Reviews (page 10 of 14)
To a teenage pop-punk fan in 1994, this probably sounded like the most important album in the history of the world, ever! In retrospect, it’s full of sound and fury, signifying nothing, sung by people whose greatest fear was that someone might call them a trendy asshole. It’s at its most fun on the middle eastern themed ‘Come Out and Play’ and the bouncy ska of ‘What Happened to You?’
I'm not fully objective on this one since it's an important record for me, discovered at the beginning of my teenage years, that started to open me to rock, punk, metal. The truth is it's not a bad album, it's even a really good one in its own genre. And it is sufficiently diversed, with faster songs (most of them), some more down tempo, some almost surf (What happened to you?), some almost metal (the Smash riff). It's production is much rougher than what they did afterwards and I kinda like it better that way.
Cool punk album
Facile and boring. I didn't hate it or anything, but I can barely bring myself to credit it with a review. In fact there you go. That'll do. Have a fart noise, the band would probably like that, and it basically sums this album up.
Big hits but just okay. Shoutout Bad Religion.
There’s a certain charm to early 90’s pop punk. It’s not as slick and glossy as it became in the early 2000’s, and it seemed to be filled with bands that - despite their success - didn’t seem to care. The Offspring’s ‘Smash’ really captures the era it was released in. It’s raw. It’s energetic. It’s naive. It’s angsty. It’s dumb. It’s smart. And it’s just fun. The heavy riffs are addictive. The lyrics resonate with a lot of us who were young when this was released. And I would rank it high enough with a lot of early pop punk LP’s. A must listen to any fan of the genre.
solid album. im not a big fan of the offspring and to me they feel a bit overrated but i still have some albums to listen... but nice moments lyrics still! 3.5/5.0
But too rocky for me
Class just before they got stupid! Which was a great shame
Listening to this just reminds me of getting wasted playing Tony hawks pro skater for hours at a mates house. Doesn’t quite stand the test of time but there’s a few tracks that are still great.
rockin pop punk album
Punk, 1994 -> 2
Really cool and fun songs.
This is, in my opinion, the best generation of punk music. It's raw and energetic while still sounding very good. Great album.
I've heard worse. Plus, nostalgia points...
As an album, this gets a bit yell-y for me by the end, but as a fan of "Come Out and Play" and "Self Esteem" back in days of yore, I knew what I was getting into. Overall I liked it more than I thought I would.
It didn't cause me any pain to listen to this album, but I don't think that it was necessary.
A little noisier, shouter, and sweatier than I was in the mood for.
I owned the later album Americana from the Offspring and enjoyed their poppy-punk confections. I hadn’t listened to this album before but I knew the hits off it. “Come Out and Play” always appealed to me, but this time I followed along the words and had no idea this was about gang culture. That inspired me to pay more attention and I had a greater appreciation for this album. A lot of fun!
This album is far heavier than much of The Offspring's other music. Somewhere in between punk and pop-punk or pop-rock, it is a stando-ut in a genre dominated by songs that in general are much more pop than rock or punk.
Love Offspring, back to my youth
An example of modern punk rock-pop, i like more than green days, more joy division bass line
Better than expected. Sounds like repetitive punk rock, but has something original about it. Saved 2 songs
Bra album, förvånad att jag faktiskt gillade det mesta Bästa låtar: It’ll be a long time, What happened to you?
Good listen.
Fun pop-punk. 'Come Out and Play (Keep 'Em Separated)' is a good one. 'Not the One' is fantastically, adolescently political. 'Smash' is terribly adolescently ironic. Good.
This is the definition of 90's pop punk. Even in my punk phase, I didn't love this album. It holds up though. The 3 singles on this push it to a 4/5.
Not looking forward to listening to this. Yep, this is bollocks
The great songs are like some of the very best in the skate punk genre, but near the back half the album really slumps, it’s sorta disappointing. If they cut the worst of the back half it could easily be an 8 or a 9 out of 10. Still, some fantastic and exciting stuff here, but the front half is doing most of the legwork
Energy is great
i like when they go laaa laaa la la laa
Put this on, head down to your local skatepark and watch the kids - 'cause you're way too old to be skating now, you WILL hurt yourself. Solid legit pop-punk. Thrashy and smashy. Respectful of its SoCal punk roots. Good energy, fun, doesn't take itself too seriously. And isn't that what rock and roll is all about, my friends? Frontman Dexter Holland has a PhD in molecular biology 🧬, owns a hot sauce company, AND wrote Self Esteem. My idol.
It's fine. Kinda repetitive. Wasn't my jam in 94, isn't now. I preferred Greenday.
I grew up on this album how could I not give it a 5.
If Shaggy was the lead singer of Green Day and the riffs were heavier as a consequence, it would be this album. It was a little repetitive, but I enjoyed a handful of tracks for their unique moments. I think their other work is a little better but I can understand the impact of this. You gotta keep em separated
Childhood favorite
Nice
Classic, radio ruined it.
I was a 90’s grunge head and this album completely passed me by. Aside from Self Esteem this was pretty much new to me yet thirty years on I completely dig it. If I’d listened to this when I was a teen it would no doubt have been a firm favourite. Great album.
I’m very biased on this album. I have enjoyed it for 30 years now and every time I hear it I feel like a teenager again. Great energy throughout, great production and much more informed lyrics than I realized.
Good
A classic
really fun punk album. it's energetic, aggressive, obnoxious. everything here works really well, the sound and the instrumentation is classic 90s punk. to me the highlights are the "big" songs - 'come out and play' and 'self esteem'
This gets an extra star for the nostalgia.
This is an ok punk album. Plenty of hooks, some of which heavily focus on “woahs.” Some decent social commentary, but doesn’t take itself too seriously. Not bad but there’s much better out there.
This was kind of an anthem in my younger days, and it’s crazy that he’s a scientist.
I really wanted to like this :(
'Smash' was one of the first CDs I ever owned as a kid. I used to listen to it constantly. To the point where, despite not having listened to it for nearly 30 years, I'm surprised by how well I remember it. This album triggers a flood of memories of being in my childhood bedroom and secretly lip syncing the profanity-filled 'Bad Habit' over and over again. It was so easy to feel like a rebel at that age. After a while I outgrew Offspring and had no interest in their later work and probably felt embarrassed that I ever liked them. To my surprise, 'Smash' is better than I remembered and I actually feel a little proud of myself for having this early exposure to punk. Granted, it's not amazing but in the context of what else I would have been exposed to on MTV and the radio at the time, I can see why I liked it. And it certainly left a mark by both resurrecting and popularizing punk (along with Green Day) in the early 90s. Knowing a lot more about music as an adult, I can see that it's pretty juvenile and pales before the great punk bands of the past. But it's still kind of fun, and a little shot of nostalgia definitely gives it an extra boost too.
Got a lot of epic tunes
I just don't like their songs
Not really my cup of tea, but it wasn’t terrible
Surprisingly haven't listened to much of the offspring before other than their few well known songs. Enjoyed this album, gave me vibes of a skateboarding ps1 game.
