Customer Reviews

Splinter

5 star:		(90)
4 star:		(43)
3 star:		(22)
2 star:		(16)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

After reading many different reviews of this record here and elsewhere, I've come to the conclusion that the Offspring just can't win with some people. Some say that the Offspring continue to pump out the same music over and over without giving it any though or creativity. Others chastize them for not making every album sound exactly like Smash. Which way is it? Perhaps if people would just listen to music for what it is and not be so quick to judge, they would see the good in it.

Ask the average person what catergory of music The Offspring fall under, and most will tell you Punk. That's fine by me. Does that mean that every sone they put out has have the hardcore sound like every song on Smash or Ignition? I sure don't hope so. Bands change and evolve with time, and so does their music. It would get mighty boring listening to the same album with a different title over and over. While I still enjoy a kick ass punk jam (Da Hui, Lightning Rod, etc..) that doesn't necessarily I don't appreciate the clever creativeness of Worst Hangover and Spare Me The Details. If people wouldn't be so quick to judge the music or throw it into a specific catergory, perhaps they would see that a band doesn't have to necessarily fit firmly into a particular mold (ie Punk, Rock, Country, etc..) to make good music.

Overall, I think the Offspring have created a winner with Splinter. Maybe even one of their best yet. If you are a fan of the Offspring, I highly recommend this CD. Just remember to listen to it objectively, and perhaps you will enjoy it for what it really is, great music. Even if it doesn't fit a particular mold.

One of the things that's disappointed me the most about Offspring lately is their lack of output. In the last six years, they've only made two albums, both of which could have been combined into a single one because they were so short. My biggest beef with "Splinter" is that I don't like waiting three years and then spending $16 on an album (and that was on sale) to get just 32 minutes of material. "Splinter" is a good album, but there's just not nearly enough of it.

There are several standouts on "Splinter" and no real bad songs. One thing I like about Offspring is that they realize (unlike Blink 182) that they're not supposed to be making serious music. Sure, they've had depressing songs before, but they also never let the fun leave their albums. The only real angry song on here is the opener "Neocon", which I loved because I feel that same anger towards George Bush. The single best song is "The Worst Hangover Ever", which is so catchy that I find myself singing it constantly. Other good ones include "The Noose", "Race Against Myself", "Spare Me the Details", and "Da Hui". Many people were upset with "When You're In Prison", but I found it to be hilarious (although it could have been a hidden track).

Which brings us to "Splinter"'s #1 problem, and that's its length. Some people may not be bothered by this, but in the age of downloading I want to know I'm getting my money's worth when I actually buy an album. If you get it for $16, then "Splinter" charges you 50 cents per minute of listening, and that's including "When You're In Prison". By contrast, if you get an album by Pearl Jam (my favorite band) on sale, you may pay less than 25 cents per minute. "Splinter"'s brevity makes it feel rushed and unfinished, and makes me say that you may be better off trying to download it. You can't tell me that after years of work, the best you could give me was 30 minutes of only 11 tracks.

Offspring made a somewhat good album with "Splinter", but it just feels like it could have been much more. Buy it if you want to complete your Offspring collection (as I did), but if not then you're probably better off downloading it. After all, Offpsring's one of the few bands that doesn not condemn that.

The Offspring returns with their same sense of lively, swaggering, and energetic brand of punk revival that made them who they are today. They muscle their way through a 30 minute album that will leave longtime fans drooling at the mouth for more.

Coming off of the surprisingly underrated "Conspiracy Of One", an MTV and radio flop, "Splinter" returns with something that casual fans and hardcore fans will enjoy alike. Whether it's the radio single "Hit That", the punk/ska hilarity of "The Worst Hangover Ever", or the classic story telling of "Spare Me the Details" on the poppier end of things, to the harder more metal side, belting out songs like "Long Way Home", "Lightning Rod" and "Da Hui". They close the album out nicely with "When You're in Prison", a 1930s style tale of watching your back in the big house, complete with the fake crackling of the record in the background. It's a beautifully produced album with a bit of nostalgia thrown in to the mid-nineties fueled punk sound.

Critics will be hard on The Offspring for their brand of sophomoric humor that they refuse to give up. But this will be irrelevant to longtime fans. They will be happier than anyone about "Splinter".

How do these guys do it!? after almost 20 years they make possibly their best CD ever, either this or Ixnay is the best! And the crtic reviews arent as bad as people say, they are all 3/5 or a "B", those arent bad even tho this CD deserves way more. Only a band like the Offspring can make great music after this long while changing their style but holding on to their roots.

