The Offspring | ||
| Allmusic Biography : The Offsprings metal-inflected punk became a popular sensation in 1994, selling over four million albums on an independent record label. While the groups credentials and approach follow the indie rock tradition of the 80s, sonically the Offspring sound more like an edgy, hard-driving heavy metal band, with their precise, pulsing power chords and Dexter Hollands flat vocals. Featuring Holland, guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg Kriesel, and drummer Ron Welty, the Offspring released their self-titled debut album in 1989. Four years later, their second album, Ignition, became an underground hit, setting the stage for the across-the-board success of 1994s Smash. The Nirvana sound-alike "Come Out and Play," the first single from the album, became an MTV hit in the summer of 1994, which paved the way to radio success. The Offspring were played on both alternative and album rock stations, confirming their broad-based appeal. "Self Esteem," the second single, followed the same soft verse/loud chorus formula and stayed on the charts nearly twice as long as "Come Out and Play." The group got offers from major labels, yet chose to stay with Epitaph. While they were able to play arenas in the U.S., their success didnt translate in foreign countries. Nevertheless, the bands popularity continued to grow in America, as "Gotta Get Away" became another radio/MTV hit in the beginning of 1995. The Offspring recorded a version of the Damneds "Smash It Up" for the Batman Forever soundtrack in the summer of that year; it kept the group on the charts as the bandmembers worked on their third album. Following a prolonged bidding war and much soul-searching, the Offspring decided to leave Epitaph Records in 1996 for Columbia Records. The move was particularly controversial within the punk community, and many artists on the Epitaph roster, including Pennywise and owner Brett Gurewitz, criticized the band. After much delay, the Offspring finally released their Columbia debut, Ixnay on the Hombre, in February of 1997. Expectations for the record were high and it did receive good reviews, but Ixnay on the Hombre failed to become a crossover hit on the level of Smash, and the group also lost a significant portion of its hardcore punk audience due to the albums major-label status. Americana followed in 1998, scoring the hit "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)." In mid-2000, the Offspring made controversial headlines with their decision to offer Conspiracy of One free of charge via the Internet prior to the initial November release date. Sony Music did not adhere to such a move and threatened a lawsuit; therefore, the band nixed plans to release the album in such a manner. Individual singles, however, were made available on the bands official website and other music-related sites such as MTV Online. The Offspring returned in 2003 with Splinter. The album was released through Columbia, proving the bands flouting of the record biz hadnt soured the major labels. It also featured the single "Hit That," which returned to the smarmy, pop-referential feel of "Pretty Fly." The Offspring toured the world in support of Splinter, and in the process they hit nearly every continent at least once. They returned in June 2005 with a greatest-hits set; in addition to their major hits, it included the new track "Cant Repeat." In 2008, after several delays, the band returned with its first studio release in four-and-a-half years, releasing the highly anticipated Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace. While touring for their latest effort, the Offspring set to work writing new material and recording when they could. After three years of work, their ninth album, Days Go By, arrived in the summer of 2012. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 13 Title: The Offspring Released: 1989-03 Tracks: 10 Duration: 28:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Jennifer Lost the War (02:35) 2 Elders (02:11) 3 Out on Patrol (02:32) 4 Crossroads (02:48) 5 Demons (A Mexican Fiesta) (03:10) 6 Beheaded (02:52) 7 Tehran (03:06) 8 A Thousand Days (02:11) 9 Blackball (03:24) 10 I’ll Be Waiting (03:11) |