I really like the offsprings music, Haven't really heard any song of this album apart from self esteem. I really enjoyed it.I'll probably listen to it again soon.
It’s punk rock but it’s not totally terrible. A few bits annoyed me but there where a few bits I found interesting.
useful at least for defining the word "grating"
What a great album! It’s a must have in the collection
Lots of energy and lots of good songs.
Typical Offspring...a bit fast and furious
It sure was the Offspring. Enjoyable and energetic, just a fun listen.
I enjoy pop punk but Offspring would not be my choice of bands to represent the genre. They are okay, but give me Bad Religion or NOFX any day.
Not extremely captivating outside the main two songs. Not terrible either.
Not the best version of its genre but is fun
Fun pop punk to enjoy while traversing the Norwegian Fjords
The Offspring puts on such a good show. Looking forward to listening to this album end to end. This album goes pretty hard and makes me want to rage a bit. 4* (from 4.5 rounded down). Highlights: gotta get away (drum intro), self esteem, come out and play, bad habit
the best songs are the hits. the others aren’t memorable
I like the hits, not much else.
Good music from when punk was becoming more of a thang. These guys definitely had a distinct sound. Dexter was on to something here..
Pop punk is a very hard sell for me. Generally, I find it gets quickly stale from the same fast tempo, power chord only approach. This album is no exception. I listened to it twice, but really tuned out of it for the most part. Unlike many other albums, I found the second halfmore interesting to listen to, there's more dynamics and play between the instruments. There's nothing I really hate or dislike about this album, I just find it bland, and can only imagine coming back to it for the songs I knew I liked before I even listened to it today.
I was happy to see this album this morning! I've always liked The Offspring. I'd never listened to this album before but I ended up recognizing probably 4-5 songs, surprisingly. There are some real classic 90s songs here. I loved this nostalgia trip this morning. After it was finished, I listened to Conspiracy of One, which was one of the first CDs I ever bought. Doing this challenge has reminded me how much I enjoy punk music!
meehhh
Legalzinho. Não achei o melhor do Offspring, mas legal.
Nope
Absolutely banging album. Self Esteem has to be one of my favourite Offspring tracks.
Ah, it's time to relax You know what that means A glass of wine, your favourite easy chair And of course, this compact disc Playing on your home stereo So, go on, and indulge yourself That's right, kick off your shoes Put your feet up Lean back and just enjoy the melodies After all, music soothes even the savage beast
A lot of fun with some great tracks. Less keen on the jibber jabber that crops up.
I can hear this album in its entirety in my brain, and for 30 years no less.
Really takes me back to playing Crazy Taxi and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater on the Dreamcast. Should have waited for the PS2 to come out!! I had an Offspring hoodie despite only having heard their music on those games and not knowing it was them! Quite boring music really, 2 stars coming straight from nostalgia!
Already loved The Offspring. Really enjoyed this album too. Also the lyrics were just great, for example: "YOU STUPID... DUMB SHIT... GOD DAMN MOTHERFUCKER". Straight poetry
I'm not totally sure why this album is on the list so I'm gonna buy the book and read up. I'd guess it's another turn in punk using poppy melodies but you got Dookie coming out the same year. Not a bad album though, it's very fine and the frontman does have a distinct style that's welcome.
Good listen. I know they’re considered punk but it felt more grungy/rock/little bit punk to me.
so good. first 8 tracks are sublime
Honking
I'm mixed here. I think the hits from this album (Gotta Get Away, Self Esteem, Come Out and Play) really hold up and are still solid songs, but I think a lot of the rest of this was very much of-the-time, and is just doesn't have any staying power. A lot of it sounds VERY similar, and while I generally like these guys, I'm not going to be listening to the deeper cuts. Good album, but top-to-bottom not one of my favorites. I'd give it a 3.5 if that was possible, but I'm rounding up on the power of the highlights rather than any consistency.
Hell yeah
bao!! amo offspring eu acho que foi melhor que o anterior
A punk rock best!
bad
Pesaos
I'm white, I'm American, I dig it.
Classic
I don't care for The Offspring's sound, but his was listenable, mostly, and I respect it. I understand why this was one of the hardcore punk groups that had radio play. 2
A great grunge album, I personally prefer Nirvana
I was 13 when this album came out and the singles off this album were huge. At the time, it seems like their image was hard-edged and angry but not as dark and sludgy as grunge. For a mild-mannered midwestern-American kid, mainstream bands like Weezer and R.E.M. were much more palatable. In retrospect, given the rise of pop-punk (which became so popular later on), this just sounds like relatively harmless west-coast punk rock. Kinda cute really.
-certified head banger -best song: ‘self esteem’ -repetitive -would not revisit
Damn, the skate-punk of my youth. These were the sounds of teenage angst for the mid-90s to the early 2000s when nu-metal ruined everything. Yes, it can get juvenile, but that was the point. Punk crossing over to the pop market to shape the heart of Gen-X culture. The singles on this one are undeniable.
interesting to see how early this came out. Really thought this was late nineties at the earliest.
10/10 just pure bangers
Och wat is de stem van deze man irritant. Van de hitjes van The Offspring sta ik al niet te springen, laat staan de rest van deze plaat. Nee nee nee. Rating: 3/10
De 90s waren wel echt het failliet der punkmuziek. Ongeïnspireerde, kinderachtige bagger. Dat gezegd hebbende, is dit denk ik wel het beste wat deze waardeloze scene te brengen heeft. Sterker nog, het was bij vlagen best vermakelijk. Deels is dat natuurlijk weer de gezonde dosis Tony Hawk vibes, die pas echt ingezet wordt bij 'Something to Believe In', wat een startschot is van een prima middenstuk van het album te midden van een cringy inleiding en een slaapverwekkend slot. De main singles 'Come Out and Play' en 'Self Esteem' zijn de hoogtepunten, en zijn meer nineties dan Brad Pitt & Jennifer Aniston, of de genocide in Rwanda. De eerste is de creatiefste song van het album met zijn Arabische surfgitaartje, en de tweede is gewoon heel slim gestolen van 'Smells Like Teen Spirit. 'It'll Be a Long Time' gaat ook nog wel aardig mee met het niveau van de het voorgaande koppel. Daarna is de koek wel op. Nouja, bijna dan, want 'Not the One' heeft nog wel een sterke bassline en hook. Die song doet toch nog wat van de nare nasmaak van een matig einde van het album weg spoelen. Al met al geen slechte plaat voor een muziekstijl waar ik een broertje dood aan heb. 7/10 Highlights: Come Out and Play Self Esteem Not the One
Offspring is een echte one trick pony. Self Esteem is de beste en de rest een slap aftreksel daarvan. Weinig lol beleefd verder. Tuurlijk moet je dit plaatsen in jaren 90, maar waren meerdere tijdgenoten interessanter. 3/10 Highlights Self Esteem
Smash or pass? I’d smash.
