Photo: Jack Bridgland
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Blink-182 Essentials: 15 Songs That Prove They're Rock's Most Serious Unserious Band
As the classic blink-182 lineup hits the road for their massive world tour, get ready to rock out with a mix of iconic blink hits and hard-hitting deep cuts.
It's been a minute since we've seen the classic blink-182 lineup of Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker, and Tom DeLonge together — eight years, to be exact. While the band has gone through some hardships and personnel changes during that time, their music has remained ubiquitous and engrained in today's music landscape.
With new single "Edging" in tow, blink-182 ushered in the latest era of the group — one that kicks into full gear on May 4, when their world tour launches in St. Paul, Minn. After spending the summer rocking arenas throughout the US and Canada, they'll hit Europe in the fall and resume in Australia, New Zealand, Peru and Mexico in 2024.
The trio teased a hit-filled set list with two surprise sets at Coachella, where they were welcomed as heroes. The performances showed that blink-182 still sound (and look) like those punk-rock kids who went streaking in the streets of LA in their music videos — and while they may be a little older, they're still not ready to act their age.
As the beloved rock group begin their latest tour together, GRAMMY.com revisits 15 of blink-182's essential tracks.
"Carousel," Chesire Cat (1995)
When blink-182 first started, Hoppus and DeLonge were just kids who bonded over a shared love of punk rock bands like Bad Religion, NOFX, and The Descendants. They played high schools and small clubs throughout San Diego, creating a buzz in the SoCal punk rock scene.
The first album, Chesire Cat, is a bit rough around the edges, but it is undeniably the start of blink as we know them now. Album opener, "Carousel," moves at a frenetic pace of pent-up energy, and it's our first taste for what was to take over the world a little later on. They sound young and spunky, ready to get the party started.
"Dammit," Dude Ranch (1997)
Forget "Smoke on the Water" — for kids learning guitar in the early 2000s, it was the "Dammit" riff they wanted to master. And in the same vein, "Dammit" as a whole was the perfect introduction to blink-182. Everything we know and love about them — the bouncing guitars, the breakneck drums (albeit not recorded by Barker, who didn't join the band until 1998), the juvenile gossip, the singalong chorus — is all there.
In "Dammit" is the blink-182 too-cool-for-school philosophy. They don't want to go out with you anymore? Whatever. Just tell yourself they'll regret it and shrug, "I guess this is growing up."
"Josie," Dude Ranch (1997)
A fan favorite from blink-182's Dude Ranch, "Josie" doesn't waste any space. It's loud and fast, just like the music that shaped the band growing up in SoCal.
Almost like a little cousin to the Ramones' "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker," "Josie" is a punk rock love song hidden behind brash drums and snot-nosed guitars, about a girl who is out of their league — who laughs at their dumb jokes, drives them when they're too drunk, and doesn't get jealous when they hang with the guys. With her they know that everything is gonna be fine. Who doesn't want a relationship like that?
"What's My Age Again?," Enema of the State (1999)
Mark Hoppus is 51, and both Travis Barker and Tom DeLonge are 47. So as DeLonge's guitar rang out and the band launched into "What's My Age Again?" at Coachella, it felt more like a protest song — because what is age but a number?
"What's My Age Again?" was the first single released from their pivotal Enema of the State album, and the first official taste of the Hoppus/DeLonge/Barker lineup. It is blink-182's mission statement, an anthem for those who never want to grow up. After all, as Hoppus sings, "No one should take themselves so seriously, with many years ahead to fall in line."
Every line is quotable, every riff is memorable, and not a moment is wasted. Now that's how you make one catchy pop punk song and win over a generation in the process.
"All the Small Things," Enema of the State (1999)
If "What's My Age Again?" was a reintroduction, "All the Small Things" was the song that made damn sure you'd never forget. Sure, blink-182 may not have invented SoCal pop punk, but they were the first band to bring it to the mainstream, and "All the Small Things" was what made them a household name. It propelled them into superstardom.
Since its initial breakthrough as an MTV mainstay in 1999, the song has become a classic pop-punk party anthem with its sing-along hook and catchy undulating verses. It's a song about nothing and everything at once; it's about letting go and being free from any troubles. Work sucks, they know — so why not just sing "Na-na, na-na, na-na, na-na, na, na"?
"Going Away to College," Enema of the State (1999)
On Enema deep cut "Going Away to College," blink-182 perfectly captured what it's like for a kid heading off on their own for the first time — heading into the unknown, leaving family and friends you grew up with behind.
"I haven't been this scared in a long time," DeLonge admits in the chorus, one of blink-182's best, most endearing in their catalog. The song is largely an adorably clumsy valentine to a high school sweetheart, and the words Hoppus sings read like a message hastily scribbled on a note in a locker: "This world's an ugly place, but you're so beautiful to me."
"Adam's Song," Enema of the State (1999)
Van Halen were once challenged to write a song other than hooking up with women or partying, so David Lee Roth wrote "Panama" about a car. In a similar way, blink-182 challenged themselves to write about something a little serious. In comes "Adam's Song," a tune sung from the perspective of a depressed teen thinking about ending his life: "Please tell mom this is not her fault," Hoppus pleads over a subdued, dirge-like guitar.
It's a heavy song that changed the idea of what a blink-182 song should sound like. Though the song was almost left off of Enema, "Adam's Song" ended up becoming one of the more important and cherished singles in the band's discography.
