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Editorial Reviews
Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace, the eighth studio album from the OC punksters, is an impressive new set of songs from one of rock's most exciting and enduring bands. The Offspring entered the studio with legendary producer Bob Rock (Metallica, The Cult) to record 12 new songs culled from the most productive songwriting period in the band's history. This is the band's first full-length studio release in four and a half years, the longest gap between The Offspring's studio albums to date. 'Hammerhead' the 1st single from Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace debuted at #5 on the U.S Billboard Modern Rock Tracks and #18 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks respectively. The Offspring has performed over 1000 shows and they have sold more than 34 million albums worldwide, including their 1994 release "Smash," which more than a decade after its release remains the highest-selling album of all time on an independent label.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By Herbert West
Format:Audio CD
I'd rather not condemn Offspring for changing up their musical style. Ever since Ixnay On The Hombre, Offspring have been incorporating non-punk elements into thier music throughout the years and I always thought that it set them apart from other punk bands. I think this is a fine album from the band and better than Splinter. I mean, how can you expect this band to continue to play the same ol' style after 20+ years? I'm glad to hear something different from them. Nothingtown, You're Gonna Go Far Kid, The O.C. Life cover. Great stuff. Am I the only one who thinks that A Lot Like Me sounds like a Linkin Park song? I dont like Linkin Park, so I have to say that Offspring does LP better than they do. The only song I dont care for is Kristi Are You Doing Ok because it sounds too Emo. Bottom Line, if you have stuck with Offspring through the years, then give this album a chance because it is the best one since Americana in my opinion...minus the EMo song that is! Heh.
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Telling people I really like the Offspring isn't something that's easy to do. They have a very solid discography but starting with 1998's Americana it became peppered and eventually nearly saturated with guilty pleasures. There's not really song on 2003's Splinter that you can admit to loving without getting stripped of all "punk credentials". It was something I didn't mind, since I'm the kind of guy who's used to defending his musical taste. But when Hammerhead was released as the first single from the first proper studio effort from the Offspring in five years, something was magical about it. It was lengthy, yes, and a little pretentious in how it was drawn out, but it was a positively rockin' song. It had the adrenaline-pumping riffs, the smart lyrics and the trademark Offspring hook to give me the satisfaction of listening to any of their finest songs without having to worry about how I'm going to defend the record when talking with my music snob compatriots. For once, I was going to buy an Offspring album, crank it up, sing along with the irresistable choruses while the critics and fans backed me up on my emotions 100%, right? Right?
I would be right, if the critics weren't heartless bastards. I won't pretend there's nothing to critique here, but the resounding critical consensus is that the Offspring are "punk veterans" who should "know better" than to have a simple thesis for their album such as "[stuff] is [messed] up", before going on about what a splendid record Smash was. And I'm not denying Smash was indeed a fantastic album, but they're clearly tinting their shades a bit rose. Dexter Holland's lyrics were never anything like Bad Religion's polysyllabic political musings or NOFX's aggressive blasts against anything establishment. Dexter's lyrics are, and always have been, social in their context. "I'm not the one who made the world what it is today / I'm not the one who caused the problems started long ago" is not far removed at all from "I don't know too much / but I know this: [stuff] is [messed] up!" It's always been the same in that the songs are less about the government's specific wrongdoings and more so about ubiquitous attitudes and vices that, since they run rampant through our government, work as political songs, but apply to your boss, your friend, your significant other, your parents, etc. as well as they do the president. There's nothing condescending, preachy or all-knowing about it. More than can be said about tracks like Holiday, which I suppose these critics are using as their golden example to judge all punk albums hereafter to, but it simply boils down to "War sucks, screw Bush" with little more than artistic inflection elevating it to three minutes in length. Punk started out of aggression towards politicians, and now the credentials required to make a punk album is to practically be one? If Dexter Holland was valedictorian in high school and claims to not know too much, and Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong was a stoner high school dropout who is now claiming to be qualified to know how to fix our country's problems, someone is clearly padding their résumé.
That's not to say that Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace is the album I hoped for. The guilt abounds whether it's the kind of guilt one gets from listening to My Chemical Romance on the album's bleeding-heart opening anthem Half-Truism, ("If we don't make it alive / It's a hell of a good day to die"? Really?) the guilt one gets from any of their genre-niche novelty songs in the dance-rock "You're Gonna Go Far, Kid" (which nails the pleasure center of your brain in ways Fall Out Boy's Dance, Dance only claimed to do), and the ballads. OK, chill out, there's only two of them. There's Kristy, Are You Doing OK, which despite the noble subject matter (Dex tries to make peace with letting his childhood friend's domestic abuse go unreported) chokes when Bob Rock assembles the song by the All-American Rejects playbook, except he skipped the page that says "have a breakdown or key change to keep the song from being skip-button-abusively monotonous by the last chorus". Fix You, however, has nothing to do with its Coldplay-borne namesake and resembles more a less-mechanical Chasing Cars. There's no abundance of major-key radio-ready monsters here, unlike the four albums that came before it here, though. In their place, though, are three very good up-tempo songs that sound bright and jovial without ceasing to sound like the punky Offspring that filled out the rest of the album.
