Nine
by blink-182
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: Sep 20, 2019
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
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  1. Punknews.org (Staff)
    Sep 30, 2019
    80
    The album is pretty much a joyride from start to finish, moving through a number of different styles, driven by some of the best damn drumming you’ve ever heard. And everyone involved in writing these songs (yes, including Feldmann) is a talented lyricist who knows how to craft excellent pop songs. So ultimately, it’s a brilliantly fun album if you have the fortitude to look past a lot of very annoying studio effects to listen to what Blink-183 are really saying.
  2. Kerrang!
    Sep 19, 2019
    80
    On Nine it feels like the band are finding a new lease of life in the dark days of 2019. [4 Sep 2019, p.53]
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  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    Sep 19, 2019
    80
    A spiritual follow up to 2003’s ‘Untitled’, ‘Nine’ sees the trio as confident adventurers. Dealing with the ideas of despair, loneliness and longing, the record doesn’t shy away from the shadows but you’re never far from a dash of hope.
  5. Sputnikmusic
    Sep 23, 2019
    72
    his is the full realisation of the promise of blink-182 with Matt Skiba: the minor-key melodies and desolate lyrics of +44 brush up against a fully comfortable Skiba as lead vocalist, delivering his best vocals in fifteen years or more – all within the confines of a gleaming clean pop-punk production. ... The overproduction is frustrating both because his songwriting is at its best state in at least 10 years, and because for every generic pop moment there are subtle and fascinating production details to discover.
  6. Rolling Stone
    Sep 20, 2019
    70
    It’s not merely the nods to emo’s evolution that wins the guys big-boy points. Some of the breakup songs here are positively nuanced, like “Hungover You,” which unfolds into a portrait of two codependent alcoholics. (The chorus actually goes too hard, but Skiba’s delicate pre-chorus is a balm.)
  7. AllMusic
    Sep 19, 2019
    70
    While Nine is by no means a dour emo record, it carries enough emotional heft to elevate it as one of blink-182's strongest late-era efforts, one that matures the typical blink sound with its commitment to vulnerability and honesty.

Awards & Rankings

32
#32 Most Discussed Album of 2019

User Reviews

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User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 103 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 66 out of 103
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 103
  3. Negative: 24 out of 103
  1. MeeranQureshi
    Oct 5, 2019
    0
    Bland music with cringeworthy lyrics. Terrible sound and lots of autotune.Sounds like some high school kids singing.Horrible record.
  2. MysticManiac
    Sep 20, 2019
    8
    The singles don't do a good job at showing the quality of this album. The deep cuts are definitely better, specifically tracks like HungoverThe singles don't do a good job at showing the quality of this album. The deep cuts are definitely better, specifically tracks like Hungover You, The First Time, Black Rain and Heaven.… Full Review »
  3. Skydog
    Sep 21, 2019
    0
    Edit: Dr. VanillaD- no I am not a Tom fanboy. Hate Angels and Hairspray with Glitter too.This blink album might as well have been an entireEdit: Dr. VanillaD- no I am not a Tom fanboy. Hate Angels and Hairspray with Glitter too.This blink album might as well have been an entire collab with every fake vocal edited “can’t sing live” pop star of the 2010s. It’s such a pop infested swamp of vile. So your review is just an attack at me, and an incorrect assumption as well.

    The singles already scared me enough, but honestly thought the entire thing was trash. They
    desperately need Tom back after California and now this. This album is littered with so much vocal edits/autotune and is really noticeable and horrible in anything trying to be rock.

    Pros:
    - They tried. They really tried to branch out but they went the wrong way. Hiphop-wannabe-punk rock is not the route to go with the band. It sounds horrible.

    Cons:
    - Autotune/vocal editing very much present on almost every track.
    - Not enough time for Travis Barker to shine compared to early albums. They literally put so many handclaps/electronic hi-hat (which is already used enough in every other pop/hiphop song...) that I don't get why they seem to be wanting to abandon their roots. They should let Barker do more drum solos like in the past. When they did let him drum he did a lot of generic-rock beats.    … Full Review »
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