| The Offspring : Allmusic album Review : The Offsprings self-titled debut album is a rawer, harder-edged collection than their breakthrough set, Smash, but that doesnt necessarily mean its a better record. Although it makes a more convincing argument for the bands punk credibility -- the record lacks the metal guitar crunch that dominated Smash -- The Offspring doesnt have any songs driven by hooks as catchy as "Keep Em Separated" or "Self Esteem," nor does it have the consistency of Smash. A handful of tracks make a lasting impression, but most of The Offspring is notable for its surface style, not its substance. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 13 Title: Ignition Released: 1992-10-16 Tracks: 12 Duration: 37:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Session (02:32) 2 We Are One (03:59) 3 Kick Him When He’s Down (03:16) 4 Take It Like a Man (02:55) 5 Get It Right (03:06) 6 Dirty Magic (03:48) 7 Hypodermic (03:21) 8 Burn It Up (02:42) 9 No Hero (03:22) 10 L.A.P.D. (02:45) 11 Nothing From Something (03:00) 12 Forever and a Day (02:36) |
 | Album: 3 of 13 Title: Smash Released: 1994-03-22 Tracks: 14 Duration: 46:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Time to Relax (00:25) 2 Nitro (Youth Energy) (02:26) 3 Bad Habit (03:43) 4 Gotta Get Away (03:52) 5 Genocide (03:33) 6 Something to Believe In (03:17) 7 Come Out and Play (Keep ’em Separated) (03:17) 8 Self Esteem (04:17) 9 It’ll Be a Long Time (02:43) 10 Killboy Powerhead (02:02) 11 What Happened to You? (02:12) 12 So Alone (01:17) 13 Not the One (02:55) 14 Smash / Come Out and Play (acoustic reprise) (10:39) |
| Smash : Allmusic album Review : The Offsprings second album for Epitaph did the impossible: it landed in the Top Five, unheard of for independent records. The Offspring crossed over due to the raucous, Eastern-tinged single "Come Out and Play," which stopped and started just like Nirvana, only without the Seattle trios recklessness. The record stayed in the charts because the Offspring sounded relentlessly heavy, no matter how much the band claimed to be punk. Their tempos are slower than traditional hardcore, and their attack is as heavy as Metallica. But they acted like they were punk, with odes to no "Self Esteem" and singing about fighting in school. Nothing on the album matches the incessant catchiness of the singles, but Smash is a solid record, filled with enough heavy riffs to keep most teenagers happy. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 13 Title: Club Me Released: 1997-01-01 Tracks: 3 Duration: 08:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 I Got a Right (02:18) 2 D.U.I. (02:27) 3 Smash It Up (03:25) |
 | Album: 5 of 13 Title: Ixnay on the Hombre Released: 1997-02-05 Tracks: 14 Duration: 42:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Disclaimer (00:44) 2 The Meaning of Life (02:56) 3 Mota (02:57) 4 Me & My Old Lady (04:33) 5 Cool to Hate (02:47) 6 Leave It Behind (01:58) 7 Gone Away (04:27) 8 I Choose (03:54) 9 Intermission (00:48) 10 All I Want (01:54) 11 Way Down the Line (02:36) 12 Don’t Pick It Up (01:53) 13 Amazed (04:25) 14 Change the World (06:23) |
| Ixnay on the Hombre : Allmusic album Review : The Offspring may have been a product of the Southern California hardcore scene, but their instincts have always been more metal than punk. Their guitars plod along with a heavy backbeat, and even their speedier numbers are weighed down by clumsy riffs, which is evident on Ixnay on the Hombre, the follow-up to the groups unexpected hit Smash. Despite Jello Biafras opening assertion of the Offsprings punk credentials, Ixnay on the Hombre sounds like a competent hard rock band trying to hitch themselves to the post-grunge bandwagon. The riffs dont have hooks, and Dexter Holland yelps his vocals tunelessly. Of course, much hardcore followed this formula, but it got by on its self-righteousness and visceral forward force. Since the Offspring slow down the tempo of hardcore, it doesnt have either the undiluted rage of hardcore or the four-on-the-floor groove of hard rock. Also, they havent come up with a ridiculous hook on the level of "Come Out and Play" or "Self Esteem," which leaves Ixnay on the Hombre as a tedious, turgid mess of anemic punk metal. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 13 Title: Americana Released: 1998-11-16 Tracks: 13 Duration: 43:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Welcome (00:09) 2 Have You Ever (03:56) 3 Staring at the Sun (02:13) 4 Pretty Fly (for a White Guy) (03:08) 5 The Kids Aren’t Alright (03:00) 6 Feelings (02:51) 7 She’s Got Issues (03:48) 8 Walla Walla (02:57) 9 The End of the Line (03:02) 10 No Brakes (02:04) 11 Why Don’t You Get a Job? (02:52) 12 Americana (03:15) 13 Pay the Man / Pretty Fly (reprise) (10:21) |
