Customer Reviews

The Offspring - Greatest Hits

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Wow, a lot of you are dolts complaining about the same thing. "OMG Therz no songs from Ignition or there self-title!!!"
Here's a few reasons why you should be quiet and stop giving this CD crappy reviews for that reason:

-Here's a novel idea! If you want to listen to songs from there self-titled or Ignition...go listen to their self-titled or Ignition!!!! OBVIOUSLY the Offspring have good material before Smash, everyone knows that. But did they have any "hits" or "singles" before 1994? NO. So quit your belly-aching

-This is a Greatest Hits CD. It is not "The Most Totally Favorite Songs of (insert irate fan here)" CD. Were all these songs singles? Yes. Were they all successful? Yes. Were there any big hits that are not on here? No. I rest my case.

-Some of you aren't even commenting on the songs that are on here, you're just giving it a 2 or 3 because of what's NOT here. Come on, this is not a bad collection at all. And the 2 new songs are sweet. OK, fine, your favorite songs from pre-Smash didn't make it on here, why don't you stop crying about it, realize that it doesn't matter, and actually talk about this CD not S/T or Ignition.

Just wanted to get that out of the way. I myself was disappointed at first with the tracklist, but then I realized that "Gee, most people who will buy this are big fans who have already heard all of the 'Spring's material and know what their favorites are. And they probably own most/all of their CDs too. So why...does...it...mattter?"

And there's added incentive to buy the Greatest Hits anyway. You get 2 new songs, which are both very good in my opinion. And if you opt for the dualdisc, you get a whole lot of goodies. So please stop whining and grow up, OK? There's a reason the tracklist is the way it is, and you can always go lsiten to Ignition or their S/T or go burn your own "Greatest Hits" CD.

This is a good compilation for anyone interested in the Offspring. Lots of great, classic songs, and a couple of swell new tracks as well.

Good stuff.

The Offspring have 7 albums so far, only 5 of which are represented on this collection. The 2 missing ones are "Ignition", and their self-titled effort. I wasn't totally upset with this seeing as how I only own every album from '94 and up to now. What I was disappointed with is that there are several songs from their last 5 albums that they opted not to include. I mean, if you're just a casual Offspring fan and just need 3 or 4 songs you've heard on the radio, then chances are this CD will have it. After all, all the big hits are on here..."Come Out & Play", "Self Esteem", "Gone Away", "Pretty Fly", "Hit That", ect.
But any Offspring fan could tell you that some significant songs are missing here..."I Choose", "The Meaning Of Life", "Shes Got Issues", "Million Miles Away", and most importantly, "Bad Habit". Don't get me wrong, all the songs on this collection are great, but they easily could've put much more on here. I made my OWN Offspring collection and I fit 22 songs on that CD...it included EVERYTHING on this collection and then some. So why did the record company only put 14 tracks on here? Easy, to make it more accessible, and more importantly, you'd have a reason to go back out and buy more Offspring CDs. Again, if you just need a few Offspring hits, then this should do you fine. But if you just can't get enough of this collection, go out and pick up "Smash", "Ixnay On The Hombre", "Americana", "Conspiracy Of One" and "Splinter". Personally, I still love "Smash" the most, as the band was much more rebelious and angry back then.

This is a decent collection of The Offspring's hit songs. Most of the songs are from recent albums. The first two albums are actually completely absent. It also has two rarities, which are supposed to be incentive to buy the album.

The album opens with the new track, Can't Repeat, but it's pretty standard fare for the Offspring, complete with their classic "woah-oh"s. Good, but certainly not one of their best songs.

Next is three tracks from their breakthrough album, Smash. Come Out and Play and Self Esteem are classic Offspring songs, and gotta get away isn't bad either. I would've liked to have seen Bad Habbit and Smash on here, though.

There are two songs from the follow up, Ixnay on the Hombre, which is my favorite Offspring album. All I Want and Gone Away are probably as good as any songs to represent this album, but they could've included more songs. Mota and Amazed would've been wonderful additions.

Next is three songs from their most popular album, Americana. Once again I would've like to see more songs, but I guess that's too much to ask. Represented here are their three biggest hits Pretty Fly, Why Don't You Get a Job, and The Kids Aren't Alright.

Their next album was Conspiracy of One, which is represented by two songs. I didn't like this or the next album as much as previous ones, but it's not well represented. It has Original Prankster and Want You Bad. Original Prankster is great, but I don't like Want You Bad very much at all. Come out Swinging and Million Miles Away would've been welcome additions.