"Man Overboard," The Mark, Tom And Travis Show (The Enema Strikes Back!) (2000)
On its surface, "Man Overboard" might seem a bit like a throwaway song as the only studio track on blink-182's 2000 live album, The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show (The Enema Strikes Back!). The band needed a song to help promote the live album, so they turned to a song that didn't make it on the previous year's Enema of the State. Yet, the single is a bright, driving song that's chock full of hooks.
Upon closer look, there is a deeper story of confliction within, and about watching a friend succumb to alcoholism. In many ways, "Man Overboard" served as a sort of predecessor to the more serious content blink-182 would write about the albums that followed it.
"First Date," Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001)
First dates spawn a range of emotion — hope in the opportunity, butterflies in your stomach. Who wouldn't want to make that excitement last forever, and ever?
On "First Date," DeLonge sounds downright giddy at the prospect. He's so nervous he really can't eat, dreading the thought of the first kiss because it's a target he's "probably gonna miss." Barker's frenetic drumming on the track only heightens the feeling of anticipation, and the combo is a vivid portrayal of punk-rock romanticism.
One of the things blink-182 always does so well is getting right to the point in their songs. There's no count in, no slow build, no BS. One swift drum roll and we're off to the races. "First Date" is a prime example of this; a thrill ride from the jump.
"Reckless Abandon," Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001)
The hardest part about growing up is that you don't know you're in the "good old days" until you leave them. On the driving Take Off Your Pants and Jacket deep cut "Reckless Abandon," Tom DeLonge waxes poetic about all the good times and those crazy memories from those endless summers gone by. Like a pop-punk "Glory Days," DeLonge looks back at those days with rose colored glasses, practically smirking as he sings in the chorus "we left a scar extra large."
"Reckless Abandon" is a fast-paced, rockin' roller coaster, the blueprint for today's blink-influenced rockers like the Menzingers or Japandroids who write similar anthems yearning for those days of youth. Because of its frenzied pace, "Reckless Abandon" has become a mainstay in blink-182's live setlist — one that is sure to get the crowd rip-roaring.
"Stay Together for the Kids," Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001)
"Stay Together for the Kids" is blink-182 at their angriest. "It's so pathetic," Hoppus spits in the opening verse, before a wall of guitars blaze through in the chorus, in which DeLonge spitefully yells, "I hope you enjoyed this time, you gave it all away. It's not right."
Like several of blink-182's songs — and rock/pop-punk songs in general — "Stay Together For the Kids" digs into a very painful, yet relatable sentiment. And as blink-182 air their own grievances out in real time, they gave anyone who has also been there something to scream along with.
"Feeling This," blink-182 (2003)
blink-182 was always about Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus. They're the yin and yang at the heart of the band – the McCartney/Lennon of blink-182, if you will. The way they played off each other in their songs and on stage was a major part of blink's appeal.
However, on 2003's self-titled album, it became clear their songwriting was moving in separate directions. That was initially apparent on blink-182's lead single, "Feeling This," one of blink's raunchier tracks. With DeLonge's snarling verse giving way to Hoppus' melodic chorus, "Feeling This" almost sounds like two separate tracks that shouldn't work together — but with the magic of Hoppus and DeLonge, they most certainly do.
"I Miss You," blink-182 (2003)
While "I Miss You" is inarguably one of blink's most iconic songs, it's seen a resurgence within social media and meme culture, particularly thanks to DeLonge's trademark vocal delivery about the voices inside his yyyyeeaaaaad. So, it can be easy to dismiss the song as a novelty — but you'd be wrong.
"I Miss You" is as sentimental as any classic ballad, and blink play it without an ounce of irony; it's as self-aware as it is self-deprecating, but in the end, it's about being lovesick. It's also the first blink-182 track to be recorded with acoustic instruments, with the band unplugging their guitars and using upright bass and drum brushes, giving the song a haunting, ghostly feel — creating a song so affecting that it remains one of their biggest to date.
"After Midnight," Neighborhoods, (2011)
In 2005, blink-182 announced that they would be going on an indefinite hiatus to pursue other projects outside of the group. A few years later in 2008, two incidents brought the band back together: Longtime collaborator and producer Jerry Finn passed away, and Travis Barker was involved in a near-fatal plane crash. The trio reconciled, and in 2009, they appeared at the 51st Grammy Awards together with the announcement that they would be picking up where they left off and a new album was on the way.
That album, 2011's Neighborhoods, sees the band coping with life's near-misses and unpredictability. While much of the album is composed of old demos and separate ideas, "After Midnight" sounds like the band writing as a cohesive unit again. With Barker's skittery drum beat and the song's soaring chorus, it has a sort of grandeur that was a new look for blink-182, but they wore it well.
"EDGING" (2022)
You didn't think blink-182 grew up yet, did you? The bouncy new single "EDGING" — the first song in over a decade to feature Hoppus/Delonge/Barker together — is proof that blink-182 have clearly not lost their ability to write tight, catchy, sophomoric pop-punk.
Today, blink-182 have become the unlikeliest of elder statesmen, influencing new generations of kids who are creating their own pop punk anthems. But while the blink-182 on "EDGING" may be older, who says you have to get any wiser?
Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images for ABA
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20 Live Events At The GRAMMY Museum This October: Experience Kacey Musgraves, Khalid, Tems, Samara Joy & More
This month, join the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles and New York City for live discussions and performances from Travis Barker, Will Smith, Arooj Aftab, and other incredible artists.
As October rolls in, the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles and New York City is set to host an exciting lineup of live discussions and performances. This month’s programming features a diverse array of artists, including Kacey Musgraves, Khalid, Tems, Samara Joy, and Shelby Lynne, along with icons like Slash and Laurie Anderson.