| Americana : Allmusic album Review : With integrity intact and a hearty combination of poppy punk and wit throughout, the Offsprings fifth album is a raucous ride through America as seen through the eyes of a weary, but still optimistic, young kid. Riffs on political correctness, 70s radio fodder, and suburban disquiet are spread thick on Americana. If the bands targets seem a bit simple and predictable, its music rarely is. The SoCal roots arent played to a fault, the blend of salsa and alterna-rock sounds natural, and the Offspring pretty much laugh at their culture, as well as themselves, the entire time. Best track is "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)," which manages to bridge Def Leppard and Latin hip-hop (and the musical timeline they represent) and, in the process, disrobes Middle Americas average white teens quick fascination with and instant disposability of a once-regional heritage. With Americana, the Offspring are merely contributing their part. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 13 Title: Conspiracy of One Released: 2000-11-01 Tracks: 13 Duration: 37:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Intro (00:06) 2 Come Out Swinging (02:48) 3 Original Prankster (03:41) 4 Want You Bad (03:22) 5 Million Miles Away (03:40) 6 Dammit, I Changed Again (02:50) 7 Living in Chaos (03:29) 8 Special Delivery (03:01) 9 One Fine Day (02:46) 10 All Along (01:39) 11 Denial, Revisited (04:33) 12 Vultures (03:35) 13 Conspiracy of One (02:18) |
| Conspiracy of One : Allmusic album Review : Contrary to the popular belief of music critics, listeners and artists alike, a band that doesnt deviate from its genre on its albums isnt musically limited. There are many layers to any given genre of music, and growing into it is just as much of an accomplishment as, say, experimenting with several different categories. Whats wrong with sounding the same if you get better and better at it with each album? On Conspiracy of One, the Offspring do just that, resulting in their most musically mature collection to date. The tight arrangements, vocal interplay and refined guitar work on "Original Prankster," "Want You Bad," and "Million Miles Away" sound like Offspring songs, but dont all sound the same. The band departs from its SoCal punk roots at times -- a ballad called "Denial, Revisited" provides one of the albums slower instances. They also inject elements of hip-hop, rap-metal, and Nirvana-like grunge into a few songs, giving Conspiracy of One some musical diversity, but its subtle; the album remains firmly planted in the world of punk. Each song features Dexter Hollands lead vocals and Noodles and Hollands crafty guitar playing, the groups two defining factors. The album also features some smart lyrics, though the Offspring do have some sophomoric fun on the party anthem "One Fine Day." Conspiracy of One is a solid and well-crafted recording and offers a fine progression from a band that has no qualms about doing what they do best. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 13 Title: Splinter Released: 2003-11-27 Tracks: 12 Duration: 32:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Neocon (01:08) 2 The Noose (03:20) 3 Long Way Home (02:25) 4 Hit That (02:49) 5 Race Against Myself (03:34) 6 (Can’t Get My) Head Around You (02:15) 7 The Worst Hangover Ever (03:00) 8 Never Gonna Find Me (02:40) 9 Lightning Rod (03:22) 10 Spare Me the Details (03:26) 11 Da Hui (01:44) 12 When You’re in Prison (02:32) |
| Splinter : Allmusic album Review : Its more mixing of stylized punk revival and hybridism with left-field musical experimentation and in-the-now pop culture lyrical references on Splinter, the Offsprings seventh full-length. "Never Gonna Find Me," "Long Way Home," and "Lightning Rod" each bristle with overdriven guitars and Dexter Hollands high-pitched bleating; theyre somewhat workmanlike, but still roil with that precision fury particular to a veteran band. At the same time, Holland, guitarist Noodles, and bassist Greg Kriesel cant resist returning to the towel-slapping trash humor and mean-spirited loathing that typified past tracks like "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" and "Self Esteem." Lead single "Hit That" talks up baby daddies over a bopping bassline and keyboard right out of a Bloodhound Gang track, while "Spare Me the Details" subverts its lighthearted acoustic strum with foul-mouthed (on the clean version, anyway) attacks on a philandering girlfriend ("Im not the one who acted like a ho"). "Da Hui" overdrives surf rock while paying homage to hardcore Hawaiian board riders, and "When Youre in Prison" ends Splinter with sage advice about protecting your dignity in the clink. For whatever reason, the latter track is performed as 1930s Brill Cream dinner theater, complete with the faked crackle of an old 