Never really got into the offspring as a teen, despite dabbling heavily in this genre. Oh I knew their most famous songs but hadn't listened to this album at all. It goes alright, definitely helped to usher in a new era of punk rock/nu-metal.
- come out and play - self esteem
doesnt have da hui on it but pretty good nonetheless
Sounded a lot like Green Day
Very nice
Very cool. Inspired by Black Sabbath?
Ok but like most punk I've listened to on this list it does suffer from a lack of variety in the sound. High 2.
Day 1 - June 2nd, 2024 I would rather listen to 2010's era Weezer at gunpoint than listen to this. This was garbage.
Good, fresh music. So many good songs on this album. The vocals get to bit a bit much over time, but definitely a great album.
This definitely fits the 'has to have a pulse' criteria for albums I'll listen to. Can't say I'll immediately recognize it, but I won't turn it off if I hear it again.
To me, this album is all about nostalgia. There was a time I really liked it, as a youth, and then I "outgrew" it. And later, only 5 or so years ago, I went back and have an appreciation for it, similar (though less) than "Nevermind" in the pop-hooks with attitude that "Smash" also has. I'd probably give it a 3, overall, as it is nothing revolutionary or anything I'd die on a hill to defend, but I'm bumping it to a 4, just because I personally enjoy it.
Horrible album. The only thing that isn’t forgettable about it is the singers voice which is incredibly annoying. As if it wasn’t bad enough they chucked a ska number in there. Yuck.
Day146 - 30 years old and it holds up really well. four really good songs on here
The Offspring feels nostalgic and has some decent to good songs, but they don't really feel like an "album" group. Instead, they tend to have some really good singles. I will say, I like their ska influence though. Outside of the top tracks, the singers voice is grating and the guitar licks feel repetitive. Finally, what is up with the final song being 10 minutes but silent for half of it. Were they trolling? Best Songs: Self Esteem, What Happened to You? Worst Songs: Genocide, So Alone, Smash
A ono volio bi da mi se više sviđa self esteežmmi je i dalje super
Great songs/album
ja helemaal kut dit hoeft van mij niet
Kende dit niet nog maar is blijkbaar heel erg bekend?? Vind alle nummers wel beetje hetzelfde klinken, en vind punk zelf snel schreeuwmuziek en dit is geen uitzondering
Not a huge fan of Offspring as their good stuff all sounds the same stuff and their bad stuff is just bad. But looking only in at this album and the time period it came out in, it's a good influential album.
Love this band since highschool.
I wasn’t as a big a fan of this as I thought I’d be. It was ok, they developed their sound over time.
Not bad honestly, somewhere in the space between punk and metal is how I would describe this one, there's at least one track I knew, "Self-Esteem," most likely from a Tony Hawk game or something. The energy on here is strong, and coming out of this with a few tracks saved is all I could really ask for. Not entirely my style, but it's pretty good. Favorite tracks: Self Esteem, Nitro, Genocide, Smash. Album art: Very cool image of a skeleton, surely passed through some kind of medical machine. I don't know what it is, not thermal imaging though. But it has a great effect, and it leads to some nice bold colors. Paired with the font, this is a really strong album cover. 3.5/5
I loved this album when I was a kid first getting into “alternative” music. It actually holds up better than I expected. Too bad everything they did after this was trash.
Not my thing but I didn't hate it.
A banger of an album for sure.
Punk Rock auf einem Indie Album der 90er. Es klingt wie Nirvana mit Rap und Hard-Rock Elementen. In keinem Stück wird dieser Stil prägnanter als in “Self Esteen”. Mein Geheimtipp ist der Ska-Song “what happens to you” - Ja und es macht Spaß den Mix (wieder)zuhören; wenn’s mal was härter sein soll.
I'm really mixed on this one. At times, it's really enjoyable but I also think he has a pretty bad voice and some of the lyrics are very middle school angst
I'll be happy to listen it. I'll let you know!
grunge
Just not a fan at all.
two albums in a row use the phrase "changing of the guard" the hidden guitar outro is cool. this is what plays in the head of a middle school boy while he eats mozzarella sticks
Time to Relax: wow, a skit. Nitro (Youth Energy): a decent skate punk song Bad Habit: Orange County punk band writes a song about driving Gotta Get Away: a bad grunge rip-off (About A Girl, anyone?) Genocide: another skate punk song. It's OK but at this point in the album the overly compressed guitar overdubs give me ear fatigue. Something to Believe In: Here's where I admit that I don't really like The Offspring and the vocal effect employed on every recording they ever did is a major part of why I never listen to their records. It overpowers everything like alfalfa sprouts on an otherwise delicious sandwich. Come Out and Play: novelty song Self Esteem: the other grunge song It'll Be a Long Time: the other skate punk Pennywise song Killboy Powerhead: the cover What Happened to You?: the ska punk number? ROFL So Alone: filler song Not the One: the angsty song trying to be Bad Religion Smash: I LOL'd at the half-time breakdown at the end Nice little skit and hidden track at the end because it was the nineties.
The Offspring were always just there, doing their thing, neither too offensive not too bland, just doing their thing. "Come Out And Play" and "Self-Esteem" still bang 30 years later. And I'm always interested in albums released around specific dates (see Jay-Z's Blueprint entry a few days ago), and this one came out the day they found Kurt Cobain's body, weirdly morbid...
One of my favorite albums by my favorite band? Yeah, I've been waiting for this one. From an objective point of view, I think Ignition and Americana are better albums (they've never sounded better than on Americana, in my opinion, and the non-single songs are some of the best they've ever done, and Ignition is where they're lyrically at their best). However, it makes total sense for this album to be on here. It changed the game. Really brought punk to the mainstream in the 90s in a way other bands weren't and paved the way for the success of bands like Blink 182 and Rancid. Even though I was a kid in 1994, I remember this album being such a big deal. Listening to it with my older brother is what made me a lifelong fan of The Offspring. Let's talk about the songs. My brother had a copy of Spin magazine with Dexter Holland on the cover that I used to steal and read the article on them over and over. While it was during the Americana days, Dexter talked about what persuaded him to write "Bad Habit," and it endeared me to the song ever since. Plus, how can you hate a song with the lyrics "stupid dumbshit goddamn motherfucker?" "Self Esteem" is their masterpiece. Hands down, no questions. "Come Out and Play," "Bad Habit," "Nitro (Youth Energy)," and "Smash" are my other favorites, but honestly there isn't one song on here that I don't like in some way. Still know all the words. Still belt them at the top of my lungs. Practically a perfect record.
Favourite track: Self Esteem is bloody brilliant
This is a classic to me. Good all the way through. 5/5
Although this album was a big success for the band, it sounds lacking. A mediocre vocal performance by the lead singer and instrumentals that are not creative. The band surfed the wave of grunge and punk and only took from the genre, not adding to it. Besides this the album is an alright listening experience. 3/5
Fanno un pò troppo casino questi
I’ve listened to this about a million times… And the excitement is still there! After listening to it today I went out and bleached my hair, bought a skateboard and one of those awesome shirts with the flames up it, some wraparound Oakley sunglasses and a wallet chain! Fuckin’ fuck yeah!
