Pop punk wasn’t ready for Enema of the State—and neither was the world. Released on June 1, 1999, Blink-182’s third studio album didn’t just catapult the band into the mainstream—it reshaped the genre entirely. With its bratty charm, lightning-fast hooks, and just the right amount of teenage rebellion, Enema became a cultural touchstone for an entire generation of misfits, mallrats, and kids who thought skateboarding was a personality trait.
It was Blink’s first album with drummer Travis Barker, and from the second his snare hits on “Dumpweed,” it was obvious this wasn’t the same band that gave us Dude Ranch. Barker’s hyper-technical drumming added a new level of polish and punch to a band previously known for fart jokes and fast chords (not that those went away). Paired with Jerry Finn’s slick production—rest in peace to the pop punk GOAT—the album delivered a radio-ready sound without sacrificing Blink’s offbeat humor and punk spirit.
Tracks like “What’s My Age Again?” and “All the Small Things” practically lived on MTV’s Total Request Live, while deeper cuts like “Anthem” and “Aliens Exist” captured the weird, anxious energy of late-’90s youth. Suddenly, Blink wasn’t just a skatepark favorite—they were everywhere. Whether you were blasting it on your Walkman or sneaking the CD into your Discman under the table in class, Enema was the soundtrack of adolescent chaos.
But beyond the catchy riffs and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, Enema of the State hit a nerve. It made it okay to not take everything so seriously. It said your awkwardness, your confusion, your teenage heartbreak—it was all valid, and you could laugh through it. And two decades later, it still resonates. You can hear its influence in everyone from Machine Gun Kelly to Meet Me @ The Altar. The pop punk revival owes a lot to this record.
Blink-182 may have grown up (kind of), but Enema remains frozen in time—forever 23, forever running naked through the streets, and forever asking, “What’s my age again?”
Win a Vinyl Copy of Blink-182’s Enema of the State!
To celebrate one of pop punk’s most iconic albums, we’re giving away a vinyl copy of Blink-182’s Enema of the State!
All you need to do is sign up to the Reckless Press mailing list. That’s it. No strings, just good music—and one very lucky winner. Entries close Friday, June 7 at 6PM (UK time). The winner will be contacted shortly after
