On their first two albums, Buddha and Cheshire Cat, the San DiegoÐarea trio slapped together lilting melodies and racing beats in an attempt to connect emo and skate punk, a sort of pop hardcore.  

 On their first two albums, Buddha and Cheshire Cat, the San DiegoÐarea trio slapped together lilting melodies and racing beats in an attempt to connect emo and skate punk, a sort of pop hardcore.  

 But it wasn't until Dude Ranch that Blink focused their sound. Guitarist Tom DeLonge plays the straight man, singing sturdily and deadpan, while the squeakier-voiced bassist Mark Hoppus bleats urgently about romance gone wrong. 

 Were it not for three classic singles, Blink-182's major-label debut, Enema of the State, would've sounded like just another visit to the Dude Ranch. Suicide tale "Adam's Song" at least flirts controversy for mature reasons. 

 The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show is a sub-par live album. 

 Essentially a concept album about being a teenager, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket nimbly touches on disenchantment with adult life, socializing online, meeting girls at rock shows, first dates, and Christmas Eve with only two presents wrapped. 

 On Blink-182, Mark, Tom, and Travis deepened their sound while letting the emotion ooze out more freely. It wasn't as much fun as Enema, but it sounded pretty good.