Excellent punk album. I feel like in a time when punk was becoming to become more poppy with bands like blink and good charlotte these guys stayed a bit more traditional. Lots of good tracks and some of their best.
Time To Relax - ★☆☆☆☆ Nitro (Youth Energy) - ★★☆☆☆ Bad Habit - ★★★☆☆ Gotta Get Away - ★★★★☆ Genocide - ★★☆☆☆ Something to Believe In - ★★★☆☆ Come Out and Play - ★★★★★ Self Esteem - ★★★★★ It'll Be A Long Time - ★☆☆☆☆ Killboy Powerhead - ★☆☆☆☆ What Happened to You? - ★★★★★ So Alone - ★☆☆☆☆ Not the One - ★★☆☆☆ Smash - ★☆☆☆☆
Loud, fast, and angry, it is no wonder that they are the founding of the Southern California punk scene. Punchy lyrics that are sadly still relevant 20 years later. Loses a little bit of steam near the end of the album, but overall the impact is unavoidable.
Absolute dogshit
I really enjoyed this album, even though I hadn't heard it before.
This is a freaking awesome album. I listened to it tonight and it is a rocker. I knew big chunks of the album and had just forgotten how cool this album is. This is not a back decker with the wife! It is an in your face, run like a bat out of hell screamer that would be great alone for a predate.
Surprisingly good. Lead to and inspired some fun music over the next decade to two.
I’ve never been a big fan of The Offspring, this changed nothing. The singles are the only unique songs
All the cool kids at school liked the offspring so I never listened to them out of principle I knew self esteem of course Little did I know how much every other song sounded like self esteem as well There’s only so much whiny punk I can stand
I wanted to hate on this album, but can't. 3 or 4 bangers and a driving fast paced fun gym album. Surprising 4 from me.
American bands just don't seem to get punk, but never mind. This is kind of pop/ skate punk I guess on some levels. It's punk as much as Avril Lavigne is punk anyway. There wasn't anything that stood out in particular, but it wasn't as annoying as Green Day, so I'm going to give it three stars. If anything, this sounded like Nirvana on a bad day, which isn't an awful thing in some ways I suppose.
One of the very first CDs I ever got was an Offspring single that I won on a tombola in primary school. I hated it at first, but it grew on me a lot over time. By the time I was 15, I was playing Want You Bad in my band. Anyway, I digress. This album is absolutely banging and I love it. It got quite nostalgic listening to it. The Offspring are just great.
Raw sound, lead singles great. Very Tony Hawk but not highly memorable. 7/10 overall
Pretty cool I was definitely hopping along I would give 3.5
This whole thing has made me realize that the pop punk sound, while i can appreciate it, is just not really for me. Maybe i would have loved this had i discovered it as an angsty 14 yo. As an angsty 23 yo tho i just wish for a more complex sound. Its not terrible though and some songs definitely hit.
Didn't hate this nearly as much as I thought. Actually sort of enjoyed it besides the fact it's probably 4 or 5 songs too long. Feels a bit weird to give this a 3, but that's where we are.
Some of the songs sound the same. But others are great hits, especially "Genocide". Dexter Holland singing sounds out of place and he's more suited for metal. The good outweighs the bad in this situation. "Smash" is a mixed album for me. 3 stars for this effort.
As a teenager I went on a long road trip from the North of England to the French Alps by bus. I had a new discman and 2 CDs. They were Dookie by Gree Day and this. I must have listened to each album 5 times each and they are both burned into my soul. This isn't clever, its not the best punk rock and it's not pushing the boundaries of anything. But it was and still is a shit-ton of fun and perfect for a confused, energetic and angry teenage boy. I sang along to every word, I made my kids listen to it and coughed over the swear words and we call bounced around like fireworks in a tin can.
Overplayed, sure… still enjoyable and fun. Creative and catchy with a fair dose of reckless abandon.
6/10
Loving a bit of offspring!
This is an under appreciated album. It's a fun ride.
I'm well over 1,001 albums so I'm just going to hate this one on spec. It's not like I don't already know the broad strokes. The so-called hits. Everything was going just fine in the '90's music wise, and then these fuckers started bellowing about self esteem and keeping shit separated. No thank you. Fittingly enough, this album was released about a week before Kurt Cobain killed himself. This album probably made him pull the trigger.
Very simplistic Drums are very boring Lyrics have not aged well (e.g. saying “tranny” a bunch while trying to be supportive)
C+ Time To Relax 3 Nitro (Youth Energy) 3 Bad Habit 3 Gotta Get Away 3 Genocide 2 Something To Believe In 3 Come Out And Play 3 Self Esteem 4 It'll Be A Long Time 3 Killboy Powerhead 3 What Happened To You? 3 So Alone 3 Not The One 3 Smash 2 This wasn't half bad, man.
01) Time to Relax (Intro) - / 02) Nitro (Youth Energy) - 7,5 03) Bad Habit - 7,5 04) Gotta Get Away - 9,0 05) Genocide - 8,0 06) Something to Believe In - 7,0 07) Come Out and Play - 10,0 08) Self Esteem - 10,0 09) It'll Be a Long Time - 7,5 10) Killboy Powerhead - 7,5 11) What Happened to You? - 8,0 12) So Alone - 8,0 13) Not the One - 7,0 14) Smash - 7,0 TOTAL: 8,00 (80/100) I was 16 when this came out, and I remember I wasn't a big fan of all that punk revival. I felt like I should like Green Day and Offspring, but for some reason, I didn't care for them much. I did like the singles though. "Self Esteem" is with Radiohead's "Creep" one of my teenage hymns. I guess I'm not the only one :-)
I kind of hate how much I like this. Not because it's bad but mostly because it's not doing anything completely new/exciting. It just is really catchy and probably hits my nostalgia for skateboard videogame soundtracks. It's not close to the greatest punk has to offer but it's worth a listen for some stand out singles (come out and play, self esteem, what happened to you?, nitro (youth energy) and Gotta get away as the stand out tracks to me)
This is worse than I remember.
THEY'RE COMING THEY'RE COMING THEY'RE COMING YOU NEED TO LOOK NOW GO LOOK LOOK NOW THEY'RE COMING RUN PLEASE NOW GO YOU NEED TO GO
For as cheesy and ridiculous as this band would go on to become, this early break out album was a fun album. Though it is hilarious this was considered punk. This ain’t punk. This is pop music. And “pop punk” is an oxymoron.
This is one I had back in the 90s. It's not bad. Not really my thing. I liked the songs for the most part but what dropped another star for me was how most of the songs sound like they're clipping (maybe a victim of the loudness wars?). It sounds horrible.
Interesting narration every once in a while to move the album along, but this was not enough to save what was mostly a collection of irritating songs. It wasn’t the worst music I’ve ever heard, but I don’t plan on revisiting this one.
