Greatest Hits (Blink-182 album)

Tom DeLonge performing in 2004 with Blink-182. He left the group the following year.

By 2004, Blink-182, consisting of guitarist Tom DeLonge, bassist Mark Hoppus and drummer Travis Barker, had emerged as the biggest pop-punk act of the era, releasing the seven-times-multiplatinum Enema of the State (1999) and number one album Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001).[3] The band had taken a brief break in 2001 when DeLonge suffered a herniated disc in his back,[4] during which time he recorded an album—titled Box Car Racer—which contained darker musical material he felt unsuited for Blink. Barker provided drums on the album, and the project quickly evolved into a full-fledged band. It caused great division between DeLonge and Hoppus, who was not included and felt betrayed.[5] The moody subject matter and music on Box Car Racer edged its way into Blink's sound as well on their next effort, an eponymous fifth studio album (2003).[6][7][8] Geffen Records, after the success of Box Car Racer, offered DeLonge a solo recording deal, which he declined, feeling that it would cast a negative shadow over the band. Nevertheless, the possible deal loomed over the band, contributing to internal tension.[9]

DeLonge became increasingly conflicted both about his creative freedom within the group and the toll touring was taking on his family life.[10] He soon expressed his desire to take a half-year respite from touring in order to spend more time with family.[11] Hoppus and Barker were dismayed, viewing this break as overly long.[12] Following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, DeLonge agreed to perform at Music for Relief's Concert for South Asia, a benefit show to aid victims. Further arguments ensued during band rehearsals:[13] DeLonge asserted he would only record another album at his home in San Diego, suggesting he email Pro Tools files to Hoppus and Barker in Los Angeles. The duo were flexible regarding DeLonge's time off, but became angry when he began deciding "when we can and can't tour, [and] when and how we can record."[14]^: 150–51 DeLonge quit the band, coming to the conclusion that the trio had simply grew apart as they aged, had families, and gained fame.[5] Rumors had already begun to swirl when the band unexpectedly pulled out of the benefit show, and intensified when Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction posted on his blog that the band had "apparently" broken up.[14]^: 138–39 The band's label, Geffen, confirmed this on February 22, 2005, terming their dissolution an "indefinite hiatus".[15]

Greatest Hits opens with "Carousel", which was the very first song Hoppus and DeLonge wrote together upon their meeting in August 1992.[16]^: 10 It has been described by journalist Joe Shooman as "a satisfyingly fast-assed punk song in the vein of NOFX with some very adept dynamic breakdowns." The band's first promotional single, "M+M's", follows, which is based around power chords and Hoppus' lead vocal of a vacation elsewhere.[14]^: 24–25 "Dammit", which was the band's first major-label single and also their first radio hit, is themed around maturity and the refrain, "Well I guess this is growing up."[16]^: 42 The distinctive riff of "Dammit" was created when Hoppus was forced to skip over the missing two strings on an acoustic guitar.[16]^: 70 It reached number 11 on Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1998, and received heavy radio airplay.[17] "Josie" is about "being stoked on a girl."[18] It contains references to the bands Unwritten Law and Dance Hall Crashers ("My girlfriend likes UL and DHC"), two groups the band toured with in the mid-1990s.[14]^: 44

Drummer Travis Barker, who joined the group in 1998, performs on the majority of songs on Greatest Hits.

"What's My Age Again?" was originally titled "Peter Pan Complex", referencing the subject matter: one who refuses to grow up.[19] Its music video features the band running in the nude through the streets of Los Angeles and became an MTV staple.[20][14]^: 69 The power pop-inspired "All the Small Things" was composed by DeLonge as both an ode to his girlfriend and one of his favorite bands, the Ramones.[21][22] The single, released in early 2000, was the band's biggest mainstream hit, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.[20] "Adam's Song," the piano-laced seventh track of the compilation, was written primarily based on the loneliness that Hoppus experienced during unending days of touring in 1997–98.[16]^: 83 "Man Overboard" is based on former drummer Scott Raynor and his firing from the band for alcohol abuse.[14]^: 80

"The Rock Show" details two teenagers meeting a rock concert, and, despite failing grades and disapproving parents, the two remain in love.[14]^: 84 Hoppus wrote the song based on memories of the San Diego club Soma.[23] "First Date" was inspired by DeLonge and wife Jennifer Jenkins' first date at SeaWorld San Diego.[3] The track was written as a summary of neurotic teen angst and awkwardness.[3] "Stay Together for the Kids" is written from the point of view of a helpless child of divorce.[24] DeLonge wrote the song based on his parents' own divorce.[25] "Feeling This" follows, and "illustrates a scenario of lust, ambivalence and regret," according to journalist Jon Wiederhorn.[8] Its lyrics were intended to represent the lustful side of sex during the verses, the passionate side in the bridge and the romantic side in the chorus.[3]

"I Miss You" was recorded entirely acoustic,[26] and covers vulnerability in relationships.[27] "Down" continues the theme of longing, set to a rain-drenched soundscape.[14]^: 122–24 "Always" was inspired by 1980s music in its tone;[28] its lyrics, according to DeLonge, are about "wanting to hold a chick all night long."[29] "Not Now", a B-side from the band's 2003 album and first included on this compilation, features a church organ in its verses and guitar riffs reminiscent of the Descendents; its subject matter continues the theme of complicated miscommunication and fading love.[14]^: 122–24 The album closes with "Another Girl, Another Planet", which is a cover of the song by the Only Ones and was used as the title theme for Barker's MTV reality series, Meet the Barkers.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[30]
Blender	[2]
Rolling Stone	[31]

Greatest Hits was first announced on August 29, 2005; it was initially slated to have a live version of "Man Overboard".[32] The album's artwork is a smilie surrounded by arrows, which was first introduced on the band's 2003 album; it was illustrated by Mister Cartoon, a friend of drummer Travis Barker. In addition, the photography for Greatest Hits was supplied by another friend of Barker, Estevan Oriol.[33] SA Studios handled the art direction for the compilation.[34]

"Not Now" was selected to be the lead single, but was contested by the management between the former band members at the time. DeLonge's manager and original Blink manager Rick DeVoe supported "Not Now", while Hoppus and Barker's new management, Irving Azoff, lobbied for "Another Girl, Another Planet".[35]

• "Carousel" and "M+M's" are from Cheshire Cat (1995)
• "Dammit" and "Josie" are originally from Dude Ranch (1997) but appear as their single versions, which were remixed by Tom Lord-Alge at the time of their original release
• "What's My Age Again", "All the Small Things", and "Adam's Song" are from Enema of the State (1999) but appear as their single versions
• "Man Overboard" is from The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show (The Enema Strikes Back!) (2000) but appear as single version, which was remixed by Tom Lord-Alge at the time of their original release
• "The Rock Show", "First Date", and "Stay Together for the Kids" are from Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001)
• "Feeling This", "I Miss You", "Down", and "Always" are from Blink-182 (2003) but the single version of "Down" and "Always" have different endings than the album versions
• "Not Now" is from Blink-182 (UK release) (2003)
• "Another Girl, Another Planet" is from MTV's Meet the Barkers
• "Aliens Exist" (live in Los Angeles) is from "What's My Age Again" single (1999)
• "I Won't Be Home for Christmas" has previously been released as a standalone single (2001)
• "Go" (BBC Radio 1 session) is from "I Miss You" single (2004)
• "I Miss You" (live in Minneapolis) is from "Always" single (2004)

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[34]

• Greatest Hits at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)