Defy You is from the Orange County Soundtrack, and it was a great idea to include it. It's one of their best songs, and some people may not have it yet.

Their are two songs from their most recent album Splinter. This is my least favorite Offspring album, but they could've put more than two songs on this. The two that are included are Hit That, which is pretty catchy, and (Can't Get My) Head Around You.

The problem with this collection is that there is little incentive for fans with all the albums to buy. Like I said, the new track is nothing to write home about, and I'm guessing most big fans already have Defy You in some form(whether it be single, soundtrack, or in downloaded form). They could've included some more rarities. I also notice that the DVD is sold separately from this, so there is even less of a reason to buy it.

Even if you aren't really into the band, you're still not getting your money's worth. There's a little over 30 minutes left on the disc, they could've put at least a few more songs on this disc. I don't think it really would've hurt albums sales all that much either, becuase The Offspring rarely release a bad song.

This album is the perfect example of what is wrong with "Best of" and "Greatest Hits" collections. They're incomplete and mostly for people who won't buy the albums, but they always have some rare track that isn't available anywhere else. I think the least the record companies could do is release a seperate rarities collection disc for hardcore fans.

If you're a big fan of the Offspring, this is probably skippable. If you're just discovering the band, then this is an O.K. place to start. Either way it could've been better.

ok the songs that they did pick were all very good, but the songs that the didnt pick were good as well. I think they could have fit at least 3 more songs if not 4 but they didnt. this CD flows very nicly (starting with a new song then going oldest to newest) but it skipped 2 CD's and forgot one of my personal favorates, Bad Habit, and she;s got issues. but the songs they did put were very good like Self Esteem, hit that and there new song cant repeat was very good. there is also a hidden song on the last track (14:cant get my head around you) it is also very nice so over all I am going to rate it a 4-star CD because it skipped 2 CD's and they didnt fit alot of songs on it.

I'VE LOVED THE OFFSPRING SINCE DAY ONE AND THE SONGS HERE ARE GREAT. BUT LIKE MOST PEOPLE, IT'S THE SONGS NOT ON HERE THAT ARE MY FAVORITES. I HATE OVERPLAYED SINGLES. ANYWAY, I REALLY HOPE THAT NOW EPITAPH WILL COME OUT WITH A GREATEST HITS OF THE FIRST HALF OF THEIR CAREER. IGNITION, I THOUGHT, WAS THEIR GREATEST RECORD. AND YOU WILL GET MORE GOOD STUFF FROM SMASH. SO GET THIS IF YOUR A NEW COMER, IF YOUR NOT, IGNITION AND IXNAY WILL DO YOU FINE.

Hey kids, if you need to stay awake, don't take speed, just listen to this CD, 'cause it will get you there. Musically, I would call Offspring first cousins to GreenDay and Blink 182. Their rock is simple, hard and tight, with a little Hispanic inflection on some tracks. But I would also say that their songs are more developed than GreenDay's (until "American Idiot", anyway) and harder and louder than Blink 182's. Some of their lyrics are hilarious, especially in "Come Out And Play (Keep 'Em Separated), "Pretty Fly (Give it to me, baby!") and "Why Don't You Get a Job". For a serious tune, "Gone Away" is one of my favorite rock ballads. It is genuinely moving, and it still rocks. Offspring's secret weapon is the lead singer, Dexter Holland. I don't know how he can sing that high and that loud, but his voice is recognizable a mile away. All in all, if you like high-energy rock which is not weighted down with self-importance, you can't go wrong (or to sleep) with this collection.

I never really understood why greatest hits albums only ever include 10, 12, or in this case, 14 songs. Wouldn't you think if a band/label is trying to convince you to purchase tracks that have already been released previously, they'd at least fill it up with as many popular songs as possible?
As you've read in other reviews, this compilation has its ups and downs. First of all, the two songs that I bought this disc for are "Can't Repeat", the single that the Offspring led into this release, and "Defy You", the single that appeared in the movie 'Orange County' (also a song the band promised would be in 'Splinter' but didn't deliver).

This collection is for the very, very basic Offspring. Aside from "Can't Repeat", the single made for this album, the songs are ordered from earliest to most recent, concluding with "(Can't Get My) Head Around You" and the hidden track, "Next To You."
Any way you slice it, though, most of these songs have been mainstays on your local rock radio station for many years, such as "Come Out And Play (Keep 'Em Separated)", "Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)", "Self Esteem" and "The Kids Aren't Alright."