I like the vocals with Offspring. This is a high energy romp but it has that fast but superficial sound of American nu-metal. It's too lame call itself 'Genocide'. Not an unpleasant listen and probably quite fun - but... but... a bit too basic, and none of the authentic aggression of something like punk rock. 'Something to Believe In' is catchy. 'Come Out and Play' is more what I'd expected from Offspring... more like 'Pretty Fly' with its humour and playfulness.
I listened to this a lot as a teenager, I probably would have given it a 3 if I still was a teenager. However it's lost it's once mildly rebellious effect on me. A few very catchy songs bit runs out of steam 2/3rds of the way through.
3.25
Lots of high bpm tracks with rock/punk/ska influence, plus a very 90s intro/outro and not-quite bonus track that reminds you it’s an album. Very listen-able.
I liked this more than I thought I would
One of the worst albums I've ever heard. This kind of pop punk is really not my thing & just sounds incredibly dated now. Some of the riffs are cool but the vocals are just so hoarse and uninteresting. Best Song: Come Out And Play Worst Song: What Happened To You?
Truly awful
I came at this as someone who liked rock in the late 80s, and Nirvana and Pearl Jam in the early 90s; I also listened to and enjoyed the entire back catalogue of Green Day in the noughties, repeatedly, because my kids loved them. So I actually quite enjoyed some of this, even though I'm unsure if it really leaves much by way of its own legacy. It's very derivative of Nirvana. I probably wouldn't listen again; some tracks weren't very good, and it doesn't have the "remember when" of those other bands for me personally. I've realised that I've no desire to immerse myself in any 90s US grunge-punk that I didn't already know. 'S alright tho, and the drummer's great.
Not sure the point of this really. I listened to it and was none the wiser
Oh yeah!
This album is definitely in my top picks and have it on wax.
Wenn man Headbanger Gitarrenrock mag...
Reminds me of the 90s and held up better than expected.
Ef það er einhver hljómsveit sem er skemmtilegt í skömmtum þá er það Offspring. Mér finnst þetta reyndar þrælskemmtilegt ska-skotið pönk og mun alltaf hlusta á Offspring þegar ég heyri í þeim og jafnvel bara tralla með vinsælustu lögunum en ég mun örugglega aldrei setja þessa plötu á fóninn til að hlusta á í gegn.
A big surprise to Dork (less so, Goof) and a lot of fun. His voice is nostalgic.
This is my teenage years in a single album.
Man I wore this one out as an angsty teenager. Someone said "Offspring is like Taco Bell for Punk", and yep, sometimes what I want is Taco Bell. Not as much as after I found the real thing, though.
Great music, not a huge fan of the vocals
Nostalgic, but don’t feel the need to listen.
Every song sounded the same to be idk can appreciate someone’s dad would like this
I memories of The Offspring - mainly of my brothers listening to it before I could even talk and even back then I thought "this music is dumb". Because of this, I will always see their music as "music for boys" and I cannot override that thought no matter how hard I try. However, I can appreciate this album as providing something unique against the grungey landscape of 1994 US - I know they cite punk as their main influences, but I am getting a lot of old heavy metal in there too and I can DEFINITELY appreciate that. Standout track: - Genocide 4/5: as the guy said, "I ESPECIALLY enjoyed that one", gorgeous main riff *chefs kiss*
Not as good as Americana but still a really fun time
Each song sounded like every other offspring song I’ve ever heard. Good energy for a Monday morning though
I am biased and have always loved this album. This one gets a biased 5 stars from me.
An older record than I thought. It was still very popular in the late 1990s and that's when I thought it came out back then. There are some timeless fours and fives on here, but as a whole I don't see revisiting it a lot. I do like the quirkiness of the narration tracks throughout the album.
Not my favorite Offspring album, but I'd agree that this is their most influential album. As a huge fan of pop-punk in the aughts, I am by default a fan of The Offspring and the road they paved. Side story: I will always remember a van ride with the family circa 1994-5 while my dad was driving and in control of the radio. His preference was 97.5 and 98.5, while my sisters and I preferred 100.7 and 92.3 and 107.9 (although I'm guessing this was before 107.9 was The End). He said "I'll change the station if you can name the artist of one of these songs." We kept guessing, like, Eric Clapton or The Eagles as it was on 98.5 (Cleveland's classic rock), but to no avail. Then they had a commercial trying to make a dig at damn kids these days and what has befallen rock music, but don't worry, we're 98.5, we'll never play that shit. To make their point about terrible modern rock music, they used the intro to "Self-Esteem" that's just "La la lalala, la la lalala" which my sister correctly identified as The Offspring, so we were granted a station change on a technicality. A great win for punk rock. Anyway, I really enjoyed revisiting this album. Beforehand I was thinking it was a 4 with the iconic singles and some filler...but this holds up well in its entirety.
Very strong on the nostalgia factor and a strong punk entry.
This was surprisingly good! I've never listened to much of the Offspring, just a few song here and there. I always took them as a bit of a joke or a novelty act, due to their "wackier" songs later in the 90s. But this was a lot of fun, and musically it hits hard! The lyrics are surprisingly insightful in places as well, especially on "Self Esteem" and "What Happened to You". It is obviously pretty immature and teenage in places too. Seems like the type of album a kid like Reese from Malcolm in the Middle would be obsessed with.
I knew the popular tracks: Come Out and Play, and Self Esteem. I found myself getting into some of the other tracks, like Smash, so I'll bump this up a bit.
Dumb, pop-punk that's catchy and obnoxious in equal amounts. The singles largely hold up, the other songs hold their own.
Gonna blame this one on nostalgia.
This is Tony Hawk Music, which I would like when playing the game but wouldn’t listen outside playing. The only redeeming quality is the fact that I could see it used in the sync world easily. The thing for me is the album cover is so trash that I knew what to expect before listening. The melodies are so forgettable and pretty much all the same in every song. To the credit of the vocalist, I’m not sure what else you could sing over these chord progressions.
I never took to this album like I should have. I want to say it's a bit too abrasive. And yet, it's somehow not really punk enough for my taste either. And even though it helped set the pace for all pop-punk and emo to follow, much of which I very much love, this just doesn't do it for me. The two hits are all-time songs. And they sound great. And they're funny and rocking and politically relevant all at once. I'd give this album a 4 for its influence but just a 3 for me and my opinion of it.
I was pretty unimpressed! Came in with high expectations. It’s a lot of songs that sound like a more aggro, guitar-heavy version of styles that everyone was into at the time. The surf rock through-line piqued my interest! Gotta say I enjoyed the 1 minute bonus track, where they play actual surf rock and give the game away, more than a lot of the album though. Doesn’t feel like I’m gonna return to this, it just wasn’t a special enough listen if I’m honest! 2/5
What can I say about this one I listened to it 25,000 times- I own the cassette which is missing the spoken word intro. This album along with Dookie and The Blue Album really form the three major columns of alternative rock in 1994 slowly moving past grunge into pop-punk and nerd rock: something quicker, wittier, less weighed down by its own importance. It still rocks.
One of the best albums forever!