1. Neocon (N/A) - This is really an intro, but its almost a song and its really good, I never skip it.

2. The Noose (10/10) - This is a great song, very catchy and unique, sounds alot like an older AFI song actually. You might have heard the intro on Monday Night Football

3. Long Way Home (10/10) - This features Jim from Pennywise in it, its very cool, sounds kinda like Pennywise too.

4. Hit That (9/10) - This is a great song for a radio single

5. Race Against Myself (9/10) - Alot like "Gone Away" or "Amazed" from Ixnay but w/ a twist, its great.

6. (Cant Get My) Head Around You (10/10) - Probably my favorite, this will be the 2nd single. Its awesome, loud, fast, and powerful.

7. Worst Hangover Ever (8/10) - A cool catchy ska song

8. Never Gonna Find Me (8/10) - A cool punk song, sounds like Pennywise kinda, a very cool ending.

9. Lightning Rod (10/10) - Maybe my favorite. Wow. This had to grow on me a little but I love it now, a unique punk song with a big twist.

10. Spare Me The Details (10/10) - This is an awesome acoustic song, the most different thing Offspring have ever done, sounds a little like Green Day

11. Da Hui (10/10) - Fast, ripping, short, awesome!

Conclusion: This could possibly be their best CD ever, and thats saying ALOT

This is probably the offsprings best cd ever. The only complaint I have is that the album is too short. They could have added 1 or 2 more songs. Anyway, the songs they did take the time to write were all awesome! Here is a list of the songs with a rating from 1 to 10.
1. neocon-10 the best intro ever, actually music! gets you pumped!
2. The noose-10 probably the best song on the cd
3. long way home-9.5 another great song
4. hit that-8 good song, its different but still good,
5. race against myself-10 slower and sadder, amazing song
6. cant get my head around you-10 really fast and awesome
7. worst hangover ever-8 really funny,also a different style, still good
8. never gonna find me-10 amazing
9. lightning rod-10 the album keeps getting better! awesome lyrics and guitars
10. spare me the details-8 another funny song, offspring goes acoustic!
11. Da hui-9.5 super fast, super awesome, but could have been longer...
12. when your in prison-umm...no rating... really funny the first time but after that it is like listening to opera music

I'm a big fan of the Offspring, and ever since I heard this album was going to come out, I have been looking forward to its release. While I was disappointed with a few things, such as the short length and the absence of Defy You (which was supposedly going to be on the album according to the website several months before Splinter came out), this is nonetheless a strong album with some very cool tracks, although some methods seem to have been used already. Here's the track-by-track rundown:

1. Neocon- Most often song titles with the most interesting names are often subpar, and this one follows suit. It's better than the intros of Americana and Conspiracy of One, but clocking in at only 1:06, it's nothing to get excited about. 6.75/10

2. The Noose- The Offspring always kick off their albums with a bang, and this fast punk song is no exception. A solid opener; the intro reminds me of some AFI songs off of their album the Art of Drowning, but it's still a nice opener. 9.75/10

3. Long Way Home- Another quick opener that takes its bridge from Session off of Ignition. However, while short, this is a nice rocking tune that gets its job done. 9/10

4. Hit That- Usually the singles from the Offspring are my least favorites off the album (She's Got Issues and The Meaning of Life being the only recent exceptions), but this one is different. It follows the Pretty Fly theme with funky synthesizers and keyboards, but the message it delivers is a lot deeper, and the chorus is one of the catchier things I've heard in awhile. 10/10

5. Race Against Myself- As said by other reviewers, this one can most be compared to Gone Away or Amazed from Ixnay. For some reason it also kind of reminds me of Vultures from Conspiracy of One, even though the two don't sound that similar. Clocking in at 3:32, it is the longest song on the CD, and it's a slower rocker. 9/10

6. (Can't Get My) Head Around You- This is named this way because the Offspring said that they have found albums with song titles that have words in parentheses to sell better. A short little rocker about an ex-girlfriend; this is supposedly the next single, but only time will tell. 9.5/10

7. The Worst Hangover Ever- One of the more comical tracks on the CD, the Offspring turn to ska and perform one of the best songs on the CD. The saxophone adds and the lyrics, while fairly stupid, still provide for a good laugh and are fun to sing along to. 10/10

8. Never Gonna Find Me- This was the first track title to be named, so I was looking forward to it. While it is just fairly generic punk, it gets the speed back up after three straight slower songs. Unlike others, I don't find the ending to be spectacular. It's cool, but nothing amazing. 9/10

9. Lightning Rod- A solid punk song that stretches on for a little too long. Not the best, but it's not that bad either. 9/10

10. Spare me the Details- Starts out with just drums and then moves into acoustic, and it's a nice, catchy song about a girl who cheats on her guy. This will probably find its way onto the radio; it has potential. 10/10

11. Da Hui- The first song I heard off the CD. In my opinion, this is the worst "real" song on the album. It's fast, short, and angry. There's also a bit too much swearing for my tastes (After all, almost every other line has "Don't f*** with Da Hui" in it). 7.5/10

12. When You're in Prison- This sounds like those old 1930s movies and shows where there's the static in the background, the voice, all of that. This would have been more appropriate as a hidden joke track, but as it is, it's a disappointing end to what could have been their best album if it had a few more real tracks. 5.5/10

Overall, this is a solid album, and if you're a fan of the Offspring's previous work, there's still enough here that you can enjoy, however short it may be. While I was disappointed that it didn't sound like Ignition (another misleading bit of info from the site), it has its own unique brand while still remaining true to the Offspring's style. Even casual fans should find something of interest here; chances are if you like "Hit That," you'll like the rest. I hope I was of some help to you and don't forget to vote if I was of any assistance.

