blink-182’s Enema of the State Vinyl Review: The $100 One-Step Reissue Packs a Punch

Reviewers sometimes have to step outside their comfort zone, listening to artists they’ve either overlooked (for better or for worse) or outright steered clear of for one reason or another. Amidst the onslaught of grunge bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, the rich power pop-rock of Weezer, and the emergence of Northern California’s pop-punk heroes Green Day, I admittedly didn’t pay much attention to blink-182. No one I knew was into them, but that doesn’t really matter, as it was clearly music for another generation to enjoy. The band’s 1999 megahit Enema of the State (EOTS) went on to sell 15 million copies globally.

Listening to the new Definitive Sound Series One-Step audiophile edition of EOTS, I hear a well-produced slab of hyperspeed, punk-ish power-pop rock. While it feels familiar, often relying on the same four chords so many bands fall back on, I can’t deny this album’s underlying likability. These guys had something going on, reminding me at times of what a Weezer 33 1/3 RPM LP might sound like played at 45 RPM (sans Chipmunk vocals).

Sonically, EOTS is a surprisingly enjoyable, round-sounding rock record, having been mastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering from the original analog tapes. This reissue was pressed on Neotech VR900-D2 180-gram high-definition vinyl using a “one-step” process at one of the best vinyl manufacturing facilities, RTI (Recording Technology, Inc.).

Interscope’s website offers more insights:  

“… a specialized manufacturing technique renowned for its superior sound quality. Traditional vinyl pressing involves multiple steps with the potential for quality loss at each stage. The “One Step” process eliminates these steps with the lacquer master being used to create a stamper which is then used to press the records.”

So, you may wonder are there really that many audiophile Blink 182 fans out there to warrant this edition?  Clearly there are as this DSS edition is “almost sold out” according to Interscope’s website, which is where you can snag one of these numbered limited edition (of 3,000) copies for $100 (click here). As of this writing, there also seem to be two over at Amazon selling for $129.99.

A very deluxe package inside and out, each Definitive Sound Series (DSS) “One-Step” album is housed in a heavyweight, old-school gatefold “tip-on” style jacket featuring original artwork, which fits into a specially designed hard-shell slipcase. Complete production details are included on the back cover (a transparency I greatly appreciate across the entire DSS series).

If you like blink-182, you should grab one of these before they’re gone. EOTS is a surprisingly strong listen, with great-sounding drums hammering against relentless, overdriven but remarkably warm, densely layered, wall-of-sound electric guitars. Good fun!

Our Ratings

★★★★★★★★★★ Music

★★★★★★★★★★ Sound

★★★★★★★★★★ Packaging

Where to Buy:

Mark Smotroff is a deep music enthusiast / collector who has also worked in entertainment oriented marketing communications for decades supporting the likes of DTS, Sega and many others. He reviews vinyl for Analog Planet and has written for Audiophile Review, Sound+Vision, Mix, EQ, etc. You can learn more about him at LinkedIn.

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