I miss early Offspring. Back when they had an edge and sang about things with some substance. In hindsight you can see the beginning of them transforming into the meme songs they would become known for on this album, but it wasn't really noticeable at the time.
Enjoyably loud and aggressive. Singles are classic, and the rest very listable and fun. "Genocide", "Not the One", and the title track stood out. Also the "Killboy Powerhead" cover.
Probably one of my favorite albums ever, it's just the best. I still think I have my original Smash CD around here somewhere.
Not my cup of tea at all this side of American Punk, does nothing for me.
It's like happy hour at the punk rock cafe. Yes, I was familiar with The Offspring but have never sat down and listened (which is the point of this right!) and what a delight. It kicks off with such great energy and just keeps it going. Certainly, Genocide, Something to Believe In, and Come Out and Play are highlights but Self Esteem really does take the take. I never considered myself a fan but 5 stars easy.
Big nostalgia bump for this album - my first serious girlfriend was a fan, and then later on, some of the songs were karaoke staples. Fave tracks - "Self Esteem" for getting the whole room to scream along in karaoke. "Genocide" from the other tracks, on these play throughs....
Not great, just decent 3stars
I used to love the Offspring. It is a bit surprising because punk is not at the top of my “love it” list. This is my college listening sweet-spot. Turns out, I still really dig a lot of the stuff; especially the radio play hits. Still, even the tunes that are straight “punk” come off fresher sounding to me than most stuff in the category. Not bad for a microbiologist.
This is my 420th album to review, and while not as on the nose as Peter Tosh's Legalize it would have been, The Offspring's Smash is still a good fit. I'm pretty familiar with a lot of The Offspring's work from the nineties (and some of their hits from the aughts); I had a burned copy of Americana that I listened to a lot in high school, and The Offspring was played quite a bit on the local alternative rock station. I also had their song "Want You Bad" as my girlfriend's ringtone at some point in college or my mid-twenties. I still love that song, but Christ, that was cringe-worthy. Punk and pop-punk music were some of my favorite alternative rock to listen to in high school. Blink 182, Green Day, and Sum 41 were probably my favorites, but The Offspring would have been right up there too. I didn't have any CD's by any of these bands (other than the burned copy of Americana), because my parents were very strict about any music that I bought, but that just made hearing songs by these bands on the radio that more special. In the late aughts, I got really into indie rock, and at that point, I had the belief that alternative rock was 'beneath me' (hey, we all have a period in our lives where we act kinda douchey), but I'm excited to listen to these guys for the first time in a while. I was not expecting to enjoy this album as much as I did. I thought this was fantastic from start to finish. The drumming and guitar playing were absolutely fantastic; I loved the fast tempo of most of the songs, but the slower songs like "Gotta Get Away" and "Self Esteem" hit just as hard. I love that some of the guitar playing has a Spanish/Mexican sound to it. I don't know how they came up with the idea to use that sound, but it's shocking to me how well it works on a nineties punk album. Dexter Holland's vocals are great, and there's just something about his voice that I love; I think he does a great job of conveying anger and disillusionment without having to yell or resort to gimmicks. Dexter's voice is really unique, and it's one of the things that makes The Offspring's music stand out from their contemporaries. Lyrically, this album is fantastic as well. These songs tackle so many topics: homelessness, militarism, mental health, relationships, etc. The political commentary is absolutely fantastic. I think a lot of people my age look at America in the nineties as having been a pretty docile time, but there was still so much going on: the public acknowledgment of the AIDS crisis, civil wars and uprisings taking place across the globe, gay rights moving to the forefront of the national conversation, and rises in gun violence. The nineties were a time of prosperity in our country, and culture tended to be more monolithic before the rise of the internet, so it's easy to ignore or forget about people who were suffering during that time. The Offspring manages to address all of the issues that they sing about in a way that feels really genuine. I really loved listening to this today, and this album has given me a new appreciation for The Offspring. This album is a work of genius, and despite its heavy tone, it's really fun to listen to, and it holds up really well thirty years (fuck me) later. The punk sound that The Offspring created on this album is really unique and perfectly captures the spirit of the decade. I wish I had owned a copy of this as a teeanger, but I'm certainly tempted to pick one up now.
I absolutely love two of these songs, many of them are fine, still not the best Offspring album. 3/5
I don't appreciate "god damn mf " as lyrics.
I'd written this off before listening as bland punk rock but the guitar and melodies are really hooky and I loved it.
I enjoyed that, didn’t think I would. I probably wont listen again (unless I suddenly become 20years younger and need to edit a skate stunt video) It’s very good and bouncy American punk ska!
I know many of the songs and never realized they were from this album. Excellent! It’s a refined punk grunge, much like what Metallica did to speed metal with their black album.
A few good singles - but repetitive in the extreme.
cringe
Offspringil on muutama hyvä biisi mut ne ei oo täl levyllä :D Self esteem oli tunnistettava, kaikki muu kuulosti musta aika samalta pämpämpämrokilta.
Ihan ok, self esteem on hyvä biisi! Sellanen 3/5 mut emt millo kuuntelisin tätä uudestaa spontaanisti paitsi self esteemii.
This was a wonderful blast from the past - pure post-high school nostalgia. I purchased this album sometime the summer of 1994 while at Universal CityWalk in Hollywood, CA with some friends of mine at what had to be the largest Tower Records I had ever been in. I got this and the Weezer Blue Album at the same time. I cranked this CD on the way home and loved every minute of it. I wasn't a huge punk fan, but this album definitely scratched that itch.
OK. Never been a big punk fan and this loses a point for the whiny vocals
- i did enjoy the intro and outro messages
A rock album from 1994. Interesting start to the album with spoken word. Album name and art implies heavy rock but it’s not too heavy so far. Maybe a high 3.
Pop punk :O .... but it's actually good !!! :O.
3.4, sometimes annoying sometimes enjoyable in about equal parts
I gotta say, Smash was an album i really enjoyed from start to finish. The guitar work was easily my favorite part of it but the Nirvana like singing, the quick pace and the neat little melodies in certain songs really added to it. The bonus track didn't really add that much to the album but it was still a harmless little addition. I really like this album and its one that any punk or grunge enjoyer would love. Best Song: Something To Believe In Worst Song: What Happened To You
I loved the first track intro, thought it was a fun way to open the album. Very angry first few songs, bad habit is such a funny concept for a song. Definitely louder and heavier than what I prefer/usually listen to but not bad by any means
This one is an incredible pop-punk album that takes me back to high school
I just have no interest in this band unfortunately
Solid pop-punk album, has some generational bangers and great hidden gems, I was actually surprised I liked this album more than I was originally expecting to.
Fun album but i never really liked the offspring
Enérgicos y un par de temazos, pero lo recordaba más memorable en conjunto y no me lo ha parecido tanto. 3/5.
