If a template needed to be drawn of a structurally perfect pop-punk song, it would unquestionably look like “Dammit.” It led with an earworm hook that sounded like DeLonge rushing through a guitar lesson before passing the ball to Hoppus, who delivered his best vocal performance to date. Instead of his usual ho-hum half singing, the bassist put oomph into each and every word. His verses had heart and his choruses had bite. But “Dammit” was more than the sum of the members’ strongest efforts. After four years together, the guys had finally figured out how to write an actual song. Whereas most
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