For a person who has wanted to get into punk music for quite some time, Blink-182’s new album “NINE” is a good place to start. With a diverse set of songs, great melodies, and easy listening, “NINE” is an album that feels like it was made by Blink-182. However, throughout my listening, I found the album’s authenticity questionable.

For an album that starts off as positive as this one did, I definitely was not expecting a song like “On Some Emo Sh*t”. With lyrics like “They say forgive and forget / As long as I live, I’ll let / These feelings pound in my chest / Maybe I am better off dead.” Compared to the album’s opening poppy beats of “The First Time”, it leaves the listener distressed. However, this shows the diversity of the album, as well as surprising the listeners with a variety of options for any taste.

Blink’s music has always featured complex drums and strings, and I don’t think this album is any different. I enjoyed songs like “Pin the Grenade” or “Generational Divide”, showcasing drummer Travis Barker and guitarist Matt Skiba’s skill for their instruments. Mark Hoppus’ vocals compliment the melodies well, without feeling like they’re competing. All in all, they add up to songs that certainly have made their way onto my playlist. No matter where I stand on this album, the talent shown cannot be ignored.

As much as I did genuinely enjoy this album, the idea of Blink making songs about topics they sang of 20 years ago seems ingenuine. Of course, nothing is stopping them from channeling their feelings of youth, but I ask myself what three middle aged men would know firsthand of modern teen angst. 

Additionally, the album did offer a modern take on their sound that I personally didn’t find too offensive. But, at times I did feel like I was listening to any pop album, and I know for a fact that Blink-182 is not simply a pop group. However, songs like “Hungover You” are reminiscent of of The 1975’s poppy “TooTime”, and I still question if it’ll be copyrighted. As stated, the album felt like it was made by Blink-182, but it’s about as authentic as a teacher who shows you a meme. The effort is there, but the mark was missed.

If they’re willing to change their sound to cater to more modern tastes, I don’t see why the meaning of their songs would stay fixed. It would be a great thing for Blink to write about their lives now. A majority of their original fanbase is their age too, but to have them write of problems with girls and feeling sad all the time now, makes it seem like perhaps it was all a facade.