I give the Offspring a hard time. And maybe I'm not so different from the critics I spent half this review blasting in that I feel the boys are capable of more than they've put forth on this album. But truthfully, there's been something missing in the five years they took off, and a summer drive with a new bangin' Offspring song on my car stereo is a pleasure I haven't indulged in for a good long while. Even if I don't have the balls to listen with the windows down. Bottom line, if you like classic rough punk Offspring but also have a soft spot in your heart for slick, hooky poppy Offspring, this record doesn't just mash the two concepts together, but satisfies both concepts in one of the most well-rounded, coherent albums the O.C. band has put together in a long time. It's a shame the critics don't share my enthusiasm. [Stuff] is [messed] up indeed.
I would be right, if the critics weren't heartless bastards. I won't pretend there's nothing to critique here, but the resounding critical consensus is that the Offspring are "punk veterans" who should "know better" than to have a simple thesis for their album such as "[stuff] is [messed] up", before going on about what a splendid record Smash was. And I'm not denying Smash was indeed a fantastic album, but they're clearly tinting their shades a bit rose. Dexter Holland's lyrics were never anything like Bad Religion's polysyllabic political musings or NOFX's aggressive blasts against anything establishment. Dexter's lyrics are, and always have been, social in their context. "I'm not the one who made the world what it is today / I'm not the one who caused the problems started long ago" is not far removed at all from "I don't know too much / but I know this: [stuff] is [messed] up!" It's always been the same in that the songs are less about the government's specific wrongdoings and more so about ubiquitous attitudes and vices that, since they run rampant through our government, work as political songs, but apply to your boss, your friend, your significant other, your parents, etc. as well as they do the president. There's nothing condescending, preachy or all-knowing about it. More than can be said about tracks like Holiday, which I suppose these critics are using as their golden example to judge all punk albums hereafter to, but it simply boils down to "War sucks, screw Bush" with little more than artistic inflection elevating it to three minutes in length. Punk started out of aggression towards politicians, and now the credentials required to make a punk album is to practically be one? If Dexter Holland was valedictorian in high school and claims to not know too much, and Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong was a stoner high school dropout who is now claiming to be qualified to know how to fix our country's problems, someone is clearly padding their résumé.
That's not to say that Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace is the album I hoped for. The guilt abounds whether it's the kind of guilt one gets from listening to My Chemical Romance on the album's bleeding-heart opening anthem Half-Truism, ("If we don't make it alive / It's a hell of a good day to die"? Really?) the guilt one gets from any of their genre-niche novelty songs in the dance-rock "You're Gonna Go Far, Kid" (which nails the pleasure center of your brain in ways Fall Out Boy's Dance, Dance only claimed to do), and the ballads. OK, chill out, there's only two of them. There's Kristy, Are You Doing OK, which despite the noble subject matter (Dex tries to make peace with letting his childhood friend's domestic abuse go unreported) chokes when Bob Rock assembles the song by the All-American Rejects playbook, except he skipped the page that says "have a breakdown or key change to keep the song from being skip-button-abusively monotonous by the last chorus". Fix You, however, has nothing to do with its Coldplay-borne namesake and resembles more a less-mechanical Chasing Cars. There's no abundance of major-key radio-ready monsters here, unlike the four albums that came before it here, though. In their place, though, are three very good up-tempo songs that sound bright and jovial without ceasing to sound like the punky Offspring that filled out the rest of the album.
I give the Offspring a hard time. And maybe I'm not so different from the critics I spent half this review blasting in that I feel the boys are capable of more than they've put forth on this album. But truthfully, there's been something missing in the five years they took off, and a summer drive with a new bangin' Offspring song on my car stereo is a pleasure I haven't indulged in for a good long while. Even if I don't have the balls to listen with the windows down. Bottom line, if you like classic rough punk Offspring but also have a soft spot in your heart for slick, hooky poppy Offspring, this record doesn't just mash the two concepts together, but satisfies both concepts in one of the most well-rounded, coherent albums the O.C. band has put together in a long time. It's a shame the critics don't share my enthusiasm. [Stuff] is [messed] up indeed.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By jimbo 3000
Format:Audio CD
I have listened to this album probably a couple dozen times in the last few weeks. On day 1, I would have rated it 3, maybe 4 stars, but most songs that I didn't like immediately have grown on me (with some exceptions). Particularly, the first 5 songs are some of the best work The Offspring has ever done, ever. After that it's slightly spottier, but overall I still find the album worthy of a 5 star rating, barely (maybe a 4.5 rounded up to 5 since Amazon doesn't do half stars).