Whether you're a fan of soulful jazz, indie pop, or rock legends, these events offer an intimate look into the creative processes of some of the industry's most compelling artists. From Travis Barker to Will Smith, the GRAMMY Museum continues to be a hub for music lovers to experience one-of-a-kind performances and discussions with their favorite artists.
Check out the comprehensive list of must-attend GRAMMY Museum public programs for October 2024:
The Drop: Shelby Lynne
Oct. 1, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
Shelby Lynne joins guests at the Museum’s intimate 200-seat Clive Davis Theater for an evening discussing her latest music, her career, and creative process, with a performance to follow.
Inside Deeper Well: An Evening with Kacey Musgraves
Oct. 2, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
Sold Out - Join Waitlist
The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to welcome seven-time GRAMMY-winning artist Kacey Musgraves to the Museum’s Ray Charles Rooftop Terrace for an evening discussing her latest album, Deeper Well, and her creative process and career, with a performance to follow. The discussion will be moderated by Melena Ryzik. Attendees will also have an opportunity to enjoy rooftop views and a cash bar prior to the program.
Read more: Why 2024 Is The Year Women In Country Music Will Finally Have Their Moment
An Evening With Will Smith
Oct. 3, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to welcome 4-time GRAMMY-winning artist Will Smith to the Museum’s Ray Charles Rooftop Terrace for an evening discussing his upcoming music, creative process, and legendary career, with a performance to follow. Attendees will also have an opportunity to enjoy the rooftop and a cash bar prior to the program.
An Evening With Slash & Mike Clink
Oct. 4, 2024 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
L.A.
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Slash, the iconic, GRAMMY-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, guitarist, and songwriter will join guests at the Museum’s Ray Charles Rooftop Terrace for an evening discussing his latest album Orgy of the Damned, a star-studded, vibrant homage to the blues. GRAMMY Hall of Fame Producer and longtime Slash collaborator Mike Clink will join the conversation to discuss the creative process for the album, and an intimate acoustic performance will follow. Attendees can enjoy rooftop views and a cash bar prior to the program.
A New York Evening With Arooj Aftab
Oct. 4, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
N.Y.C.
Arooj Aftab joins GRAMMY Museum guests at The Greene Space in NYC to celebrate her latest album, Night Reign. Aftab will detail her creative process and more in discussion with Jem Aswad, with a special performance to follow.
Watch: Run The World: How Pakistani Singer Arooj Aftab Reimagined Genre & Made GRAMMY History
Spotlight: Jessica Pratt
Oct. 8, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
Jessica Pratt joins guests at the Museum’s intimate 200-seat Clive Davis Theater for an evening celebrating her career and discussing her latest album, Here in the Pitch, creative process, and more, with a performance to follow.
A New York Evening With Samara Joy
Oct. 8, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
N.Y.C.
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The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to welcome three-time GRAMMY-winning artist Samara Joy to The Greene Space in NYC to celebrate her latest album, Portrait, her creative process and more. Joy will be in discussion with the author and music journalist Marcus J. Moore, with a special performance to follow.
Read more: Samara Joy Won Best New Artist At The 2023 GRAMMYs. What Could It Mean For The Wider Jazz Community?
Spotlight: Tems
Oct. 9, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
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Nigeria-based singer/songwriter, and producer Tems will join guests at the Museum’s intimate 200-seat Clive Davis Theater for an evening moderated by Billboard’s Gail Mitchell. Tems will discuss her debut album, Born in the Wild, her career, and creative process. A performance will follow her talk.
Learn more:Tems On How 'Born In The Wild' Represents Her Story Of "Survival" & Embracing Every Part Of Herself
A New York Evening With Ben Platt
Oct. 10, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
N.Y.C.
Ben Platt joins GRAMMY Museum guests at National Sawdust in Brooklyn to talk about his album Honeymind, his creative process behind the project, his career, and more, with a special performance to follow. Platt is one of the many artists to be featured in the GRAMMY Museum’s New York City program series, which includes bringing a slate of the GRAMMY Museum’s renowned GRAMMY In The Schools Education Programs and Public Programs to the East Coast. "A New York Evening With" is generously supported by the Dawn and Brian Hoesterey Family Foundation.
A Conversation With Deryck Whibley of Sum 41
Oct. 10, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to welcome Deryck Whibley of Sum 41 to the Clive Davis Theater for an evening of conversation discussing the stories behind his memoir, Walking Disaster" the creative process behind writing the book, and more with Matt Pinfield. Tickets to this event include admission and a signed copy of the memoir.
Read more: Sum 41 Says Farewell: Deryck Whibley Shares His Favorite Memories With The Pop-Punk Icons
Sensory Friendly Saturdays
Oct. 12, 2024 from 9 to 11 a.m.
L.A.
Experience Sensory Friendly Saturday on the second Saturday of every month. Families can enjoy our space with less crowding, quieter sound levels and lower lighting on the second Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Guests can purchase tickets when they arrive at the Museum or they can purchase online for the applicable Saturday.
Reel to Reel: Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It
Oct.13, 2024 from 3 to 5 p.m.
L.A.
The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to host the Los Angeles premiere of Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It in the Museum’s Clive Davis Theater. There will be a post-screening panel discussion featuring Director Paris Barclay, artist Cory Henry and Producers Stephanie Allain and Jeanne Elfant Festa.
Spotlight: Khalid
Oct. 14, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
Sold Out - Join Waitlist
Khalid joins guests at the Museum’s Clive Davis Theater for an evening celebrating his latest release, Sincere, in discussion about his career and creative process, with a performance to follow.
