A Brief History Of..........THE OFFSPRING (Offspring in general)

Member Name: rob_writer

Product:	Offspring in general
Date:	10/12/00 (98 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Rocking tracks

Disadvantages: Some of its too poppy

The Offspring have been around for 11 years now, they released their first album simply titled 'The Offspring'. This was followed by 'Ingnition', then 'Smash', 'Ixnay on the Hombre', 'Americana' and last but not least their latest smash, 'Conspiracy of One'.

I never used the Offspring, OK I'd heard 'Pretty Fly For A White Guy' and thought it was OK, but nothing special. Then one day at school my friend who had bought the album found it had fell out in to his bag and been scratched pretty badly, he was obvioulsy annoyed and about to smash it up before I saved it, knowing that the majority of the tracks would still play. Sure enough they did and after a couple of listens I fell in love with it. I promptly returned the CD to my friend and went out and bought their album, Americana. I subsequently back tracked and got all of their back catalogue.

Its hard to describe a word to describe the Offsprings music, rock it is; but not as heavy as the likes of Metallica or Marilyn Manson, the odd tune (ie.'Pretty Fly For A White Guy') could almost get away with being pop, but I suppose you'd have to describe them as a punk rock band. Their music has remained quite similar in style over the last 11 years and 6 albums, but has certainly matured over time. Their original album isn't brilliant, not bad but not great. Their second, 'Ignition' shows signs of greatness, but doesn't quite reach the high standards they set in their future releases.. The first two albums build up very much in to the amazing third album, 'Smash'.

'Smash' is full of great tracks, in my opinion their best album. Not because the tracks are better than the ones on their future albums, but that they are in the true style of the Offspring. Future albums have included a couple of poppy tracks, you know, the ones that make it in to the charts. While this is good for the band, it'
s not the type of music the hardcore fans like. Still, The Offspring aren't alone in doing this, many other bands do. The fact that we hear a couple of singles by a new group, go out and buy the album to find that the only good tracks are the ones released in to the charts is probably due to this, bands have to change their style to have a chart hit, and if you like the Offspring for their hit singles then the albums probably aren't for you.

The next album they released, 'Ixnaay on the Hombre' seems to revert a bit more to the style of the first two. Its certainly good, but just not in my opinion as good as 'Smash'. One of the standout tracks however, 'The Meaning of Life' really does show the Offspring at their best. Maybe its me, but I still prefer 'Smash', let me know what yout think.

The album that brought the Offspring their fame was undoubtedly 'Americana'. 'Welcome to Americana' greets you when you press play, and all the way through this is one fast upbeat rollercoaster ride. The thing is though there are really two albums in one here, one that appeals to the hardcore fans who skip over the poppy tracks, and the other to the poppy fans who skip the hardcore tracks. I'm not arrogant enough to judge either group, but whether this is a good or bad thing I don't know. The fact that this album brought the band such success must indicate the strategy worked, but despite a few satndout tracks this album doesn't get played as much by me as their others. On the one hand you have the poppy (and extremely annoying??) 'Pretty Fly for a White Guy', and on the other the likes of 'Americana' which features the same catchy lyrics and guitar riffs that symbolised their previous albums.

'Americana' was released around two years ago, and since then everyone has waited with anticipation for their next offering. This arrived little over a month agao in the form
of 'Conspiracy of One'. I'm glad to say this album delivers in every way, less of the pop of 'Americana' and more of the rock of 'Smash'. What awaits to be seen is how the album fares in comparison with 'Americana'. While the Offspring may have two distinct sets of fans I fear that without either of the present the band would lose some appeal and inevitably popularity. Although the single 'Original Prankster' had chart success I really do fail to see where the next single comes from, the remaining tracks are too rock to do well in the mainstream pop world. I don't mind because as I said I prefer the rock element, but every band needs some chart success to be able to do well.

With their sixth album the Offspring appear to be better than ever, and personally I can't wait for the seventh!!

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