This is the Offspring's pinnacle of greatness, even more, for pop-punk in general. Its simple formula of power chords and plenty of "heys and ohs" proves it to be an extremely addicting and fun listen. You will be singing along and chanting "hey and ho"and in no time it'll be over and you will crave for more. This is one of the best if not "the best" pop-punk album of 90s. It bombs Greenday out of the water and puts Blink-182 to shame. This is a truly great album.
Track By Track
The album begins with
Time To Relax, an ironic intro to quite a lively album.
Nitro (Youth Energy) is next up and enters with a drum roll and BAM! it explodes with the guitar and so it begins. The uber catchy verses and an awesome bridge foretells of what is to come.
Bad Habit is next up. Its begins with a simple bass line and when the lyrics start you can tell this is darker than your average pop-punk song.
Quote:
Well they say the road is a dangerous place
If you flip me off I'll get in your face
If you drive on my ass
Your foot's on the gas
And your next breath is your last
[Chorus]
Drivers are rude
Such attitudes
But when I show my peace
Complaints cease
Something's odd
I feel like I'm god
You stupid dumb*** goddam mother***er!
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Gotta Get Away is one of my favorites. It begins with a great drum rhythm and one awesome chord progression. The lyrics are about insanity and paranoia instead of the common masturbation and getting drunk.
Quote:
I'm getting edgy all the time
There's someone around me just a step behind
It's kinda scary the , the shape I'm in
The walls are shakin'and they' re closing in
Too fast or a bit too slow
I'm paranoid of people and it's starting to show
There' s one guy that I can't shake
Over my shoulder is a big mistake
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Of course their not the best I've heard but it’s good to hear some different lyrical themes. It ends with the traditional Wahoo’s and leads into
Genocide. It begins with a fast chord progression and some catchy lead work. The drums are excellent and the chorus is infectiously good. The bridge has some great palm muting (reminds me of Tool) and the song ends with the count of 1 2 3 4.
Something To Believe In is next and begins with a pick scrape and the power chords come in. The chorus has the "hey and Ho's" and then the song breaks into a bass line only bridge which sounds great.
Come Out And Play is one of the better songs on the album. It begins with some percussion and Dexter saying "you gotta keep them separated' then the power chords come in. A little bit further into the song a lead line comes in that sounds very Indian like (think India). Not a ton of variation in this one.
Self-Esteem is the best song on the album. It begins with the band singing "la la lalala la la lalala" and then a catchy chord progression comes in. The verses are only bass only and the guitar occasionally comes in adding a great effect. The "wayoo's and ya's are used quite often and they sound great. And the lyrics are really fun to listen to.
Quote:
I wrote her off for the tenth time today
And practiced all the things I would say
But she came over I lost my nerve
I took her back and made her dessert
Oh I know I'm being used
That's okay man cause I like the abuse
Oh I know she's playing with me
That's okay cause I've got no self esteem
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An excellent song.
It'll Be A Long Time is one of the weaker songs, but nonetheless enjoyable. Not much different than the other songs but it does have a great bridge.
Killboy Powerhead is one awesome song. The power chords are a little different than the other songs and the chorus is insanely catchy and fun. It’s a great short listen.
So Alone is the shortest song on the album clocking in at 1:17. It’s got great some great shouts and "ya's" and is over before you know it.
What Happened To You sounds alot like ska and has some great Heys. It’s extremely catchy and actually has a SOLO. Yep that’s right a solo. It might not be that fast or technical but it fits the music nicely and it’s good to hear one over of 11 tracks of none. A standout track on the album.
Not The One begins with a guitar with delay. Sounds similar to rockabilly. It’s not very different than most of the songs, though you’re able to listen to the whole thing and not get bored cause its only 2:54.
Smash is the last track and the longest. Its 10 minutes long though a good majority of it is silence. It’s a great song and has an awesome guitar line during the chorus. During the first part of the song it has an exceptional bridge and then it ends with the same guy in the beginning who is talking. Then it goes to a short instrumental Genocide and then fades into silence at 4:00. The silence goes on for a looooonnggg time, around five minutes. Then an instrumental come out and play starts though it’s only the Indian guitar line and it’s so hypnotizing to listen to. Great way to end the album.
One thing about smash that brings it down is the receptiveness. It’s a lot of the same chord progressions and the frequent (though always enjoyable) shouts. Though there is still not one bad track. Each one is enjoyable. From the ska flavored
What Happened To You? to the Indian inspired
Come Out And Play there is some original and great pop-punk. The lyrics touch more mature themes, but they still keep their sense of humor on tracks like
Self-Esteem and
Come Out And Play. This album is not only for fans of pop-punk but for anyone who wants to have a good time. The musicianship isn’t as good as The Clash or The Minutemen, the vocals aren’t the best I’ve ever heard, and the lyrics aren’t the most inspired, but they still do a helluva job. This is a must own for everyone’s CD collection.