Spotlight: FLETCHER
Oct. 14, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
FLETCHER joins guests at the Museum’s intimate 200-seat Clive Davis Theater for an evening celebrating her latest sophomore album, In Search Of The Antidote, her creative process, and more, with a performance to follow.
Read more: FLETCHER Is "F—ing Unhinged" & Proud Of It On 'In Search Of The Antidote'
A New York Evening With Laurie Anderson
Oct. 16, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
N.Y.C.
Laurie Anderson joins GRAMMY Museum guests for an intimate conversation moderated by Anderson Cooper about her latest album, Amelia, with a performance to follow, at City Winery in New York City. Anderson is one of the many artists to be featured in the GRAMMY Museum’s New York City program series, which includes bringing a slate of the GRAMMY Museum’s renowned GRAMMY In The Schools Education Programs and Public Programs to the East Coast. "A New York Evening With…" is generously supported by the Dawn and Brian Hoesterey Family Foundation.
A Conversation With Travis Barker
Oct. 16, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
Iconic drummer and producer Travis Barker joins guests at the Museum’s intimate 200-seat Clive Davis Theater for an evening celebrating and discussing his career, latest music with blink-182 and others and a conversation about creative process, and more.
Read more: Blink-182 Essentials: 15 Songs That Prove They're Rock's Most Serious Unserious Band
The Drop: Pete Yorn
(Moderated By Matt Pinfield)
Oct. 17, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
Pete Yorn joins guests at the Museum’s Clive Davis Theater for an evening celebrating his career and discussing his latest album, The Hard Way, his creative process, and more, with a performance to follow.
An Evening With Vampire Weekend
Oct. 21, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
L.A.
Vampire Weekend will be in discussion at the Museum’s Clive Davis Theater to celebrate their latest album, Only God Was Above Us. Band members will also discuss their creative process, tour, and more, with a performance to follow.
A New York Evening With Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Oct. 22, 2024 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
N.Y.C.
In partnership with Americana Music Association, the GRAMMY Museum will host an intimate conversation with GRAMMY Award-winning artist Dave Alvin and GRAMMY Award-nominated artist Jimmie Dale Gilmore followed by a performance at The Greene Space at WNYC and WQXR in New York City. The conversation will include a discussion moderated by Warren Zane about the making of their new album, TexiCali, their collaboration, creative process, and more.
A New York Evening With Kelsea Ballerini
Oct. 25, 2024 from 8 to 9 p.m.
N.Y.C.
The GRAMMY Museum and Collective by 92NY will host four-time GRAMMY nominee Kelsea Ballerini for an intimate conversation about her album, Patterns, her creative process, and more, followed by a special performance at The 92nd Street Y: David Geffen Stage at Kaufman Concert Hall.
Kelsea Ballerini is one of the many artists to be featured in the GRAMMY Museum’s New York City program series, which includes bringing a slate of the GRAMMY Museum’s renowned GRAMMY In The Schools Education Programs and Public Programs to the East Coast.
Film Screening – A Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheater
Oct. 26, 2024 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
L.A.
The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to present a special screening of A Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in the Museum’s Clive Davis Theater, followed by a discussion with the film’s directors, legendary Wu-Tang Clan Founder RZA and Gerald K. Barclay (Gee-Bee), and moderated by Raqiyah Mays. The post-screening discussion will also spotlight RZA’s new classical music album, A Ballet Through Mud.
This free program will be hosted by Schyler O’Neal, Senior Manager of Education & Community Engagement at the GRAMMY Museum, and is presented in partnership with the Hip-Hop Education Center.
Reel To Reel: Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus
Oct. 28, 2024 at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
L.A.
The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to host a special screening of Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus and a panel discussion about the legacy of Sakamoto with award-winning musician Flying Lotus and award-winning director Barry Jenkins.
The Drop: Andy Grammer
Oct. 30, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
L.A.
The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to welcome award-winning artist Andy Grammer to the Museum’s intimate 200-seat Clive Davis Theater for an evening celebrating his latest album, Monster, with a discussion about his creative process behind the project and a performance.
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Photo: Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
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New Music Friday: Listen to New Songs By Travis Scott, Ariana Grande, Coldplay & More
There's lots of nostalgia happening this August week, from expanded anniversary edition albums to releases by and in homage to early 2000s icons. Check out eight exciting new releases here.
Between album anniversaries, surprise announcements and exciting new tracks, this week's New Music Friday (Aug. 23) is a full-blown celebration of tunes past and present.
On the album front, high-profile new releases include Sabrina Carpenter's Short n' Sweet, Thomas Rhett's About a Woman, Lainey Wilson's Whirlwind and All Time Low's The Forever Sessions Vol. 1. Plus, Warren Zeiders serves up his sophomore album, Relapse, and Randy Rogers Band celebrate the 20th anniversary of their 2004 LP Rollercoaster with a remastered re-release.
Meanwhile, Travis Scott and Ariana Grande each commemorate major anniversaries by dusting off vault tracks from some of their earliest works, blink-182 tease the second part of their latest album, Jessie Reyez links up with Lil Wayne and more.
Below, dive into some of this week's most exciting new releases, including samplings of electronic, rap and country.
Travis Scott — 'Days Before Rodeo' (Tenth Anniversary Edition)
Released on August 18, 2014, Days Before Rodeo served as the buzzy prequel for Travis Scott's debut album, Rodeo, which would arrive the following year and officially crown the Houston MC as one of rap's fastest-rising stars.
A full decade later, Scott is revisiting Days Before Rodeo for a new 10th anniversary edition complete with — as the rapper revealed when announcing the release earlier this week —"COUPLE DBR SONGS FROM THAT ERA FROM THE VAULT." If the all-caps pronouncement didn't give away Scott's palpable excitement at revisiting his seminal mixtape, he added a string of giddy gibberish followed by "IM FCKING JUMPING THRU WALLS AHHHH" for good measure.
