Enema of the State is the third studio album by Blink-182, released on June 1, 1999, by MCA Records. After a long series of performances at various clubs and festivals and several indie recordings throughout the 1990s, Blink-182 first achieved popularity on the Warped Tour and in Australia following the release of their second album Dude Ranch (1997) and its rock radio hit “Dammit.” To record their third album, Blink-182 turned to veteran punk rock producer Jerry Finn, who previously worked on Green Day‘s breakthrough album Dookie (1994). Enema was the band’s first album to feature second drummer Travis Barker, who replaced original drummer Scott Raynor.
The group recorded with Finn over a period of three months at numerous locations, including their hometown of San Diego and in Los Angeles. Finn was key in producing the fast-paced, melodic mixes, creating a pop-punk sound with a more radio-friendly, accessible polish. Lyrically, the album is inspired by adolescent frustration and relationships. Guitarist Tom DeLonge and bassist Mark Hoppus primarily culled stories from friends and autobiographical situations to craft summer-related tracks revolving around breakups, suburban parties and maturity, as well as more offbeat subject matter such as UFO conspiracy theories. The cover artwork for Enema of the State features porn star Janine Lindemulder famously clad in a nurse uniform, and the title is a pun on the term enemy of the state.
Enema of the State was an enormous commercial success, although the band was criticized as synthesized, manufactured pop only remotely resembling punk, and pigeonholed as a joke act due to the puerile slant of its singles and associating music videos. The album sold over 15 million copies worldwide, catapulting the band to become one of the biggest rock bands of the turn of the millennium. What’s My Age Again?, All the Small Things, and Adam’s Song became hit singles and MTV staples, generating heavy radio airplay. Enema of the State had an extensive impact on contemporary pop-punk, reinventing it for a new generation, influencing numerous bands, and spawning countless tributes and accolades.
Tracklist:
- Dumpweed
- Don’t Leave Me
- Aliens Exist
- Going Away to College
- What’s My Age Again?
- Dysentery Gary
- Adam’s Song
- All the Small Things
- The Party Song
- Mutt
- Wendy Clear
- Anthem
Blink-182
Mark Hoppus: bass, vocals
Tom DeLonge: guitars, vocals
Travis Barker : drums, percussion
Additional musicians
Roger Joseph Manning, Jr.: keyboards on “What’s My Age Again?,” “Adam’s Song,” “All the Small Things,” “Wendy Clear,” and “Anthem”
Artwork
Tim Stedman: art direction, design
Keith Tamashiro: design
David Goldman: photography
Janine Lindemulder: cover model
Production
Jerry Finn: production, mixing engineer of “The Party Song” and “Wendy Clear”
Tom Lord-Alge: mixing engineer
Sean O’Dwyer: recording engineer
Darrel Harvey: assistant engineer
John Nelson: assistant engineer
Robert Read: assistant engineer
Mike Fasano: drum technician
Brian Gardner: mastering engineer