78 and muffled crooner vocals suggestive of a whining Victrola. The curious "Prison" renews the longstanding knock on the Offspring. Theyre very talented, write killer hooks, and can really crank up a punk rock racket when they want to, like on the Splinter standout "(Cant Get My) Head Around You." But the accessibility and crackling energy come shackled to crassness and frivolity, making the listener wonder whether Holland and his boys are committed to making effective music, or need to fill up albums with throwaways like the directionless "Neocon," the ska-hop predictability of "Worst Hangover Ever," or the aforementioned "Prison." Its the old saying -- the jokes were funny once, but just dont keep over time. This questioning of intent will likely be irrelevant for longtime fans. Theyll be more than happy with Splinter, which crams every last piece of the Offspring puzzle -- slickly produced rock racket, hints of anti-establishment rabble-rousing, and reams of relationship and strip mall culture gaggery -- into its brief half-hour run time. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 13 Title: Greatest Hits Released: 2005-06-20 Tracks: 14 Duration: 46:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Can’t Repeat (03:26) 2 Come Out and Play (Keep ’em Separated) (03:17) 3 Self Esteem (04:17) 4 Gotta Get Away (03:52) 5 All I Want (01:54) 6 Gone Away (04:27) 7 Pretty Fly (for a White Guy) (03:08) 8 Why Don’t You Get a Job? (02:49) 9 The Kids Aren’t Alright (03:00) 10 Original Prankster (03:41) 11 Want You Bad (03:22) 12 Defy You (03:48) 13 Hit That (02:49) 14 (Can’t Get My) Head Around You (02:15) |
| Greatest Hits : Allmusic album Review : Apparently the Offspring could keep em separated no longer. Greatest Hits gathers every one of the bands modern rock radio warhorses into one place. It also tacks on a new song called "Cant Repeat," which despite its name is a repeat of the 1998 single "Kids Arent Alright." After the new opener the set moves chronologically, so its songs are like bullet points on a time line of radio and MTV in the 1990s. The breakthrough Smash hits start it out: the surf guitar wrangle "Come Out and Play," the Nirvana-baiting of "Self Esteem," and "Gotta Get Away." "All I Want" from 1997s Ixnay on the Hombre is next, and then its the sluggish, echoing arena punk of "Gone Away." ("And it FEELS! And it FEELS LIKE! Heavens so far away!") With that comes the switch, when Offspring tailed away from punk relativism into hyper, referential snark. "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" and "Why Dont You Get a Job?" get points for anticipating U.S. pop cultures slide into reality TV madness and unsafe I Want a Famous Face-style obsessions -- they have the shouty sheen of a daytime talk show and revel in empty trends and opportunism. As actual songs theyre somewhat gimmicky, but in a greatest-hits context theyre noteworthy snapshots. The swaggering guitars, Latin inflections, and references to Prozac and Chino make 2000s "Conspiracy of One" Los Angeles product, and Offspring fans will note the inclusion of 2001s "Defy You," originally part of the Orange County soundtrack. Greatest Hits ends with two tracks from 2003s Splinter, and "Hit That"s boppy baby daddy drama combines the Offsprings smart alecky cultural cynicism with a raucous distortion chorus. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 13 Title: Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace Released: 2008-06-11 Tracks: 12 Duration: 43:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Half‐Truism (03:25) 2 Trust in You (03:09) 3 You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid (02:57) 4 Hammerhead (04:38) 5 Kristy, Are You Doing Okay? (03:42) 6 Takes Me Nowhere (02:59) 7 A Lot Like Me (04:28) 8 Nothingtown (03:29) 9 Stuff Is Messed Up (03:32) 10 Fix You (04:18) 11 Let’s Hear It for Rock Bottom (04:04) 12 Rise and Fall (02:59) |
| Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace : Allmusic album Review : Its not that the Offspring sound behind the times on their eighth album, Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace -- its that they sound disconnected from it. They may rant about George W. Bushs America and all the crass consumerism accompanying it, but they dont seem to realize that Coldplay beat them to a power ballad called "Fix You" just three years ago, offering a different melody but the same sentiment carrying the same title (to make matters worse, another of the albums power ballads, "A Lot Like You," opens with a surge straight out of "Clocks"). They snipe at dance beats on "Youre Gonna Go