I’m not sure how it’s taken me this long to add this record to my collection. Back when Enema of the State shockingly wound up on the Top 40, I was a blossoming punk who was a firm adherent that any band’s earlier stuff was always better.

While I’ve since learned I was wrong about that, you can probably understand why Cheshire Cat would have solidified that idea for me. While its decidedly less mature than their pop breakthrough and lacks the technical drumming prowess of Travis Barker, this record nails blink’s juvenile humor, teenage angst, and raw energy in a way that they never quite topped.

One of blink-182’s fatal flaws is that it doesn’t seem like they can control themselves. Even their most mature works don’t totally avoid their penchant for dick jokes and mischief. Even “Adam’s Song,” probably their darkest song, is preceded by a track called “Dysentery Gary.”

On Cheshire Cat though, that’s kind of the point. Tom and Mark were 19 and 22 when this record was released. This captures the irreverence and sentimentality of adolescence so well because they were still in the midst of it. And while there’s still plenty of potty jokes here, their more earnest moments are universally gorgeous. “Carousel” and “Cacophony” remain some of the prettiest songs they’ve ever written. “M+Ms” covers some authentic sappiness with one of the best guitar riffs pop punk has ever offered.

blink-182 has released six records since I told everyone jamming Enema to toss it in the trash and listen to Cheshire Cat instead. And for much of that discography, it felt like they were trying to catch this lightning in a bottle again. It’s certainly the rawest album, but every metric. But it might also be the purest.