4.0
Only gets a second star because there are like one or two ok songs on this but this is like buttrock for middle schoolers lol
This might be an unfair rating. Music being a kind of "photograph" of life reminds us of times and places when we "first heard it" or the like. This is no nastalgia per se. It is actually a sort of fact of the human brain. So it is not a "wish to return" or a desire for today to be "like then" (although looking at today's world...) Anyhow, it is more like a feeling like "The Offsping were always cool, always there to kick in the adrenalin, when times turned towards the fun... and for that I throw out any "hard scientific objective" critiicism and just go with my gut.
This music garners the slightest of shrugs from me, but their faithful cover of the Didjits' "Killboy Powerhead" has given the great Midwest rockers an income for life, to which I raise my beret. Otherwise, to my ignorant ears this is all “you like chicken, I like bread, yeah ya-yeah-yeah yeah-yeah yeah”.
I would avoid this kind of thing when it came out, how right I was. Boring, tuneless and juvenile; dreadful from top to bottom. Lowlights are the appaling vocals and the rhythm section - simultaneously amateur and unmusical, whilst timid and tedious. This is punk in the way LOL dolls are Simone de Beauvoir
Быстро! Мощно! Драйвово! Легендарно! Это то, что было есть и будет со мной! Без лишних слов и красивых метафор)) просто идите нахуй ))
Never really got into this band. Too metal for my taste. Too Midwest college frat bitch. I dont like spending time with the people who listen to this.
Listened to the album many times before. Fun to revisit and I my impression is that it's OK. This one didn't stick as a nostalgic fun trip and I rather listen to something else.
Never heard of this band. Their music is okay.
Come out and play is the best song on this album. I really liked this band in high school, but on listening again, the songs are similar across this album. Wouldn't listen to this entire album again.
It’s like eating Lucky Charms. You know it’s terrible, but it’s so good and you just can’t stop. Their addictive riffs are like those crappy dehydrated marshmallows that get stuck in your teeth and linger, reminding you all day that you should do better things for yourself.
Le premier album d'Offspring que j'ai écouté quasiment à sa sortie, je devais être au lycée.
Fun, amazing memories brought back.
Good entry level punk rock.
Not for me.
This was, by far, the most nostalgic album recommended by the 1001 app so far. I loved "Smash" when I was a kid. I was hooked on it. I listened to this CD from start to finish as much as any record I've ever owned. It never got old. Listening to it today, it hits just the same. This album is awesome. Every song rocks - the guitars sound great, the drumming is memorable, and the vocals are easy to sing along with, due to Dexter Holland's catchy lyrics & limited singing range. It's a legendary album that ranks amongst the best of the 90s. It's a shame that The Offspring followed this triumph by releasing some of the lamest pop punk bollocks ever written. The unquestionable brilliance of "Smash" was quickly overshadowed by the embarrassment of "Pretty Fly for a White Guy" and that "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" ripoff. They became a parody of a punk band and faded away. Rightfully so. But who cares? The Offspring gave us "Smash". It's a classic. And I fucking love them for it. 👍👍
А ранние оффспринги были пожестче, поприкольнее, чем поздние! Это забавно. Ну местами драйвово, come out and play я слышал. Местами ну.. ну просто мусорный звук. Мне хочется им за смелость влепить четыре, но это не четыре. Это три, даже с хитярой на пластинке )
“Doing” an ollie in front of the garage on the skateboard you got for your 11th birthday original soundtrack. It’s more or less like including Baby Shark on the list, as this is not for adults.
Awful racket.
I've been listening to The Offspring for like two decades, but this is the first time I've actually listened to a full album from beginning to end. I liked it well enough, even though it's not my favorite sound from them.
I'm biased, because I love it since my teenage years. Straight road for The Offspring from here to the mainstream success with Americana couple of years later.
I don't really think this is punk? It's more like Metallica lite. A few vague, empty lyrics about some kind of amorphous entity that pulls the strings, some vague anger about that. The assumption I'm listening on a CD is hilarious. But strangely it's not bad.
Great way to start. Offspring were always intelligent Pop Punk. It can sometimes sound like the same song but love that energy. The song "Smash" is an absolute banger to finish up the album! 3.5/5
Punk is punk. It's fine.
Entire album is a good listen, but I'm still torn between 3 and 4 stars. Have to go with 4 because I'd keep this album in my physical library.
Awesome!
They’re like a knockoff nirvana but they don’t sound exactly like a knockoff singer doesn’t sound that bad and the rest of the instruments work well with eachother Favorite: self esteem Least favorite: kill boy power head 4/5
Functional pop-punk. Lived up to the billing of its title.
Great album, remember from back then.
Grande
This style isn't to my tastes, but objectively it is a fun and original album of decent quality
I never kept up with the Offspring after this album, but this one I listened to all of the time at home and at one of my first jobs. I haven't listened to this since much, or maybe even at all, since then and I forgot just how fun it is!
Funny that this is the best-selling indie release of all time when it sounds super commercial. Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t imagine a time when this wouldn’t be successful… the past 15 years notwithstanding. The Offspring are pretty mainstreamy, which is a turn-off in my rock music, but I can’t deny that this has some bangers and its place in the canon. Thumbs up from me. C+
It was alright. Probably won't come back to it.
Not their epic, though most think this one exactly is, still got too many bangers to count a star off
Hard to separate from middle school nostalgia. These guys take a lot of shit, and rightly so. The social commentary and mental health introspection are on the nose and cheesy. However. Very catchy vocal and instrumental hooks, and a lot of energy. Dexter's voice is right, and the oohs and Oh's and ohwaye-o-os are pretty fucking cool. And really to compare to a 90s album that I would have thought deeper at the time - "I'm not a trendy asshole" is essentially same lyric as "fret for your lattes," "wearing vans 501s" from Tools Aenima, and equally catchy. Though granted much simpler and 4/4er. The closest thing to a novelty song, Bad Habit (I would guess everyone in my middle school could still belt out the breakdown from memory) in looking at LA driving culture presaged our current driving state of the union: Assume you are sharing the road with a bunch of fats who are packing heat, and are paranoid, angry, and eager to shoot.
Just kinda boring
high energy, fun, reminds me of high school. A great blend of that post punk ska-esq without the horns upbeat feeling.
Time to Relax (Intro) N/A Nitro (Youth Energy) 3 Bad Habbit 2.8 Gotta Get Away 3.4 Genocide 3 Something to Believe In 2.7 Come Out and Play 3.3 Self Esteem 3.5 It'll Be a Long Time 3.1 Killboy Powerhead 3 What Happened to You? 3 So Alone 2.7 Not the One 2.5 Smash 2 Score: 2.923076923
Beyond the two popular songs which had a different sound and feel to them, the rest of the album was meh.
The Offspring excels at this energetic sound that really shines through on this album. I think they'd go on to make better ones, but this one has a lot of charm, and I always do love a good hidden track. Favorites were Gotta Get Away, Come Out and Play, and Self Esteem
This album is just plain fun. Great energy. Favorite songs are Bad Habit, Come Out and Play, Self Esteem, and What Happened To You?