Far, Kid," not quite caring that the alienated adolescents who comprise the core of their audience now dont quite care whether anybody puts disco in their punk or not. This sideswipe at dance -- complete with a "dance f***er dance" chorus -- is par for the course for the Offspring, who always seems to get a neo-novelty tune out of some rhythm or fad they dont like, so things havent changed, which is part of the problem, as the band operates in a bubble. Nothing changes their attitude or their attack, as they still favor frenzied downstroked guitars and shout-along choruses that have the inevitable effect of having all the songs kind of blend together. Still, the Offspring cant quite hide the passing of time, as they start to drift into power ballads and angsty anthems like "Kristy, Are You Doing Okay?," which feels tailor-made for a CW TV show. Such softening of their stance illustrates that its impossible to avoid maturity, but the band would be better off injecting some maturity within the music, finding a different rhythm outside of its pummeling eighth notes, or maybe mustering a protest deeper than "S*** is F***** UP." Without this kind of maturity, the Offspring wind up offering plenty of rage but not much grace. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 13 Title: Happy Hour! Released: 2010-08-04 Tracks: 19 Duration: 58:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Come Out and Play (03:11) 2 Pretty Fly (for a White Guy) (live) (03:05) 3 All I Want (02:07) 4 Gone Away (04:17) 5 Staring at the Sun (02:27) 6 Hit That (02:47) 7 Gotta Get Away (03:37) 8 Dammit, I Changed Again (02:54) 9 D.U.I. (02:26) 10 Beheaded (02:40) 11 Sin City (04:26) 12 I Got a Right (02:18) 13 Hey Joe (02:37) 14 80 Times (02:07) 15 Autonomy (02:35) 16 Want You Bad (Blag Dahlia remix) (03:08) 17 Why Don’t You Get a Job? (Baka Boyz remix) (04:20) 18 Million Miles Away (Apollo 440 remix) (04:01) 19 Pretty Fly (for a White Guy) (The Baka Boyz Low Rider remix) (03:02) |
 | Album: 12 of 13 Title: Days Go By Released: 2012-06-25 Tracks: 12 Duration: 55:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Future Is Now (04:08) 2 Secrets From the Underground (03:09) 3 Days Go By (04:02) 4 Turning Into You (03:41) 5 Hurting as One (02:49) 6 Cruising California (Bumpin’ in My Trunk) (03:30) 7 All I Have Left Is You (05:18) 8 OC Guns (04:07) 9 Dirty Magic (04:00) 10 I Wanna Secret Family (With You) (03:01) 11 Dividing by Zero (02:22) 12 Slim Pickens Does the Right Thing and Rides the Bomb to Hell / Self Esteem (live) / You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid (live) / The Kids Aren’t Alright (live) (15:01) |
| Days Go By : Allmusic album Review : After nearly three decades of making sunny California skatepunk, the Offspring get autumnal with their reflective ninth album, Days Go By. Though the band still maintains the same driving, hooky sound that its always had, the album feels less aggressive and more wistful and yearning. "Days Go By" seems like punk rock tailor-made for fall weather with its meditations on the impermanence of youthful anger, as if the Offspring are offering some sage advice for those coming up after them. A similar vibe courses through "All I Have Left Is You," which switches back and forth between smoothed-out verses and big, guitar-heavy choruses, like a much more adult version of the band than fans might have ever heard previously. While other parts of the album dont quite have the same adult contemporary punk feeling, the songs are generally more melodic and grown-up. While this kind of maturity is not only welcome, but expected, Days Go By also has moments that seem as if the Offspring might be starting to show their age a bit. "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" was corny back in 1998, making songs like "Cruising California (Bumpin in My Trunk)" and "OC Guns" even harder to swallow 14 years later. Even though these missteps dont completely ruin the album, they seem over-produced and unnecessary amidst what is an otherwise well-crafted record. All in all, Days Go By is more for fans who have been with the band for a while than those just tuning in, and while die-hard Offspring followers will be able to see the shift in the bands sound as part of a logical progression, new listeners would be better served by checking out some of their earlier, more urgent work. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 13 Title: Summer Nationals Released: 2014-08-05 Tracks: 3 Duration: 05:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Do What You Want (01:09) 2 No Control (01:47) 3 No Reason Why (02:43) |