Metal Reviews

After making a surprise music purchase on Amazon.com today (Ixnay On The Hombre), I decided to poll you guys on this seminal pop-punk band.

I vote "Hit." Even though they never quite managed to reach Green Day's popularity, I think they're easily the better band. Their lyrics are more intelligent and mature (though no less humorous), their music is heavier, and their musicianship is more sophisticated.

Smash is IMO an awesome album. Probably my favorite punk album next to Stranger Than Fiction (by Bad Religion). Unfortunately, I haven't heard much of their other stuff, save for a few songs here or there. But what I've heard (All I Want, Why Don't You Get A Job, etc.) I like.

I like The Offspring, Ignition, Smash, Ixnay and about half of Americana a lot. After that it gets pretty bad.

Smash is decent and after that it gets fucking atrocious. Still haven't heard the s/t.

I remember listening to the rockline episode where they debuted the Ixnay album. It was probably the last half-decent thing they did. Smash was okay too, that's all I've heard. For the annoying and totally shitty Americana, they are a complete miss.

I remember a local dejay was asked to play that song that had the same intro as "Rock of ages" so he played the def leppard song and made some comment to the effect "did you really think I was going to play that crap?"

Smash was the first album I ever bought. It's still pretty good. I don't like their later stuff though still I prefer them over Green Day.

"The Kids Aren't Alright" is pretty sweet...

Never liked them beyond a song or two.

Hit. The first band I ever became a fan of, oh so many years ago. Still put them on occasionally, for the nostalgia and the pure fun of it. Ixnay or Ignition would be my favorites. Obviously their first four record are their best, but I actually think all of their records have at least a couple of cool tunes.
Usually their singles sucks though..

miss.

Even though Ixnay came in the mail on Friday, I listened to it just this morning.

Overall, very good! The band's bigger budget definitely shows, as the production is much better than on Smash. The songs, however, are also decidedly more mainstream-friendly. Dexter Holland, for example, experiments with melodic singing on songs like Gone Away and Amazed (both of which were, not surprisingly, alternative rock hits during the late-90's). While Don't Pick It Up sounds almost like a Suicide Machines song. Also, it's kind of funny to read the lyrics for songs like Cool To Hate and then remember that the guy singing them was his high school's Valedictorian and has a Master's Degree in Molecular Biology from USC (no joke!).

Favorite song on the album? Me And My Old Lady.

I really fucking hate these guys. I was annoyed by them all throughout growing up because everyone else thought they were good.

Earlier stuff definite hit... I loved all that when I was younger and still put it on and enjoy it now. After Americana they started to get way too poppy for me though. The debut I still think is a really brilliant punk album, and Ixnay (more so than Smash IMO) is a fantastic piece of poppy hard rock.

Fun for crooning along with on any pub crawl. A hit, if only for the vocalist having an industrial engineer's degree and still making this kind of music for the love of it.

I liked the hits off Smash when they came out - "Come Out and Play (Keep 'Em Separated)" and "Self Esteem" but just never bothered to listen seriously as they just seemed too goofy and gimmicky to warrant a CD purchase. Green Day I still listen to on occasion as they are certainly better songwriters, and their singer doesn't annoy me.

brain stew/jaded is a great song. I can relate to it. lol.

Seems to me most people probably know them only by their singles, and I'd be the first to admit that Pretty Fly and the like are pretty horrid.

Songs like Demons, The Meaning Of Life, Nothing From Something, Smash however.. those are some pretty kick-ass songs for being punk-rock..

So YOU'RE that guy that keeps playing this crap when I go drinking.

I listened to Americana yesterday. I swear, The Offspring's history seems to almost read like the history of the Batman movies (before Batman Begins).

After releasing a couple independent records, the band released Smash, which was basically their version of the original Batman - It was excellently crafted, smartly written, and a huge success. Resulting in a huge world tour and eventual major label support from Columbia Records.

And so, in 1997, the band released their first Columbia album Ixnay On The Hombre, which was basically their Batman Returns. Aside from the vastly improved production and a couple experimental moments here or there, it was mostly more of the same pop-punk goodness that was on Smash. While still a big hit, Ixnay wasn't the (pun not intended) smashing success Columbia was probably hoping for.

So, in 1998, the band quickly recorded and produced their second Columbia album, Americana. Which was their Batman Forever in that it was definitely more poppy/radio-friendly than prior Offspring albums. Speed and attitude were set aside in favor of catchiness, the lyrics were more personal, and there was even a techno/dance influence in places. Critical reception was mixed, but one thing that can't be denied is that it was basically the Offspring album Columbia and MTV wanted. It was an enormous success (possibly even more so than Smash) and spawned several MTV/radio staples.

lol nerd