A fun and iconic pop punk record that’s actually not quite as strong overall as I remembered, other than that delightful double whammy of ‘Come out and Play’ and ‘Self Esteem’ right in the middle
Solidly The Offspring. Would give 5 stars, but want to leave room
Good-enough punk fare. The lead singer is only really convincing to me when he portrays himself as a loser.
I hated Come Out and Play when it came out and hate it just as much today. Could it be the dude's annoying voice or that is was way overplayed when it came out? Probably a combination of both with an emphasis on the voice. Self Esteem is OK tune, but it's just difficult for me to get over that voice. Especially for an entire album. After Self Esteem, my favorite part was that 5 minute silence at the end. Too much repetitive sound and a voice only a mother could love = 2 for me. 2
Okay so confession time. I've never listened to The Offspring outside of the monster hits. I've always meant to but Dexter's voice reminds me too much of Weird Al, so every time I tried I couldn't shake it and quit. Naturally of course I love Self-Esteem. It's an important part of who I am and is basically a core part of my DNA. So I tried to channel that when listening to this. As I worked my way through it I realized that I just didn't care for it. Everything was there. All of the pieces just how I like them. On paper I should love this but I just didn't. Every song was too similar I can't stand Dexter's voice Weird Al or no. Sucks because I want to like this fucking band. 2.
4.5 Oh boy, what an album that takes me back to high school (despite its 30th anniversary coming up in just a week). I think The Offspring have fallen out of favor within the music community a bit in recent years, and given some of their more recent releases, I can see why, but it’s kind of a shame people don’t look back on their early work quite as fondly as they do many other 90s acts. A part of that may be the role this album had in the creation of pop punk, a genre many would point to as a corny, immature offshoot of a superior genre, and to that I say - come on, haven’t you ever had fun in your life? And this is a fun album. It’s no Green Day or blink-182 (at least for me), but there’s certainly no shortage of bangers to be found - it’s just one explosive blast of catchy punk leading into the next. Nitro (Youth Energy) is an amazing introduction to the album (not counting Time to Relax), with Bad Habit, Gotta Get Away, and It’ll Be a Long Time all being personal favorites from there. However, this particular listening reminded me of just how great even the stuff inbetween I had forgotten about is, like Genocide, Something to Believe In, Not the One, and the closing track Smash (though I had to Google the lyrics to that last one to confirm he wasn’t saying what I initially thought he was saying in the chorus). Of course, there are the two mega-hits here as well, tracks I’ve grown to listen to less frequently as I’ve gotten older, but whenever I do decide to, I still find a certain charm to them. I’ll always dig the Middle Eastern-esque guitar hook that drives Come Out and Play, and Self Esteem will always remind me of my high school friends, not only because we all loved the song, but also because we tried to cover it as a band a handful of times. While I don’t think we ever successfully got through a full playthrough, it’ll alway hold a special place in my heart because of it. Anyway, I really enjoyed my return to this album with this list. While I don’t think it’ll ever hold quite the same charm again it did when I was a teenager, I still had a really fun time with it and was even able to find some new things to appreciate - a handful of songs that weren’t already in my Spotify playlists were quickly added to. Apparently the band is doing a 30th anniversary performance of the album in Anaheim in June, so all I can say is, after this, my interest is piqued.
Thought I rated this but apparently I didn't. Anyway, it was a good album. Enjoyable. I was actually thinking 4 but might actually drop it down to a 3. I honestly don't know, so I will give it a 3.5 in spirit. 7.5/10.
Solid
Finally, another artist I've heard of before. Although, that isn't much to say since the only thing I can think of when The Offspring comes to mind is that one Sam O'Nella clip. Anyways, this album isn't bad. It's a decent punk rock album. Throughout this journey, I have noticed some things that are common-place for certain genres. In particular, I have noticed some tropes of punk-rock. Tropes that are in here. Most of the songs on this album are quite short and pretty similar to each other. There's some light political commentary, but also some songs that are just there because why not. The sound on this album is good. The singing reminds me of Crazy Taxi, which makes sense given that The Offspring's music was in Crazy Taxi. I've never played Crazy Taxi. This review might make it seem like I dislike the album, but that isn't true. It is a perfectly fine album. 3/5.
Punk-pop excellence, loaded with buzzsaw guitars, a propulsive rhythm section, some ridiculously catchy hooks, and an engaging frontman in Dexter Holland. I haven't thought about Offspring in years, so this was great to hear again. They were a great band back in the day, with an infectious energy and playfulness that stood out from much of the sludginess you heard in music in at the time. This still rocks 30 years later and hasn't really aged a day. Fave Songs: Come Out and Play, Self Esteem, Gotta Get Away, Not the One, So Alone, It'll Be a Long Time, Smash
The extreme urge to start moshing
Yedsh
Not in my personal 1,001. Jay walked in the door as I was cranking this last night and as our resident historian told me that Offspring was the first "incelcore" band. 🤣🤣🤣 Didn't know that genre existed but I believe him!
I suppose it was inevitable that one of these selections might be something like Offspring, so I have to acknowledge that they could have chosen far worse examples. I guess this was Offspring's equivalent to Nirvana's "Nevermind", although I really don't understand how this could be labeled punk rock in any way ("pop punk rock" seems so lame and offensive to both pop *and* punk rock). That said, I definitely enjoyed hearing "Come Out and Play" on the radio, and maybe somewhat the same for "Self Esteem" (despite its super-derivative-Nirvana sound), and it definitely struck me that these songs seemed fairly edgy for radio rock (but again, I would have laughed if someone had told me that this was some form of punk rock). I also like it that it was produced on an independent label, and did so well commercially. I didn't really enjoy most of the other songs on the album, even as background music, and the super-annoying voiceover/narrator occasionally interjecting almost makes me want to rank this a 2-star album. But that's not fair to the few genuine hits on the album.
One of reasons I'm enjoying this project is to learn, finally, who sang that song I hated. Also, now I realize the source of that male lead singer sound I associate with the 90s--this dude. Along with the singer in Weezer. They should be put in an arena and whine to the death. I am grateful that the lyrics to "Smash" did not include the line I heard as "I'm not a tranny asshole, I don't give a fuck." And I did actually enjoy the song "Gotta Get Away," and hearing the other songs I recognized was sort of fun.
Just super
TIL that this is the best-selling album off of an indie label EVER. Impressive. These guys are the kings of Shout-Rock in the same way that the Beastie Boys are the kings of Shout-Rap. Not a surprise that I am inclined to them both. It’s interesting that they are labelled pop-punk and - in listening to the rest of this album and not just the songs plastered all over the radio in the 90s - I would have to agree. The more you know…
great pop-punk album
I thought that I had never heard a song by The Offspring. I had consciously tried never to, because I was under the impression that they were the bastard sons of Slipknot. Given the choice, I choose for my ears to NOT bleed. In Venn diagrams of music, fans, slipknot, and the offspring seemed to cross each other’s circles. It turns out, however, that I had heard a couple of these songs before, but had not been aware of it. They are more like distant cousins of Green Day or blink-182. They’re fine and maybe even slightly fun, but I’m not going to seek them out any time soon.