The number of tracks Scott tacked onto the end of his 2014 mixtape — which is now available for the very first time on all streaming platforms, in its original form — actually ended up being more than just a couple, including "Mo City Flexologist," "Too Many Chances," Young Thug's "Yea Yeah" featuring Scott as a guest artist, "Serenade" and "Whole Lots Changed" featuring Yung Mazi. (As of press time, it appears the Days Before Rodeo deluxe edition is only available for purchase via Scott's official website.)
Ariana Grande — 'My Everything (Tenth Anniversary Edition)'
Also celebrating a seminal 10th anniversary, Ariana Grande honored her sophomore album, My Everything, on Aug. 22 — the exact day it was released in 2014. The fan-favorite LP catapulted Grande from promising young starlet to bonafide pop sensation, so it was only right that she celebrated it with a 10th anniversary edition.
Along with smash hits like "Break Free," "Bang Bang" and "Problem" and OG bonus cuts "Only 1" and "You Don't Know Me," Ari reached into her vault to finally gift fans with the official studio versions of "Cadillac Song" and "Too Close."
Co-written by Victoria Monét, the former finds the soon-to-be Wicked star caught up in a breezy, doo-wop-inflected daydream as she hits the road in her titular Caddy over a sample of the 1972 deep cut "How Love Hurts" by R&B family act the Sylvers. The latter, meanwhile, revisits the early magic a young Ari captured with producer Harmony Samuels as she teases, "Baby, tell me, do you feel it like I do?/ 'Cause we both know what could go down/ If we get too close" over a bouncing, elastic beat.
Coldplay — "WE PRAY"
We're still more than a full lunar cycle away from the release of Coldplay's Moon Music, but that didn't keep Chris Martin and co. from sharing a second taste of their forthcoming 10th album in the form of "WE PRAY."
The British rockers first debuted the single live during their headlining set at Glastonbury 2024 this summer, and the official studio version features guest turns by Lil Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna and TINI. The special 12" vinyl and EcoCD formats — also out now — include five different versions of the song, including the live debut recorded from the Pyramid Stage at Worthy Farm.
Jessie Reyez — "RIDIN" feat. Lil Wayne
Months after dropping her single "SHUT UP" featuring Big Sean, Jessie Reyez is back with "RIDIN," another high-profile collab — this time with Lil Wayne.
The mid-tempo jam is equal parts romantic and eyebrow-raising as the Canadian songstress warbles, "Hold me/ Since love always hurt me baby/ I'mma need you to choke me/ Since love always let me jump/ I'mma need you to hold me/ Let me deep inside" on the chorus.
Reyez then cedes the floor to Weezy, who gets the entire second verse to deliver a sexually charged stanza that officially adds "legs like a Twizzler" and "drive me like a Nissan" to the Kama Sutra of modern come-ons.
blink-182 — "ALL IN MY HEAD" & "NO FUN"
On Aug. 19, blink-182 surprised fans with the news that they were doubling down on their 2023 album ONE MORE TIME… — their first in nearly a decade to feature OG member Tom DeLonge — by adding eight more songs to the track list.
While the rest of ONE MORE TIME… Part 2 drops Sept. 6, the first two songs of the new batch are "ALL IN MY HEAD," a galloping banger that sees the pop-punk trailblazers questioning existence, touring and the relentless march of time, and "NO FUN," a slice of end-of-summer punk rock that blends equal doses of nostalgia and paranoia.
Mura Masa — 'Curve 1'
Mura Masa may already have three full-lengths under his belt, but the British producer's new album, Curve 1, marks his first studio set on his own Pond Recordings imprint as a fully independent artist.
Led by previously released singles like "Whenever I Want" and "Drugs" featuring Daniela Lalita, Curve 1 also features the GRAMMY winner collaborating with the likes of Singaporean synth-pop artist Yeule on "We Are Making Out" and 2000s R&B girl group Cherish, whose 2007 single "Killa" is sampled prominently on highlight "Fly."
Doechii — "Boom Bap"
Offering up a second taste of her forthcoming mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal, Doechii attacks the mic with her trademark combination of ferocity and humor on "Boom Bap," a blistering freestyle that follows the deliciously braggadocious "Nissan Altima."
Also arriving in the wake of "Alter Ego," Doechii's recent collab with JT of City Girls, the Swamp Princess looks back at her journey to becoming one of hip-hop's most inventive wordsmiths on "Boom Bap" as she spits, "I gave my soul to this s—, ate lumps of coal for this s—/ Went on the road for this s—, played humble for this s—" in between name-checking the likes of J.Cole and producer Camper and blowing raspberries in the direction of her haters.
Nate Smith — "Fix What You Didn't Break"
As Nate Smith sits atop Billboard's Country Airplay chart with "Bulletproof," he reaches for the rafters on his anthemic new single "Fix What You Didn't Break." A fitting follow-up to the recent duet version of "Bulletproof" with Avril Lavigne, the country upstart looked to the sounds that defined the early millennium for his latest release.
"I've always been a huge fan of big, epic pop rock songs of the 2000s — bands like Lifehouse, Goo Goo Dolls, 3 Doors Down were all influences in my early teens," Smith tells GRAMMY.com, describing his new single as "the perfect blend of 2000s rock and heartfelt country…This is easily one of my favorites I've released."
"Fix What You Didn’t Break" will be one of 16 tracks on Smith's forthcoming sophomore album, California Gold, which will be released Oct. 4.
