Customer Ratings & Reviews

At this point Offspring has been around for over 25 years and at the point this album came out it was hard to expect too much new musically from the bad. Luckily, they surprised and surpassed expectations with this release. Keeping their punk rock roots and creating longer more complex songs to feeling fresh hooks and melodies. This is The Offspring at their best.

I think this is one of the best album that they have released

Amazing album... Love every track on it and have listened to the CD over and over again!

I am (at best) a casual Offspring fan, so I can’t really comment on whether or not I think this is good in comparison with their first few albums. The only one I have is Americana, which was allegedly a sellout, even though it is an album I enjoy a lot. In comparison to Americana, this record is pretty good. Granted, it doesn’t have super fast and catchy songs, like No Brakes, but it also doesn’t have the horrible must skip ones like Pretty Fly for a White Guy. The worst song on the album for me is track one, and it really isn’t that bad. My main issue is that it has an overly dramatic chorus as if it was an attempt to cash in on sounding emo. The rest of the CD does not have that problem and the songs improve track by track. I’ve read complaints in some reviews about the production because it was produced by Bob Rock, who also produced a horrible Metallica album. I really liked the production job Rock did here. It still sounds exactly like The Offspring, but there are subtle effects like echoing vocals, synths, and keyboards to give it some variety. There are also some corny ballads on here that are so formulaic that they don’t sounds like something an aging rock band would write, but rather songs a teenager would sing at a talent show. That’s what I like about it. There’s something about the way they sing “I wish I could fix you” that breaks down my critical defenses and makes me feel like I’m fifteen again. The obvious single for the record would probably be “You’re Gonna Go Far,” which is filled with the great hooks this band is known for (but it does have the f-word, so it probably won’t get radio play). I also really liked “Stuff is Messed Up.” It’s a hilarious parody of socially conscious rock songs of today with an unabashed shallowness to it that makes me laugh out loud every time I hear it. As I said, the songs generally improve as you go, and the last two tracks are probably my favorite. The black and red cover suggests that they are kinda copying Green Day a little, and they are. But, Green Day was never that original a band, and a pop hook is a pop hook, no matter where it comes from. This isn’t an instantly memorable disc that you’ll hum all day, but it is a good one that you’ll enjoy while you’re listening to it.

The Offspring have created their most complete album ever. While there may not be a super catchy single such as "Come Out and Play, Gone Away or Pretty Fly", it is loaded with great songs from start to finish. All of the things that make The Offspring enjoyable are here - Punk/metal/ska riffs with their brand of socially comentary, along with some slower song mixed in to give this album a nice mix - all the while never losing their sense of humor! The best song on the album is the crushing "Hammerhead", but the other rockers are nearly just as good "Half-Truism, Trust in You, Rise and Fall', while the catchy "You're Gonna Go Far Kid" could be a single. Their views on today's world are present on songs "Takes Me Nowhere, Stuff is Messed Up & Nothingtown, which have some pretty humorous overtones to them. They get (as serious as they can) on the ballads "Kristy, Are You Doing Okay? & Fix You", which take on abuse & depression, but both songs provide a nice diversion from the rest of the album. Whether it was the production of Bob Rock, or The Offspring simply getting better with age, they produced their most enjoyable piece of work yet. Once you listen to it you will want to hear it again and again!

Half-Truism: A very good way to start out the CD. Gives you a little of everything. 9/10 Trust in You: Possibly the best song on the CD. Reminds me a lot of songs from Smash. 10/10 You're Gonna Go Far, Kid: A good song that may be the next radio song. Reminds me of Ixnay on the Hombre. 8/10 Hammerhead: Best first single off a CD since Ixnay on the Hombre. This song portrays the rest of the CD better than the previous couple of CD's. If you like this song you will like the rest of the CD. 10/10 A Lot Like Me: This is the first "Ballad" type song on the CD. 7/10 Takes Me Nowhere: This song is more upbeat, kind of has an Americana feel to it. 9/10 Kristy, Are You Doing Okay?: The most meaningful lyrics on the CD. Last time I remember a song like this by Offspring is Gone Away. 8/10 Nothingtown: I would count this just as an average song by Offspring. 7/10 Stuff Is Messed Up: If you have ever sat back and thought "I hate where the world is going". Then this could be your anthem. 9/10 Fix You: I like a ballad here and there, but for some reason I can't get into this song. 4/10 Let's Hear It For Rock Bottom: A good upbeat song after a slow one. 7/10 Rise and Fall: I like how they ended the CD with this song. Has a Conspiracy of One feel. 8/10 The first half of the CD is excellent. The second half is good, would be great if not for Fix You.

I'm not one who would normally consider myself an Offspring fan, though I have enjoyed their catchy singles over the years. That being said, true Offspring fans may not enjoy this album as it has veered away from their often silly and more lighthearted nature into what I see as a mature effort in writing music on subject that are important to them. This album is in the same vein as 'American Idiot' and 'Minutes to Midnight,' where each band did something different from their normal style, and each was politically charged. I consider each of those great albums, and if you agree, you may just want to get this Offspring CD. I wasn't disappointed, and if you're concerned with the track the country is currently on, you likely won't be either. Enjoy!

I have been an Offspring since before they became really big and I must say that I have been a little disappointed. The Offspring have gone from punk (early Offspring) and had risen to mainstream (Smash to Splinter) and are now seem to be on a fall. There was just something missing from this album that used to be there. The new album sounds like a mixture of underground Green Day and Snow Patrol gone emo. With that said... I will give some praise to the lyrics which are meaningful (Stuff Is Messed Up; Kristy, Are You Doing Okay?). My recommendation for this album is to only buy it if you really enjoy The Offspring, but I would recommend that you buy the reissue of their earlier albums that were also released today (Ignition and Smash). I really hope The Offspring decide to take a page out of their own book and consider sticking to punk/rock, instead of going down the path they are headed towards becoming an emo band.

A good CD you can have fun listening to. I would say if you are still an offspring fan like me (anybody?) then you should buy this CD, it isn't the best, but I liked listening to it. Half-Turism and You're Gonna Go Far are my favorite on here, the rest are good, and a few songs are slower than I like but that is just me.

its great to hear offspring back in action and best buy supports their new album. i just wanted to say both offspring and best buy kicks!