第九章 (2019)

Nine is the eighth studio album by American rock band Blink-182, released on September 20, 2019, through Columbia Records, as the band's first album on the label. The band began developing the album after fulfilling touring obligations for their previous release, California (2016). While producer John Feldmann returned from the previous album, Nine also utilizes additional producers and outside songwriters including Captain Cuts, the Futuristics, and Tim Pagnotta. It is the band's second and final album to feature guitarist/vocalist Matt Skiba, before the return of founding member Tom DeLonge in 2022.

Although Nine is sequentially Blink-182's eighth studio album, Hoppus and Barker consider it their ninth by retroactively counting the band's 1994 demo, Buddha, as their first. Hoppus also cited the significance of the number 9 as "the number of universal love, and the number of Uranus." The color wash album cover was painted by graffiti artist RISK. Much of the album's lyricism is dark in nature and was informed by world events, as well as Hoppus' battle with depression. Musically, the album augments the band's pop-punk sound with hip hop-inspired programming as well as electronics. For Nine, the trio moved from independent service BMG to major label Columbia.

Nine received mixed to positive reviews from music critics, many of whom complimented its upgrade to the band's signature sound and moodier lyrical content, but criticized its heavier production. It debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 domestically; it reached the top ten in Canada, Austria, Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom as well. The band promoted the album with a North American co-headlining tour with rapper Lil Wayne, as well as five singles, including "I Really Wish I Hated You", which reached the top five on Billboard's Hot Rock Songs chart.

Background

From 2016 to 2018, Blink-182 toured extensively in support of their previous album, California. After touring concluded, Skiba and Barker took time off from the band in order to focus on other projects. Skiba returned to Alkaline Trio to record their 2018 album, Is This Thing Cursed?, and tour in support of it, while Barker focused his energies on multiple different projects, including collaborations with Yungblud, Machine Gun Kelly, Suicideboys, XXXTentacion, and Lil Nas X. Hoppus, however, fell into a depression. Band manager Gus Brandt became concerned, as did Hoppus' wife, Skye. She implored him to focus on activities that made him feel happiest, which for him were writing and playing music. He decided upon the idea of fronting a solo album, with guest spots from familiar faces he had worked with over the years. His first call went to All Time Low vocalist/guitarist Alex Gaskarth, and their studio sessions evolved into Simple Creatures, a full-fledged side project. The duo released their first two extended plays, Strange Love and Everything Opposite, in 2019.

Recording and production

The band first began recording new music in April 2018, with the band members posting photos and videos to their respective social media accounts. The band continued collaborating with producer John Feldmann, as well as recording at their personal home studios. The trio recorded over 30 songs, largely in the same pop-punk vein as California. Midway through the process, the band became concerned the material felt too familiar and predictable. Barker was the first to voice concern, joking that it sounded like California 2: Electric Boogaloo. Hoppus and Skiba concurred, with Skiba later offering that the songs weren't "new or exciting." The group opted to begin again, this time with a new mindset—as well as outside help.

For Nine, the trio moved from independent service BMG to major label Columbia Records. Executives aimed to expand the band's reach into larger markets, specifically targeting a big pop radio crossover. The strategy was to start with the alternative format and gradually broaden to top 40 stations. To this end, the band enlisted a large number of professional songwriters. Hoppus likened the approach to a blind date, as prior to the sessions, the band members and producers/songwriters had yet to meet. Hoppus said they "[swung] for the fences [...] We pulled out all the stops. We brought in more cowriters and more top-shelf pop producers. Everybody had ideas on how we could achieve pop success while still being blink." Among the collaborators included singer Miley Cyrus, Pharrell Williams, The Futuristics, Captain Cuts, Andrew Watt, and Tim Pagnotta, with whom they wrote the singles "Blame It on My Youth" and "Happy Days". The latter two were written as the group became concerned the album was too lyrically dark and lacked positive songs.