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''Blink-182'', is the eponymously titled fifth studio album by the American rock band Blink-182. It was produced by Jerry Finn and released November 18, 2003, through Geffen Records. Following the band's ascent to stardom and success of their prior two releases, the trio were compelled to take a break and subsequently participated in various side projects (Box Car Racer and Transplants). When they regrouped, the band felt inspired to approach song structure and arrangements differently on their next effort together. The record was left untitled as to refrain from labeling its content, and its packaging features a "smiley face" logo inspired by pop art. Recorded throughout 2003, ''Blink-182'' marks a departure from the band's earlier work, infusing experimental elements into their usual pop punk sound, inspired by lifestyle changes (the band members all became fathers before the album was released) and side projects. Its songs are characterized by downcast and expansive sonic atmospheres, showcasing a more elaborate, mature side of the band. Songwriting is more personal in nature and explores darker territory, touching upon the realities of adulthood and unexpected hardships. The record features a collaboration with The Cure frontman Robert Smith. Fans were generally split regarding the band's "new" direction, but the record proved successful, selling 2.2 million copies in the United States. The album received critical acclaim, with critics welcoming the change in tone, as well as the experimentation. Lead singles "Feeling This" and "I Miss You" received the most radio airplay of the four singles released and peaked high on ''Billboard'' charts. The worldwide touring schedule, which saw the band travel to Japan and Australia, also found the three performing for troops stationed in the Middle East. ''Blink-182'' was the band's last recording with longtime producer Jerry Finn and their final original material before a four-year-long hiatus. ==Background== ''Take Off Your Pants and Jacket'' became Blink-182's first number one album in the United States upon its June 2001 release; it also hit the top position in Canada and Germany. Hit singles "The Rock Show" and "First Date" continued the band's mainstream success worldwide, with MTV cementing their image as video stars. DeLonge felt "bummed out" in the studio during recording of the album, feeling as though his creativity was stifled by label limitations. The band rescheduled European tour dates in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks,〔Shooman, 2010. p. 89〕 and they were called off a second time after DeLonge suffered a herniated disc in his back.〔Shooman, 2010. p. 90〕 With time off from touring, DeLonge felt an "itch to do something where he didn't feel locked in to what Blink was,"〔〔Shooman, 2010. p. 92〕 and channeled his chronic back pain and resulting frustration into ''Box Car Racer'' (2002), a post-hardcore disc that further explores his Fugazi and Refused inspiration. Refraining from paying for a studio drummer, he invited Barker to record drums on the project.〔Shooman, 2010. p. 94〕 Box Car Racer, intended as a one-time experimental project, became a full-fledged band with Barker behind the kit and Hazen Street guitarist David Kennedy on guitar.〔 Hoppus - despite providing guest vocals for one Box Car Racer song - felt betrayed and jealous, and it would create an unresolved tension within the trio that followed the band for several years.〔 "At the end of 2001 it felt like Blink-182 had broken up. It wasn’t spoken about, but it felt over," said Hoppus later.〔 Barker, meanwhile, joined rap rock group Transplants in 2002, and was featured on their first album, ''Transplants''. Through a connection with Jerry Finn, Rancid vocalist Tim Armstrong contacted Barker in the summer of 2002 to record tracks for the collaboration.〔Shooman, 2010. p. 103〕 Barker also sat in with Dave Carlock's band The Distillers for summer tour dates as well.〔Shooman, 2010. p. 104〕 For his role on the ''Transplants'' record, ''Rolling Stone'' called Barker "punk rock's first superstar drummer."〔Shooman, 2010. p. 105〕 Hoppus, meanwhile, busied himself with a role on UPN's ''Haunted'', where he portrayed a hermetical man of the mountains.〔Shooman, 2010. p. 110〕 In addition, Blink-182 co-headlined the Pop Disaster Tour with Green Day, alongside opening acts Jimmy Eat World, Saves the Day and Kut U Up in 2002.〔Shooman, 2010. p. 99〕 The post-hardcore sound of ''Box Car Racer'' inspired the change in tone and experimental nature the band approached ''Blink-182'' with. Hoppus described his desire for the album to experiment with different arrangements in a 2002 interview: "Before, we got one guitar sound that we changed a little bit through the record. This time we want to try a whole different setup for each song." Hoppus recalled that Barker entered the production process by urging the band to "(think of the album ) as the next Blink-182 record — think of it as the ''first'' Blink-182 record."〔 The members were also inspired after hearing ''Houston: We Have a Drinking Problem'' by Bad Astronaut and its expansion upon punk rock.〔 "Once the door was opened by Tom and Travis with ''Box Car Racer'', Mark started to be more on board with that concept. He was also more flexible and the next Blink album was able to be a pretty big departure from the previous two," said assistant engineer Sam Boukas.〔 "''Box Car Racer'' opened the door in that sense and I think the three of them wanted to be more creative and have more creative liberty on that next album."〔Shooman, 2010. p. 121〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Blink-182 (album)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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