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How Andrew Watt Became Rock's Big Producer: His Work With Paul McCartney, Ozzy Osbourne, Pearl Jam, & More
Andrew Watt cut his teeth with pop phenoms, but lately, the 2021 Producer Of The Year winner has been in demand among rockers — from the Rolling Stones and Blink-182 to Elton John.
While in a studio, Andrew Watt bounces off the walls. Just ask Mick Jagger, who once had to gently tell the 33-year-old, "Look, I can deal with this, but when you meet Ronnie and Keith, you have to dial it down a little bit."
Or ask Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard. "He really got the best out of [drummer] Matt [Cameron] just by being excited — literally jumping up and down and pumping his fist and running around," he tells GRAMMY.com.
As Watt's hot streak has burned on, reams have rightly been written about his ability to take a legacy act, reconnect them with their essence, and put a battery in their back. His efficacy can be seen at Music's Biggest Night: Ozzy Osbourne's Patient Number 9 won Best Rock Album at the 2023 GRAMMYs. At the last ceremony, the Rolling Stones were nominated for Best Rock Song, for Hackney Diamonds' opener "Angry."
On Pearl Jam's return to form, Dark Matter, due out April 19. Who was behind the desk? Take a wild guess.
"You want to see them live more than you want to listen to their albums, and they have the ability to look at each other and play and follow each other. I don't like my rock music any other way, as a listener," Watt tells GRAMMY.com. "All my favorite records are made like that — of people speeding up, slowing down, playing longer than they should."
As such, Watt had a lightbulb moment: to not record any demos, and have them write together in the room. "They're all playing different stuff, and it makes up what Pearl Jam is, and singer Eddie [Vedder] rides it like a wave."
If you're more of a pop listener, there's tons of Watt for you — he's worked with Justin Bieber ("Hit the Ground" from Purpose), Lana Del Rey ("Doin' Time" from Norman F—ing Rockwell) and much more. Read on for a breakdown of big name rockers who have worked with Andrew Watt.
Pearl Jam / Eddie Vedder
Watt didn't just produce Dark Matter; he also helmed Vedder's well-received third solo album, Earthling, from 2022. Watt plays guitar in Vedder's live backing band, known as the Earthlings — which also includes Josh Klinghoffer, who replaced John Frusciante in the Red Hot Chili Peppers for a stint.
The Rolling Stones
Dark Matter was a comeback for Pearl Jam, but Hackney Diamonds was really a comeback for the Stones. While it had a hater or two, the overwhelming consensus was that it was the Stones' best album in decades — maybe even since 1978's Some Girls.
"I hope what makes it fresh and modern comes down to the way it's mixed, with focus on low end and making sure the drums are big," Watt, who wore a different Stones shirt every day in the studio, has said about Hackney Diamonds. "But the record is recorded like a Stones album."
Where there are modern rock flourishes on Hackney Diamonds, "There's no click tracks. There's no gridding. There's no computer editing," he continued. "This s— is performed live and it speeds up and slows down. It's made to the f—ing heartbeat connection of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Steve Jordan.
"And Charlie," Watt added, tipping a hat to Watts, who played on Hackney Diamonds but died before it came out. "When Charlie's on it."
Iggy Pop
Ever since he first picked up a mic and removed his shirt, the snapping junkyard dog of the Stooges has stayed relevant — as far as indie, alternative and punk music has been concerned.
But aside from bright spots like 2016's Josh Homme-produced Post Pop Depression, his late-career output has felt occasionally indulgent and enervated. The 11 songs on 2023's eclectic Watt-produced Every Loser, on the other hand, slap you in the face in 11 different ways.
"We would jam and make tracks and send them to Iggy, and he would like 'em and write to them or wouldn't like them and we'd do something else," Watt told Billboard. "It was very low pressure. We just kept making music until we felt like we had an album." (And as with Pearl Jam and Vedder's Earthlings band, Watt has rocked out onstage with Pop.
Ozzy Osbourne
You dropped your crown, O Prince of Darkness. When he hooked up with Watt, the original Black Sabbath frontman hadn't released any solo music since 2010's Scream; in 2017, Sabbath finally said goodbye after 49 years and 10 (!) singers.
On 2020's Ordinary Man and 2022's Patient Number 9, Watt reenergized Ozzy; even when he sounds his age, Ozz sounds resolute, defiant, spitting in the face of the Reaper. (A bittersweet aside: the late Taylor Hawkins appears on Patient Number 9, which was written and recorded in just four days.)
Maroon 5
Yeah, yeah, they're more of a pop-rock band, but they have guitars, bass and drums. (And if you're the type of rock fan who's neutral or hostile to the 5, you shouldn't be; Songs About Jane slaps.)
At any rate, Watt co-produced "Can't Leave You Alone," featuring Juice WRLD, from 2021's Jordi. Critics disparaged the album, but showed Watt's facility straddling the pop and rock worlds.
5 Seconds of Summer
When it comes to Andrew Watt, the Sydney pop-rockers — slightly more on the rock end than Maroon 5 and their ilk — are repeat customers. He produced a number of tracks for 5 Seconds of Summer, which spanned 2018's Youngblood, 2020's Calm and 2022's 5SOS5.
Regarding the former: Watt has cited Youngblood as one of the defining recording experiences of his life.
"I had started working with 5 Seconds of Summer, and a lot of people looked at them as a boy band, but they're not," Watt told Guitar Player. "They're all incredible musicians. They can all play every instrument. They love rock music. They can harmonize like skyrockets in flight. They just were making the wrong kind of music."
