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.

Yesterday, the temperature outside warmed enough for me to roll the windows down and ride around like a hot shot. So you know what that means? Time to step on the pedal and crank the volume on those semi-embarrassing pop punk records you worshiped for a whole 2-year window of your life as if they were your life support. Well, atleast that's the code I abide to. These warm doses of jumpy guitar gladness have gotten more spins from me than anything else I own, and these were the first bands I grew manic over. I hardly give these songs the time of day anymore, but these were the germs that brought about my entire musical sickness. And when spring comes elbowing it's way through the cold this time of year, there is nothing else I want to hear but these bouncy guitars and lyrics about mean girls.

5. Saves The Day - Through Being Cool
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned you say? Well, that's dandy and all, but I can't imagine anything worse than Chris Conley's lyrical scorn to his ex-romancer on this instant classic. This buzzing record can easily be pointed to as the root of where Fall Out Boy and Taking Back Sunday-style lyrics eventually pooled from, but none of the imitators out-wit the original.

4. Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue
If scientists could figure out a way to physically turn sunlight into 13 songs, it would sound pretty close to this.

3. Blink182 - Enema Of The State
Somewhere between pop music, surf rock, skate punk, and fart jokes is this album which is fun, serious, ridiculous, and charming all at once. It's one of those records that taught me you don't have to "grow up" to mature.

2. New Found Glory - New Found Glory
This album seemed like the newest thing in the entire world when I first bought it. For pop punk at the time, it was one of the crispest and cleanest sounding records yet, packing more pop than punk, but never sacrificing the energy or emotion.

1. Over It - Timing Is Everything
It's hard to even lump this with other pop-punk-ish records. It's more of an animated record of slick abrasive skate punk, and Pete's vocal twists and turns blow my mind to this day. It's a simple record, but it's my favorite musical grenade to pull the pin out of once in a while and blow me back a few years.

At a recent radio show in Tampa, someone finally did what many of us have wanted to do to Tom Delonge (currently the egomaniac behind Angels And Airwaves, and formerly the childish skatin' prankster of Blink182) by rocking his jugular with a well-aimed bottle. But turns out he's hard as a bed of nails and symbolically spits in the face of the haters and bottle throwers. Check out the video below to see the dude take the shot to his face midsong without missing a single beat. He sings, gets struck, and continues to sing the song. ROCK N ROLL! Doesn't make his obnoxious music with Angels any more bearable, but it certainly ups his rockdom.