1. Half-Truism (9.5) Very good album opener. Nice contrast between the fast verses and slower chorus. Bring the album in with a bang.
2. Trust In You (9) Another very solid song VERY old school Offspring. Gotta love that fast palm muting (not enough of that on this album).
3. You're Gonna Go Far, Kid (10) This one didn't win me over on first listen, but after a few more listens I can't get this out of my head. Very catchy, sort of mainstream sounding, but still very Offspring. If this does in fact end up being the second single, it's an EXCELLENT choice, as I think this song will satisfy the mainstream and the hardcore fans like nothing has since The Kids Aren't Alright.
4. Hammerhead (8.5) Solid song. I like the strength of the riffs; heavier than a lot of their stuff. Not a bad choice for the first single.
5. A Lot Like Me (10) This doesn't sound like most of their other stuff. Maybe reminds me of Gone Away in some respects. The intro with the piano, meh, sounds a little like it's gonna be a Coldplay song (Coldplay is whorendous). But I can overlook that small complaint which only applies to the first 5 seconds of the song because this song is unbelievable. Dexter's vocals are outstanding, and the song just seems to have a huge amount of power (even with the piano). Another one that didn't win me over on first listen, but now it's my favorite of the album.
6. Takes Me Nowhere (8) Essentially classic Offspring. Catchy song, keeps the album going strong; picks up the pace from the slower A Lot Like Me.
7. Kristy Are You Doing Okay? (6) The pace that we just picked up has now gone in the tank. Don't get me wrong, this isn't necessarily a bad song. For what it is, it's fine. I just don't know how I feel about it on an Offspring album. It gets a 6 because I still like the song, but it's nothing compared to tracks 1-6.
8. Nothingtown (7) This one's alright. A little too generic sounding maybe. Picks the pace back up again at least.
9. Stuff Is Messed Up (8) This song comes the closest to being the "joke" song of the album, but it's more serious than any of the other "joke" songs. Catchy chorus. I think if anyone else did a "la la la la la" chorus like this it would sound lame. Only The Offspring can pull it off.
10. Fix You (6.5) Screeeech. The momentum we've build back up over the past two songs comes to a halt. Again, not a BAD song, and I still like it. Similar thoughts on this one as with Kristy. Okay song, but meh.
11. Let's Hear It For Rock Bottom (8) I like the guitar work on this one. The chorus is sort of generic, but a good song overall.
12. Rise and Fall (7.5) First off, Green Day comparisons here are preposterous. The chord progression is not even close and neither is the subject matter. I just don't get it. This is a decent song, but would have been nice to have a stronger album closer. Something epic like Pay The Man (my favorite Offspring album closer) would have been cool.
As you can see, my ratings are very strong, then sort of drop off. Still, when I listen through the album, I don't reach for the skip button at all (even for Kristy and Fix You). I have been a fan since 1994 and this album does not disappoint. Not sure how much there is here that will bring in new fans (though I do see potential with songs like You're Gonna Go Far, Kid and A Lot Like Me), but I don't see how any true Offspring fan will anything but love this.
I hope the second single is not Kristy Are You Doing Okay (as has been rumored; this may be the second single in Europe, but it's looking like You're Gonna Go Far, Kid for the U.S.). This one will not be removed from my car stereo for months. Buy it. Buy it now.
1. Half-Truism (9.5) Very good album opener. Nice contrast between the fast verses and slower chorus. Bring the album in with a bang.
2. Trust In You (9) Another very solid song VERY old school Offspring. Gotta love that fast palm muting (not enough of that on this album).
3. You're Gonna Go Far, Kid (10) This one didn't win me over on first listen, but after a few more listens I can't get this out of my head. Very catchy, sort of mainstream sounding, but still very Offspring. If this does in fact end up being the second single, it's an EXCELLENT choice, as I think this song will satisfy the mainstream and the hardcore fans like nothing has since The Kids Aren't Alright.
4. Hammerhead (8.5) Solid song. I like the strength of the riffs; heavier than a lot of their stuff. Not a bad choice for the first single.