So Watt showed 5 Seconds of Summer a number of mainstays of the rock era, like Tears for Fears and the Police. The rest, as they say, is history.
Elton John
A year after Britney Spears was unshackled from her highly controversial conservatorship, it was time for a victory lap with the God of Glitter. What resulted was a curious little bauble, which became a megahit: "Hold Me Closer," a spin on "Tiny Dancer," "The One" and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" that briefly launched Spears back into the stratosphere.
"Britney came in and she knew what she wanted to do," Watt recalled to The L.A. Times. "We sped up the song a little bit and she sang the verses in her falsetto, which harkens back to 'Toxic.' She was having a blast."
Blink-182
Watt has also worked with pop/punk heroes Blink-182 — but not after Tom DeLonge made his grand return. He produced "I Really Wish I Hated You" from 2019's Nine, back when Matt Skiba was in the band.
Where in the rock world will this tender-aged superproducer strike next? Watt knows.
Songbook: The Rolling Stones' Seven-Decade Journey To Hackney Diamonds
Photo: Estevan Oriol/Getty Images, Taylor Hill/Getty Images, Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for The New Yorker, Kevin Mazur/Getty Images, Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty Images
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2023 In Review: 10 Trends That Defined Rock Music
Rock acts young and old helped the genre stay alive in 2023. Take a look at 10 of the genre's most prominent trends, from early aughts revivals to long-awaited reunions.
The rock scene may no longer be the dominant force it once was — blink-182's One More Time... is the only Billboard 200 chart-topper this year to predominantly fall under this category. But 2023 has still been an interesting and eventful period for those who like their guitar music turned up to eleven.
Over the past 12 months, we've had the two biggest groups of the Swinging Sixties returning to the fray in style, a new European invasion, and a wave of blockbuster albums that may well go down as modern classics. And then there's the revivals which will no doubt spark nostalgia in any kids of the 2000s, a resurgence in all-star line-ups, and a residency that could possibly change how we experience live music.
As we gear up for the holiday season, here's a look at 10 trends that defined rock music in 2023.
European Rock Traveled To America
From Lacuna Coil and Gojira to Volbeat and Rammstein, the Billboard charts aren't exactly strangers to European rock. But 2023 was the year when the continent appeared to band together for a mini invasion. Italian quartet Måneskin continued their remarkable journey from Eurovision Song Contest winners to bona fide rock gods with a Best New Artist nod at the 2023 GRAMMYs, a top 20 placing on the Billboard 200 albums chart for third album Rush!, and a Best Rock Video win at the MTV VMAs.
Masked metalers Ghost scored a fourth consecutive Top 10 entry on the Billboard 200 with covers EP Phantomime, also landing a Best Metal Performance GRAMMY nomination for its cover of Iron Maiden's "Phantom of the Opera," (alongside Disturbed's "Bad Man," Metallica's "72 Seasons," Slipknot's "Hive Mind," and Spiritbox's "Jaded"). While fellow Swedes Avatar bagged their first Mainstream Rock No. 1 with "The Dirt I'm Buried In," a highly melodic meditation on mortality which combines funky post-punk with freewheeling guitar solos that sound like they've escaped from 1980s Sunset Strip.
Age Proved To Be Nothing But A Number
The theory that rock and roll is a young man's game was blown apart in 2023. Fronted by 80-year-old Mick Jagger, The Rolling Stones reached No.3 on the Billboard 200 thanks to arguably their finest album in 40 years, Hackney Diamonds, with lead single "Angry" also picking up a Best Rock Song GRAMMY nod alongside Olivia Rodrigo's "aallad of a homeschooled girl," Queens of the Stone Age's "Emotion Sickness," Boygenius' "Not Strong Enough," and Foo Fighters' "Rescued." (The latter two will also battle it out with Arctic Monkeys' "Sculpture of Anything Goes," Black Pumas' "More than a Love Song," and Metallica's "Lux Aeterna" for Best Rock Performance.)
The eternally shirtless Iggy Pop, a relative spring chicken at 76, delivered a late-career classic, too, with the star-studded Every Loser. And Bruce Springsteen, KISS, and Paul McCartney all proved they weren't ready for the slippers and cocoa life yet by embarking on lengthy world tours.
Death Was No Barrier To Hits
Jimmy Buffett sadly headed for that tropical paradise in the sky this year. But having already recorded 32nd studio effort, Equal Strain on All Parts, the margarita obsessive was able to posthumously score his first new entry on the Billboard Rock Chart since 1982's "It's Midnight And I'm Not Famous Yet."
But he isn't the only artist to have recently achieved success from beyond the grave. Linkin Park reached the U.S. Top 40 with "Lost," a track recorded for 2003 sophomore Meteora, but which only saw the light of day six years after frontman Chester Bennington's passing.
Perhaps most unexpectedly of all, The Beatles topped the U.K. charts for the first time since 1969 thanks to "Now and Then," a psychedelic tear-jerker in which surviving members McCartney and Ringo Starr brought previously unheard recordings from George Harrison and John Lennon back to life.
The Giants Stayed Giant
Foo Fighters also overcame the death of a core member on what many rock fans would consider this year's most eagerly awaited album. Drummer Taylor Hawkins, who passed away in early 2022, doesn't feature on the poignant but vibrant But Here We Are. Yet the two-time GRAMMY nominated LP still proved to be a fitting tribute as well as an encouraging sign that Dave Grohl and co. can extend their legacy:lead single "Rescued" became their 12th number one on Billboard's Main Rock Chart.
