It's funny. Blink182 were not even broken up four years before pop-punk's most beloved sons announced they were "back" this past Sunday at the Grams. Yet, their return has irrationally fired up all us young grunts and rock writes who grew up weened on the trashy pop of Dude Ranch and Enema of the State.

But... why?

Every level-headed Blink fan will tell you there was NOTHING brilliant about anything they ever did. But there was something insanely special about their formula. One voice was snotty (guitarist, Tom Delonge), one voice was goofy (bassist, Mark Hoppus), and the songs were all about pranks, young love, fun with dirty words, and light-hearted rebellion. The only thing remotely impressive was Travis Barker's fantastically intense drumming.

But every note of those old albums reeks of my old high school hallways and locker rooms. They remind me of my first girlfriend and all the stupid little fights and obnoxious fun we had. They remind me of jumping off rooftops, fart jokes, and the endless list of goofball pranks me and my friends all pulled. It was a time when everyone else in school listened to either rap, Limp Bizkit or N*Sync. It was hardly rebellious, but consequences, responsibilities, and fear were the farthest thing from any of our minds then. We were young, in love, and untouchable. And every generation deserves a band like that to grow up with. Even if they technically, suck.

Not-so-coincidentally, it was growing up, and the complicating intricacies of life that tore Blink182 in half (actually a split in 1/3 and 2/3, if you want to get technical). The breakup was nasty and went against everything their earlier albums heralded. It took a tragic plane crash last autumn involving Barker to make them friends again. After Barker's brush with the Reaper, Mark had this to say, "The events of the past two months supersede everything that happened before. Life is too short."

Indeed it is, Mark. That's what your music used to be about--life is short, don't be so wound up about all the trite crap people try to smear on you. Just make some noise and have some fun doing it. Who cares who you impress? Life and music always go stale when you follow that gauge.

"Stay together for the kids."

Don't get me wrong. I don't disagree with anything this Aversion article has to say (it's called "Why the Blink182 Reunion doesn't matter") because the reunion probably doesn't matter to the world of music. But for those of us who lived Blink the first time, it does matter, and it means the world to us--even if it is just ol' nostalgia creeping up on us now-grown-ups aching for that invincible feeling of stupid youth again. Some pranks, some dumb fun, and some dirty words are exactly what this world needs right now and so I am overjoyed to welcome back Tom, Mark, and Travis. And it's because they used to sing things like "No one should take themselves so seriously. With so many years ahead to fall in line, why would you wish that on me? I never want to act my age, what's my age again?"

Here's the best music videos from their past which showcase everything we all loved (and hated) about them in the first place.

Blink182 - What's My Age Again
This is the penultimate Blink vid, as far as I'm concerned.


Blink182 - Dammit
Old school.


Blink182 - First Date
Tom's 'stache in this one should be a national monument.


Blink182 - Always
This was their last real video before the breakup, and I just love the concept. Simple, but groundbreaking camera work.


Blink182 - All The Small Things
I just love the irony of this one, because it's a full on pop song, and yet the video is a total diss of the boybands of the late 90's. Good times.


Check back later today for some Blink mp3s.

Normally, I don't think much of award shows. They're just ego snacks, with flat live performances. But, the 51st annual Grammy Awards on Sunday were STEAMING with some of the sweetest 'Grammy Moments' we've had in a long, long time, and gave us in the music world a bit to get jolted about. It's tough to pick the best moment of the night though. Let's recount the night, shall we?

Blink182 announced their bid to return to the rock music world after a bitter cold war-like breakup a few years back. Try and tell me seeing Mark Hoppus' devilishly goofy smile lighting up a stage doesn't make you happy. Cool moment, but Tom was so awkward, and it's not like they performed a song or anything. It was a bigger deal when The Police made a return at the Grammys two years ago.

Green Day handed off the album of the year award to Robert Plant & Allison Krause...though Coldplay and/or Radiohead most certainly deserved that award more in my book (GD also recently announced their followup to American Idiot will hit shelves this May and be called 21st Century Breakdown. Nice.)

Despite being due to deliver a KID Sunday, a ridiculously pregnant M.I.A. performed the soon-to-be-classic "Swagga Like Us" on stage alongside "The Rap Pack" (Jay-Z, Kanye, TI, and Lil Wayne). And it was awesome.

Speaking of awesome, I'm in love with Kate Beckinsale. Paul McCartney couldn't have gotten a sweeter lady to introduce his tight performance of the classic "I Saw Her Standing There." Wish he would have played something else though. Like a song of his he doesn't have to pay Michael Jackson to play.

Kid Rock's medley was startlingly good, especially the opening with "Amen."

That new U2 song, "Get On Your Boots," was a lot better than the first single from their last album. You know, the one where the chorus was: "Yeah, yeah, yeah."

Stevie Wonder. Al Green. Fantastic night for soul.

And who doesn't love when Neil Diamond shows up and busts out "Sweet Caroline"?

But the finest moment of the night goes to... Radiohead.

Seriously. Ho. Ly. Crap! That performance of "15 Steps" with a full drum line was too good. If you've seen them live, you know you can always count on caliber like that, but it's rare that it translates with such electricity onto an award show. They definitely delivered here. I think this performance is one of the most definitive moments that shows what makes Radiohead so special. Notice the attitude ala The Sex Pistols, the anthemic quality and beauty ala U2, the extraordinary sense of fluid experimentation ala Pink Floyd, that swagger ala The Rap Pack, and especially that vigorous soul ala vintage Al Green.

I got a local show for all you ratty tatty jam band and bluegrass fans to scope out tomorrow night. Be sure to swing on into Newtown's Burlap and Bean at 8 pm to catch Painted Blue and Mason Porter. And tickets are only 5 bucks too. Not a bad way to spend your evening. Check the comments for more info.

Painted Blue

Frankly, I thought the majority of this year's Super Bowl commercials were weak. WEAK! And considering our birds--The Eagles--failed to make it yet again, I'd say a weak line up of commercials was rather fitting for a weak Super Bowl. And I don't want to hear it from you Steelers fans about your little dynasty or how entertaining a game it was. A few years ago, one of you jaw-rocked my college roommate for starting an E-A-G-L-E-S chant (the amusing twist being that the Steelers fan was my OTHER college roommate).

But there were a few bright spots for the commercials, and this one had me bawling. Commercial of the year. Hey, Dummy.





And was it just me or was Bruce Springsteen out of his MIND? "I'm going to Disneyland!" he yelled. Seriously, Boss? Disneyland? That's in...California, right? But I know what he was trying to do. Kinda cool, actually. But still, the guy was nuts. And I was surprised to hear "Tenth Avenue Freezeout." Sweet stuff.

If you sent me a death threat email over the past week, I admit, I deserved it (oh yes, I did receive a few). Perhaps I struck a nerve?

Sure, that last post was pretty low. But I found it while digging around YouTube and it was absolutely too irresistible. As soon as I saw it, I knew what I had to do, and you know you would have done the same to me. But the real reason I posted that is because I cannot load up any entertainment buzz blog or site these days without reading about all these people bugging Christopher Nolan and everyone else associated with the Batman franchise about the next movie. That's expected, I'm anxious too. But these things take time, and the people of the franchise keep asking us hawks to just give them some time. So, maybe we should just let it be. If you don't more rick-rolling will ensue, and nobody will be safe.