Up next on the chopping block is another band I grew up with. That band is The Offspring and this is definitely a band that I remember hearing on the radio back when there were more radio stations that actually played good music. So let’s take a look………
The Offspring- alright so this one just sounds really raw. In fact sound wise I would compare it to Green Day’s first and second albums. I don’t think this is a bad album but at the end of the day, it’s just not that memorable and I don’t see myself revisiting it anytime soon. Not a bad album but just average. I give it 6/10
Standouts: Out On Patrol, Beheaded, Blackball
Ignition- I would say that this is definitely a step up from the first and you can hear them starting to develop their sound on here. Again, a good but not great album. I give it 7/10
Standouts: Kick Him When He’s Down, Hypodermic, LAPD
Smash- ok here we go. I definitely remember this album. This came out when I was in fourth grade and I definitely remember a buddy of mine had this and we would hang out and listen to this and other albums. Here is where we get what I like to call classic Offspring. I mean this is the same album that gave us Self Esteem and Bad Habit. But aside from those songs, the rest of the record is great. I have no choice but to give it 10/10
Standouts: Nitro (Youth Energy), Genocide, So Alone
Ixnay On The Hombre- alright so I’ve found that people say that Smash is the best Offspring album but I don’t know, I would have to disagree and say that this one is probably better. I mean both records have the same feel to them and I would even say that the sound is slightly better. If I had to remove one song off this record, I would get rid of Gone Away (I can’t stand that song). Another all around great record. I give this 10/10
Standouts: Mota, The Meaning Of Life, Cool To Hate
Americana- alright so again I remember when this came out. I think I actually used to have a copy of this and you could watch the video for Pretty Fly For A White Guy if you put the disc in your computer. I feel like this is their most radio friendly record. I will say much like the last record, if I had to get rid of a song off here I’d definitely lose the song Why Don’t You Get A Job. Never understood why people liked it so much. I don’t too commercial for my taste. While I think it’s a great record, it’s just not quite as good as other records. I give this 9.5/10
Standouts: The End Of The Line, Feelings, Walla Walla
Conspiracy Of One- I don’t know I really wanted to like this one more. I think the album cover is cool. It’s just their logo and it’s simple. Here is where I sort of start to lose interest and I think this is probably the last of their albums I stopped listening to for awhile. I think I was just shifting my attention to other kinds of music. This one kind of has Americana vibes to it. Again it’s good but not great. I give it 7/10
Standouts: Dammit I Changed Again, One Fine Day, Come Out Swinging
Splinter- I remember getting my first car and I couldn’t wait to have KROQ as my primary radio station. It just so happened that the song Hit That was always being played and they definitely played that song at The Almost Acoustic Christmas that year. I do think that that song is not their best however. It’s too poppy and too radio friendly. Now as far as the rest of the album goes, it’s kinda hit or miss. There are some good moments but then there are some moments where it’s kinda meh. I give this album 7/10
Standouts: The Worst Hangover Ever, Long Way Home, Lightning Rod
Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace- ok seriously with the single You’re Gonna Go Far Kid? Not only is that an incredible stupid name for a song but the song itself sucks. However aside from that song, the rest of the record isn’t bad. I remember when I first heard it it didn’t like it but listening to it again, it’s not as bad as I remember. I still don’t like the aforementioned song but overall, it’s not a bad record. I guess you could say that this is probably their most mature record. Anyway, I give this 8/10
Standouts: Hammerhead, Nothingtown, Rise And Fall
Days Go By- I feel like they are trying to do too much on here. Like on some songs, there’s piano parts. I mean it’s not like it doesn’t work and I can see they are trying to go in a slightly different direction but I just didn’t care for it. This one is certainly not their best but I definitely wouldn’t skip this one. I give this 5/10
Standouts: Secrets From The Underground, Hurting As One, Dividing By Zero
Let The Bad Times Roll- ok so I didn’t even really know about this album. Could be because I would usually find out about this from listening to KROQ. I feel like a lot of these songs are kinda “tame”. I don’t know I’m not sure how to explain it but I just don’t feel the same way about these songs like I do when I listen to an album like Smash. That’s not to say that this is a bad album because it’s not it’s just that I prefer their older stuff. I give this album 5/10
Standouts: We Never Have Sex Anymore, Army Of One, Hassan Chop
This is definitely a band who has made some classic records. I have seen them a couple times and they have always been great live. Definitely check out their earlier catalog if you haven’t or it’s been awhile. There are some meh moments but as a whole, there are some great albums and songs.
Album Rankings:
- Ixnay On The Hombre
- Smash
- Americana
- Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace
- Ignition
- Conspiracy Of One
- Splinter
- The Offspring
- Days Go By
- Let The Bad Times Roll
Sinister Reviews 