Customer Reviews

Greatest Hits

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2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This disc works as a definitive Offspring sampler. You get the majority of this band's career highlights on one remastered disc, and if you like what you see here, you will undoubtedly seek out the remainder of their catalog.

The Offspring are punks in the way Def Leppard are rockers. They're a bit glossier, a bit poppier, a bit more intelligent, and do not take themselves too seriously.

Diehard punk enthusiasts may bemoan their crossover appeal, but by injecting a healthy dose of pop melody into some primal punk beats and chords, they've simply made themselves easy to like.

Offspring songs fall into two categories: those whose tempos are of such a speed that you make yourself dizzy bopping your head along to the tune ("Gone Away", "Self Esteem") and those where you cause an intracranial hemorrhage doing so ("All I Want", "Want You Bad").

Lyrically, there's not a lot of variation here...but there really isn't any need to, if you know what I mean. Why does great punk/pop have to be deep? Instead of insight, you'll get plain-spoken but often humorous or witty lines that'll have you singing along in no time.

"Why Don't You Get A Job?" is a blatant swipe of "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", with the megaphoned-in back-up vocals from "Yellow Submarine" added for good measure. (If you sing the end of "Submarine" to yourself, you'll remember the guy in the background singing..."sky of blue...sea of green" etc. THAT'S what I'm talking about...)
It's so blatant, it's a gas.

I love their slightly-Middle Eastern, serpentine guitar licks, like those found in their first big hit, "Come Out and Play", as well as "Original Prankster" and others.

The drummer sounds like he's having the time of his life on each and every track. It's like somebody gave the guy this big drum kit, two sticks, and said, "OK...go. Fast."

The new song, "Can't Repeat" is actually one of the weaker tunes on the disc. And as other reviewers have pointed out, there are at least a half-dozen other songs off their albums that could have made this record...

...which if you don't already have, listening to this will make you seriously consider expanding the "Offspring" section in your library.

As for the Dualdisc portion, the casual interview with Dexter and Noodles is a sweet addition, and well worth your attention. However, the disc's DVD side still does not play in my Acura TL DVD Audio system.

The temptation to title this review "Come out and play, the Offspring still do" was tempting if a bit obvious. For a pop-punk quartet that hails from the late 80's and found fame in the mid 90's, this band has done quite well for themselves. Most of their brethren have quit, died, or jumped ship to new bands. The Offspring however, remain largely intact (their founding drummer left prior to "Splinter"). Several acclaimed independent records including the dark and wily "Ignition" and the propulsive "Smash" which broke every independent album sales record known, are considerable achievements. The fact that the band managed to hit pop-pay dirt with "Americana" should come as no surprise, "Pretty Fly" was blasting out of every stereo in every car for monthes.

So at this juncture the band (or record label) has seen fit to release a hits package. Though most Offspring fans will tell you their hits pale to their darker, faster, and just as catchy non-radio tracks, this is the album to buy if you are new to the Offspring.

While the buyer misses out on their clever, high-speed and dare I say thought provoking songs from their self title debut and
"Ignition" they do get nearly every radio hit to date. The striking but off kilter hit "I Choose" is strangely absent as well as the turbo charged "The Meaning of Life" both from "Ixnay on the Hombre", their most diverse and compelling album to date. Also missing is the AFI cover of "Total Immortal" which was a short term radio mini-hit.

But nearly all the songs that made a splash on Mtv and rock radio are bundled here for the casual fan. The brooding and hook filled "The Kids Aren't Alright" and "Come Out and Play". The slow paced pop sing alongs "Hit That" and "Why Don't You Get a Job" and the giddy high-velocity "All I Want".

The Offspring are most represented by their medium paced straightforward rock songs on this collection. "Gone Away", "Can't Repeat" "Defy You" and "Gotta Get Away" is the aspect of the Offspring many radio-listeners are most familiar with. This album is the sure way to go if you like even one Offspring song. If you find you like this entire hits collection I would strongly suggest picking up "Americana", "Smash" and then "Ixnay on the Hombre". If those prove worthy get them all, The Offspring have yet to let me down.

I bought this CD for my 14 year old son, but I'm enjoying it as much as he is. He has been listening to it non-stop. It's nice, upbeat, but still kinda cool, songs that teens can play without annoying the parents.

Offspring have long been supportive of their fans, always giving back to them and providing extra features on their albums. You will not be disappointed getting the DualDisc version of their Greatest Hits album instead of the slightly cheaper version.

