.
The new songs, however, are nothing groundbreaking. They play by the rules laid out on previous Blink albums.
Most importantly, however, they allowed Barker and Hoppus to turn the world as blink-182, not +44.
“Bored to Death” and “Kings of the Weekend” are fun and bittersweet.
7. “One More Time…” (2023)
“One More Time…” isn’t a return to form, but it is a return. And that, above anything else, is what will matter most to the hordes of fans of Blink-182 looking for a happy ending.
In 2022, when it was announced that Mark, Tom, and Travis would be getting back together, the world rejoiced. I did as well. It didn’t even matter that this was not their first reunion, nor that Blink-182 already existed as a trio.
Sold-out shows all over the world were to be expected, but could the band still cut it in the studio?
Not really! But then again, “One More Time…” banks on your appreciation of the band and sentimentality over the hardships they’ve had to endure.
Is this a sound you’ll still be able to enjoy? Sure. The sound is extremely familiar. Blink-182 even goes so far as to start the record with “Anthem Part 3.”
The first single, “Edging,” is, as I suspected and feared, the catchiest thing on here. The 80s-inspired “Blink Wave” is a real highlight. The rest, however, is predictable, albeit written by folks who know their way around a pop song. That’s partly because all the songs here are co-written with outside songwriters.
Even so, the sickly sweet melancholy of “Childhood” or “You Don’t Know What You’ve Got” is a little on the corny side.
That wouldn’t even be the biggest problem, but the album’s mix is very hard to like. Autotuned vocals bleed and blend into each other, the guitars sound synthetic, and even Travis Barker’s excellent drumming is muffled.
It’s good to have them back any way we get them, I suppose. But Blink-182 isn’t willing. to try and antagonize fans in the middle of a gigantic worldwide tour just yet.
6. “The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show (The Enema Strikes Back!)” (2000)
“The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show” is an extra episode in the teen-comedy that was blink-182.
If anything, the live record gives a good glimpse into the band’s stage show. This included comedic banter and convincing pop-punk performances.
“Man Overboard” is added to the setlist in order to offer this release a brand-new single.
5. “Neighborhoods” (2011)
“Neighborhoods” is the first attempt at putting the world to right by a reunited blink-182, whose reputation had only grown since their initial split.
Blink’s 1990s success seemed inevitable. But it also appeared temporary.
Naysayers were forced to eat their words by 2011’s “Neighborhoods.” The band’s reconnection, much like the reunion from 2022, caused a worldwide stir of emotion.
“Neighborhoods” was a strong album. But it’s the record fans hoped they were getting. Were they not overwhelmed by joy, they might have reacted more angrily.
The sound and style of Angels & Airwaves, the band Tom DeLonge had formed after departing blink-182, informs much of “Neighborhoods.” This is a U2-sized arena rock heavy on dark emotions and the search for higher truths.
But there are some attempts at recapturing former pop-punk glories. This can be heard on “Heart’s All Gone” and “Up All Night.”
It’s a mature record that doesn’t try to recreate Blink’s teenage punk-comedy. But it feels like a compromise on all parts just as well.
4. “Dude Ranch” (1997)
“Dude Ranch” is the moment that things click for blink-182. This is mainly because the group realizes they’re just as much a pop band as they are a punk group.
Of curse, the album is propelled by the excellent single “Dammit.” With its instantly-catchy DeLonge guitar riff and lyrics about teenage romance, the band became an MTV hit.
And Blink-182 were determined not to be a one-hit wonderx. Surprising platinum success had happened to pop punk bands before. Nobody had expected NOFX or New Found Glory to hit it big.
However, songs like “Apple Shampoo” and “Emo” show that blink-182 was more driven than most contemporaries. Future hit singles wouldn’t arrive by accident.
“Dude Ranch” would also be the last album to feature original drummer Scott Raynor. The drama of his dismissal would later be captured in the track “Man Overboard.”
3. “blink-182” (2003)
On “blink-182,” the band finally succumbs to maturity. The goth and modern-rock-inspired direction works better than many had expected.
This day has to come for all pop-punks wishing to move past simply playing their greatest hits. Few, like Green Day, succeed at capturing something greater. Most, like Sum 41, are stuck playing their early singles.
What helps blink-182 is that they’re driven and almost arrogant on their self-titled record. “I’m Lost Without,” “I Miss You”, or “Down” allow them to add wild textures to their sound on what is commonly known as “The Untitled Album.”
What also assists is that they’ve never lost their ear for a good pop melody. “Feeling This” and “Always” are good examples. Those would be featured on the “Greatest Hits” compilation released in 2005 by Geffen.
Getting to duet with The Cure’s Robert Smith helps the band’s respectability. And their moody look and sound help them connect with the trendy emo-rock crowds.
With “blink-182,” the band was forced to grow up. They did it and got another hit out of it too.
2. “Enema of the State” (1999)
“Enema of the State” not only made Blink-182 successful globally. It also helped launch the pop-punk revival. It’s easy to understand its appeal.
Part of this is due to the great, catchy pop tunes that feel written as sequels to “Dammit.”
“All the Small Things,” “What’s My Age Again”, or “Going Away to College” are sharpshooters. These instant earworms benefit from the production work of the marvellous Jerry Finn (AFI, Alkaline Trio, Tiger Army).
Then there’s the addition of virtuoso punk drummer Travis Barker. He would help flesh out blink-182’s sound and provide them with another focal point.
Meanwhile, “Adam’s Song” hints at artistic depth. This dark subject matter would be explored on future albums.
But for the most part, blink-182 forge forward on the back of breakup songs (“Dumpweed”), quirky obsessions (“Aliens Exist”) and gross, teenage humour (“Dysentery Gary”).
But it’s fitting. No rock trio had been as successful with teenagers since Green Day, nor even the grunge group Nirvana.
“Enema of the State” made blink-182 MTV darlings at a time when nothing could help a band’s success more.
1. “Take Off Your Pants and Jacket” (2001)
Attaining pop-punk success is one thing. Maintaining it is a whole different ballgame. Blink-182 do surprisingly well here with “Take Off Your Pants and Jacket.”
It all seemed typical. Hoppus, DeLonge and Barker had another humorously titled record. New jokey videos were playing on MTV. And the pop-punk formula had many of the same ingredients.
To their credit, blink-182 tries to stretch out the subject matter of their compositions. There are songs about youthful rebellion (“Anthem, Pt.2,” “Shut Up”, or “Give Me One Good Reason”), teenage alienation (“Story of a Lonely Guy”) and family issues (“Stay Together for the Kids”).
But the band’s hooks and Finn’s production distinguish them from the pack.
This strategy works best on the unmistakably catchy singles “First Date” and “The Rock Show.”
There were a lot of bands that looked and sounded like blink-182 at the time. But few had the song quality of personal charisma to match them. “Take Off Your Pants and Jacket” is the best blink-182 album.
One more time definitely is in their Top5