5. A Lot Like Me (10) This doesn't sound like most of their other stuff. Maybe reminds me of Gone Away in some respects. The intro with the piano, meh, sounds a little like it's gonna be a Coldplay song (Coldplay is whorendous). But I can overlook that small complaint which only applies to the first 5 seconds of the song because this song is unbelievable. Dexter's vocals are outstanding, and the song just seems to have a huge amount of power (even with the piano). Another one that didn't win me over on first listen, but now it's my favorite of the album.
6. Takes Me Nowhere (8) Essentially classic Offspring. Catchy song, keeps the album going strong; picks up the pace from the slower A Lot Like Me.
7. Kristy Are You Doing Okay? (6) The pace that we just picked up has now gone in the tank. Don't get me wrong, this isn't necessarily a bad song. For what it is, it's fine. I just don't know how I feel about it on an Offspring album. It gets a 6 because I still like the song, but it's nothing compared to tracks 1-6.
8. Nothingtown (7) This one's alright. A little too generic sounding maybe. Picks the pace back up again at least.
9. Stuff Is Messed Up (8) This song comes the closest to being the "joke" song of the album, but it's more serious than any of the other "joke" songs. Catchy chorus. I think if anyone else did a "la la la la la" chorus like this it would sound lame. Only The Offspring can pull it off.
10. Fix You (6.5) Screeeech. The momentum we've build back up over the past two songs comes to a halt. Again, not a BAD song, and I still like it. Similar thoughts on this one as with Kristy. Okay song, but meh.
11. Let's Hear It For Rock Bottom (8) I like the guitar work on this one. The chorus is sort of generic, but a good song overall.
12. Rise and Fall (7.5) First off, Green Day comparisons here are preposterous. The chord progression is not even close and neither is the subject matter. I just don't get it. This is a decent song, but would have been nice to have a stronger album closer. Something epic like Pay The Man (my favorite Offspring album closer) would have been cool.
As you can see, my ratings are very strong, then sort of drop off. Still, when I listen through the album, I don't reach for the skip button at all (even for Kristy and Fix You). I have been a fan since 1994 and this album does not disappoint. Not sure how much there is here that will bring in new fans (though I do see potential with songs like You're Gonna Go Far, Kid and A Lot Like Me), but I don't see how any true Offspring fan will anything but love this.
I hope the second single is not Kristy Are You Doing Okay (as has been rumored; this may be the second single in Europe, but it's looking like You're Gonna Go Far, Kid for the U.S.). This one will not be removed from my car stereo for months. Buy it. Buy it now.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great.
I have liked the Offspring for years and Lord pray, this is just another addition to the ever wonderful views and laughter I experience.
Published 4 months ago by Sara Marie Rodriguez
3.0 out of 5 stars
Decent Album
I bought the album for the single "You're gonna go far". The rest of it isn't as high energy, but still pretty good.
Published 8 months ago by Thinman61
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Great album. They really ventured off into new territory and did it very well. Has a bit of everything for the different fans they have. They are marketing geniuses....
Published 11 months ago by MIKO
1.0 out of 5 stars
Why, Offspring? Why???
I really like the Offspring past...I grow up listening to IGNITION, SMASH and IXNAY ON THE HOMBRE, the 3 really great OFFSPRING albuns...Maybe hardcore masterpieces... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Rio Fluzăo
2.0 out of 5 stars
OK record, but something keeps me from really liking it
I don't really know why, but something keeps me from liking this record. It's one of those times where no matter how many times I listen to it, I still only remember about five or... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Smurf
4.0 out of 5 stars
Off to a great start, then start stumbling towards the end
Gone is the humor present in the album Splinter, The Offspring is back with this album, being more serious and some notable changes in the music direction. Read more
Published on April 22, 2011 by Jan
4.0 out of 5 stars
Back in form
I held off buying this one for a while. Two years infact. I have all the other Offpring albums before it, but their decline in quality onver recent efforts, I decided to save my... Read more
Published on March 24, 2011 by Juz Man
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good, for the most part
I really liked this album. The only problem with it is that it really gets your hopes up with the first few songs then it crashes them into the ground. Read more
Published on March 18, 2011 by Ayanna Gallant
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fast shipping
The shipping was fast....I coulnt believe it showed up in my mail box so soon. I was use to the usual slow service with Amazon orders but this speedy service caught my off guard. Read more
Published on January 15, 2011 by Ivy Hampton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Offspring never fails to please
I've grown up with this band and through the years and they are consistant in putting out excellent music. Tracks to look for "A lot Like Me" and "Kristy, Are you Doing OK."
Published on August 9, 2010 by Honesty