The Best Rock Album category for the 2024 GRAMMYs proves that veterans were alive and mighty in 2023. Along with the Foos' latest LP, the nominees include another Grohl-affiliated band,, Queens of the Stone Age's first album in six years, In Times New Roman..., Paramore's This Is Why, Metallica's 72 Seasons and Greta Van Fleet's Starcatcher.. (Metallica's 72 Seasons also struck gold with its singles, three of which landed at No. 1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart, where lead single "Lux Æterna" spent 11 consecutive weeks on top.)
Of course, we also have to give a shout-out to U2. Not for March's Songs of Surrender album (for which they re-recorded 40 of their biggest and best tracks), but for the immersive, eye-popping Las Vegas residency at The Sphere which potentially reinvented the future of live music.
The Rock Supergroup Continued To Thrive
2023 spawned several new rock supergroups including Mantra of the Cosmos (Shaun Ryder, Zak Starkey and Andy Bell), Lol Tolhurst x Budgie x Jacknife Lee, and Better Lovers (various members of The Dillinger Escape Plan and Every Time I Die). But it was an already established all-star line-up that took the GRAMMY nominations by storm.
Consisting of Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker, boygenius bagged a remarkable seven nods at the 2024 ceremony. Throw in a well-received headline set at Coachella, U.S. Top 50 follow-up EP, and even a "Saturday Night Live" showing alongside Timothée Chalamet, and the trio couldn't have asked for a better way to continue what they started together in 2018.
The Early 2000s Enjoyed A Revival
The cyclical nature of the music industry meant that the era of choppy bangs and super-skinny jeans was always going to come back into fashion. And following throwbacks from the likes of Olivia Rodrigo and Willow, the original punk-pop brigade returned this year to prove they could still mosh with the best of them.
Possibly the defining nasal voice of his generation, Tom DeLonge headed back into the studio with blink-182 for the first time in 12 years, with the resulting One More Time... topping the Billboard 200. Linkin Park ("Lost"), Papa Roach ("Cut the Line"), and a reunited Staind ("Lowest in Me") all scored No. 1s on the Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart, while Sum 41, Bowling For Soup, and Good Charlotte were just a few of the high school favorites who helped cement When We Were Young as the millennial's dream festival.
The Emo Scene Went Back To Its Roots
After channeling the new wave and synth-pop of the 1980s on predecessor After Laughter, Paramore returned from a six-year absence with a record which harked back to their mid-2000s beginnings. But it wasn't their own feisty brand of punk-pop that Best Rock Album GRAMMY nominee This Is Why resembled. Instead, its nervy indie rock took its cues, as frontwoman Hayley Williams freely admits, from touring buddies Bloc Party.
Paramore weren't the only emo favorites to rediscover their roots. Fall Out Boy reunited with Under the Cork Tree producer Neal Avron and old label Fueled By Ramen on the dynamic So Much (for) Stardust. And while Taking Back Sunday further veered away from their signature sound, the Long Islanders still embraced the past by naming seventh LP 152 after the North Carolina highway stretch they used to frequent as teens.
Country Artists Tapped Into Rock Sensibilities
We're used to seeing rock musicians going a little bit country: see everyone from Steven Tyler and Bon Jovi to Darius Rucker and Aaron Lewis. But the opposite direction is usually rarer. In 2023, however, it seemed as though every Nashville favorite was suddenly picking up the air guitar.
Zach Bryan repositioned himself as Gen-Z's answer to Bruce Springsteen with the heartland rock of his eponymous Billboard 200 chart-topper (which is up for Best Country Album at the 2024 GRAMMYs alongside Kelsea Ballerini's Rolling Up the Welcome Mat, Brothers Osborne's self-titled LP, Tyler Childers' Rustin' in the Rain, and Lainey Wilson's Bell Bottom Country). Meanwhile, Hitmaker HARDY — who first cut his teeth penning hits for Florida Georgia Line and Blake Shelton — leaned into the sounds of hard rock and nu-metal on his second studio LP, The Mockingbird & the Crow.
But few committed more to the crossover than the one of country's greatest living legends. Dolly Parton roped in a whole host of hellraisers and headbangers including Richie Sambora, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, and Rob Halford, for the 30-track Rockstar — her first rock-oriented project of her glittering 49-album career.
Post-Grunge Reunions Were Abundant
Fans of the mopey '90s scene known as post-grunge had all their dreams come true this year thanks to several unexpected reunions. Turn-of-the-century chart-toppers Staind and Matchbox Twenty both returned with new albums after more than a decade away. Creed, meanwhile, announced they'd be headlining next year's Summer of '99 cruise after a similar amount of time out of the spotlight.
The insatiable appetite for all things nostalgia, of course, means that any band — no matter how fleeting their fame — can stage a lucrative comeback. Take Dogstar, for example, the unfashionable outfit boasting Hollywood nice guy Keanu Reeves. Twenty-three years after appearing to call it a day, the Los Angeles trio surprised everyone by hitting the Bottlerock Napa Valley Festival before dropping a belated third LP, Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees and embarking on a headlining national tour.
The New Generation Gave The Old Their Dues
Say what you want about today's musical generation, but they know to pay respect where it's due., Olivia Rodrigo, for example, doffed her cap to '90s alt-rock favorites The Breeders by inviting them to open on her 2024 world tour.
New working-class hero Sam Fender invited fellow Newcastle native Brian Johnson to perform two AC/DC classics at his hometown stadium show. While ever-changing Japanese kawaii metalers Babymetal debuted their latest incarnation on "Metali," a collaboration with one of their musical idols, Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello.
Whether new artists are teaming up with the old or veterans are continuing to receive their flowers, 2023 proved that rock is alive and well.