The bonus features can be accessed by putting the disc in a computer or DVD player. There, you'll find an awesome interview of sorts with Dexter Holland (lead singer, rhythm guitarist) and Noodles (lead guitarist) in an intimate setting, jamming on accoustic guitars and telling the stories behind some of their most popular songs. Watching Dexter and Noodles hang out, telling jokes, and just acting like themselves is great. They are really nice, down-to-earth guys, and some of the stories they relate are hilarious. Don't miss the silly revelations of how Dexter came up with the popular song phrases "Keep 'Em Separated" and "Uno Dos Tres Quatro Cinco Cinco Seis".

Best of all, the interviews end with a live accoustic version of "Dirty Magic," one of Offspring's best older songs, originally from their album Ignition.

As for the compilation of music on the CD itself, it is great. The new song "Can't Repeat" is a welcome addition to Offspring's repertoire. And it's wonderful to have "Defy You" on the collection, since it was previously only available on the Orange County movie soundtrack.

I have all of The Offspring's albums. You may wonder why bother getting the Greatest Hits collection if you have all the albums already. Well, besides the extra features on the DualDisc, and the wonderful additions of "Can't Repeat" and "Defy You," it has been a wonderful experience to rediscover The Offspring by listening to their songs out of order. It is great to hear newer hits like "Can't Get My Head Around You" on the same disc as older faves like "Gone Away". If you're a fan of The Offspring, you won't be displeased.

This is an okay best of album if you just want a sample of the band. So many good songs did not make it on this. I would have rather seen a double album of songs, rather than a second disc full of videos. Or have the second side full of rarities such as Defy You which was only available on the Orange County soundtrack. The new track Can't repeat is ok, but nothing special. It would be a decent middle song in any of their last few albums. Hopefully Offspring will put out a more definative collection out for someone who wants a true Offspring music collection.

I don't have this cd yet but pretty much everybody has heard these songs.
I can't believe it the offspring have been together for more than 20 years and they are still going with this cd. This is a dual disc cd so on the other side it includes bonus material with an acoustic version of the song Dirty Magic and a talk with Noodles and Dexter about the history of the band. I think it is great that they released this cd as long as they are not done with making stuff cause that would be a real shame.
If anyone hasn't hear the offspring or has heard just a few songs this would be a great cd for you.
All of the songs on this cd are great though i wished that they put some of the Ignition stuff on it cause its great too.

This CD is not exactly a perfect comiplation, but it does come close. It does have all that hits that really matter except for Smash It Up (from the Batman Forever soundtrack) and Totalimmortal (from the Me, Myself & Irene soundtrack). I feel the edited radio versions of Why Don't You Get A Job and Original Prankster would have made much better additions to this collection than the uncensored album versions. You will hear a hidden bonus track after (Can't Get My)Head Aorund You. It's a great track. Why wasn't this track included as a second new track; that's what I want to know.

Flaws aside, this really is a great CD. You have all the hits on one CD. Any CD with Self Esteem is a great CD!

Hi.

I buy this item from Italy, the cost of the CD's in Europe is high in comparison with the price of the Usa. But i buy it non for the price, is because i'm a fanatic. I already have all offsrping CD's but this compilation is a good beginning for start to listen the offspring. Olso i recomend the DVD of the great hits, with live performances.

Not that you would care about a negative review in the first place, because I suspect that most of the songs you HAVE released from the abovementioned albums were simply commercial moneymakers, and never had the true Offspring sound. Gotta pay the bills, I understand. Unless I've completely missed the mark and "Hit That" is the culmination of over 20 years of work. God, I hope not.

Anyway, I own every Offspring album. I love every album (mostly). There are tracks that radio listeners have never heard, and never will, because they are Offspring signature brand of punk, which is unique and completely hard-driving and awesome. No one else sounds like them, and no one else rocks in the same way.

However, several of these songs are radio candy. The stuff most of us Offspring fans never liked the first go 'round. These are the tracks that get released? These are the "hits"? I'm sorry, but if this compilation doesn't include "No Brakes", "Gone Away", "Genocide", "Dirty Magic", or heck, even "Race Against Myself" (the best track on Splinter), I can't support it, its not "Offspring". Nevermind, I don't apologize, if the band wants to keep their true awesomeness a secret, than who am I to argue. I'll just hunker-down with "Ixnay on the Hombre" and smile to myself as the rest of the world listens to "Pretty Fly For a White Guy" :-)

i dont care what others say, a greatest hits cd is the way to go; u can almost not go wrong with it. the offspring brings back my high school years.