It has numerous holes in which the beginner fan may not realize they're being cheated on. First of all, this compilation only covers five albums. The self-titled release, which has stayed mainly underground, and 'Ignition', which is a strong album and wickedly underrated, have no part in this Greatest Hits. Songs like "Session", "Kick Him When He's Down" and "Dirty Magic" could've been included from the 'Ignition' disc. From 'Smash', despite never being released as a single, the widely popular "Nitro (Youth Energy)" could've been instituted.
Two singles from 'Ixnay on the Hombre' were left off the album: "The Meaning Of Life" and "I Choose", and "She's Got Issues" is a no show from "Americana". However, I was appalled by the fact that the third single from 'Conspiracy of One', "Million Miles Away" was left off, being that it's one of, if not my favorite Offspring song of all-time. "Want You Bad" is still a really good song, but I didn't think it had any place following "Original Prankster" as the second single on that record.

If you're looking for an introduction to the band, for $10 this is a solid buy, but by no means does this compilation live up to standards of the hardcore fan. Look into 'Smash' and 'Americana.' They're the albums that The Offspring has used to fuel its fire over the years.

Add-in, 6/19/09: 'Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace' is probably the best Offspring album of this decade; however, it's not an essential for your collection. If you like their Greatest Hits, you MUST start with their old stuff, notably 'Smash', which is the highest selling album from an indie label, ever.

Album Grade: B

I've now listened to what is considered The Offspring's Greatest Hits, a compilation of 13 tracks that were actual hits on rock radio. What I got from this was not only a good album to listen to during the summer but a way to explore the musical career of a band. I found out that I preferred the old-school punk anthems they started with rather than recent songs like "Defy You" and "Hit That".

The new song, "Can't Repeat" is such a straight-forward rehash of "The Kids Aren't Alright". How hard can it be to write meaningful song about youth? Producing memorable and humorous songs like "Pretty Fly for a White Guy" and "Original Prankster" is what they're mostly popular for. But it's always nice when a band takes the time to get serious.

The thing with Greatest Hits Compilations is that if you have all of the band's albums, then you don't need to buy this one. So,
I recommend picking this up if you have never listened to any albums from The Offspring. I know it helped me decide whether or not I would I like them. And yes, I did.

This Offspring best of is a half-way decent retrospective covering all their albums from the SONY/Epic years and it even includes the hits from the band's last album for Epitaph, which was a pleasant surprise (since they all had to be licensed - which costs money). All tracks are studio versions, and in addition to the new track at the beginning of the set, you also get a "hidden track" at the end of the disc starting at around 3:15 of their version of The Police's "Next To You" (other reviews here acknowledge this, but they didn't know what it was! C'Mon, how can you not know this classic Police song?!!?).

I didn't know them all by title, but I was surprised to see I knew every track on this CD. It is missing "She's Got Issues" which was a little disappointing. Still, for most passive fans of the Offspring (sorry die-hard fans), you'll be able to dump their whole CD catalog in exchange for this one.

The Offspring are truly an interesting bunch. Their catalogue can be divided into two sections: one that fits into the sound that the band has made its own in their seven-album career, and then the pop songs that make them so darn irresistible.

The new song, "Can't Repeat," fits into the "Trademark Offspring" category. And while the band is wary not to repeat anything, it's hard not to think of "The Kids Aren't Alright" when listening. But that's as far as new material goes (unless you never got around to obtaining the Orange County soundtrack contribution "Defy You"). It seems a dishonor to their pop tendencies, and a statement of ignorance to the amount of space on a CD. It's bad enough "I Choose" and "She's Got Issues" are absent, a band with two modes of sound shouldn't sell themselves short. The lack of a new pop gem that the boys are more than capable of (if "Hit That" and "Spare Me The Details" are any indication) is very disappointing.

After the new track, it goes chronologically, starting with their Smash material, followed by Ixnay and Americana. Conspiracy of One (if one of the more criminally underrated efforts) has but two hits present, both of the Pop variety. Not that "Prankster" and "Bad" aren't two of the most enjoyable tracks on the album, but it makes the album seem more shallow than it really is.

This will satisfy those looking for the Offspring's big singles. (Those who only have interest in the four songs that hit the Top 40, "Come Out And Play", "Pretty Fly", "Why Don't You Get A Job" and "Original Prankster" might be better satiated by a trip to the iTunes music store.) It fits the bill, it's just disappointing to see a band with more than enough ample material not only overlook the fact CDs can house 80 minutes of material, but fail to fill it with 50.