Imagine Offspring frontman Dexter Holland as a weary traveler on a dusty road at 4 o'clock on a particularly hot afternoon. The bags under his eyes, evidence of the level of stress he's been subjected to, are sinking further down his face. Random patches of facial hair cover his chin and a pair of worn-down sunglasses hang off the edge of his nose, askew. But he's determined to push on, even as the odds are against him, and somehow clings to the strength within to keep on going. This is what The Offspring's seventh (and quite possibly last) album consists of. The struggle against oneself when trying to carry on with life.

The album's paradox lies within the fact that it sounds as jaded as it does hopeful. The proverbial driver realizes that he will probably never reach his destination, but a force within pushes him to keep going. Songs like "Long Way Home" and "Race Against Myself" are of a determinedly pessimistic nature, yet also seem to cling to a last, dimly shining will to endure. In "Long Way Home", Dexter sings "I'm driving down a dusty road, I got no where to go, no place that I can call my home", before concluding with "What lies ahead you cannot find for me, on and on I'll take the long way home".

Musically speaking, it's The Offspring's definite best. The songs are varied. You get your moshpit anthems, your fast and aggressive punk attacks, a few of the heaviest Offspring songs in their catalogue and your healthy dose of pop songs as well. A standout track is "The Noose", which kicks off the album after the brief "Neocon" intro. Quite comparable with "Staring at the Sun" from Americana, this is a brilliant little slice of uncompromising punk rock heaven.

"Hit That" is the token first single, and while it's not absolutely brilliant, it's quite enjoyable pop punk, with keyboards and drum samples thrown in for fun. "Spare Me The Details" is the acoustic-guitar-driven pop song everybody's been raving about. It's fun, and reminiscent of something off The Vandal's back-catalogue. "The Worst Hangover Ever" is a ska song, complete with horns and all, which Offspring haven't done since 1998's "Why Don't You Get a Job?" off Americana. (The Americana comparisons are inevitable, these albums resemble each other in structure and in tone, as well.)

The main problem I see with this album, and probably the only thing that keeps it from reaching five-star status in my eyes (and ears), is it's length. There's 12 tracks. One of them, the first, is an intro, and the last is a novelty song thrown in for fun. So we get 10 real songs, and as good as they are, it's just too little material for a band that's been away for 3 whole years. The album includes some fun little extras in the Enhanced features, though, which sort of makes up for the CD being just 32 minutes long.

Highly recommended by a once-dedicated Offspring fan who kind of jumped off the wagon after Conspiracy of One. This album impressed me. It might impress you, too.

I don't believe I've seena positive review for Splinter in any magazines, newspapers, etc. Believe me, I tried looking. It then dawned on me that I've never seen a critic in favour of the Offspring . I can only draw one conclusion from this:

PROFESSIONAL MUSIC CRITIC'S OPINIONS ARE WORHTLESS.

The only people who have earned a right to an opinion are those who spent money on the item. Namely us.

Keeping that in mind, I loved the new CD. Cool cover, too. I agree with all of you who say the album could've been longer, but I think they made up for it by giving us some mighty fine songs. To me it sounds like Americana blended with Conspiracy of One. Anyway, on to the songs!

1)Neocon-Had this been longer, it would have been the top track.
Superb chanting, just like a soccer game. 10/10

2)The Noose-Best o' the bunch. Sounds kinda like 'Dammit, I
Changed Again'. 10/10

3)Long Way Home- Not bad, not bad. 7.5/10

4)Hit That- Their 1st single. Intersting sound, could use
a music video. 9.5/10

5)Race Against Myself- Awesome chorus. Rumour has it they
ripped off Linkin Park. Insulting! 9/10

6)Head Around You- Avearge song, kinda catchy. 8/10

7)Worst Hangover Ever- Nice little ditty about alcoholism 8.5/10

8)Never Gonna Find Me- Brilliant finale to it. Nuff said. 9/10

9)Lightning Rod- Thought-provoking lyrics, check it out. 9/10

10)Spare Me the Details- Accoustic sound helps spice up the
disc. Sing Along! 9.5/10

11)Da Hui- I'm sorry, but I don't like surfing. 6/10

12)When You're in Prison- Utterly bizarre, though Michael
Jackson should be taking notes. 7/10

Well, there you have it. A stellar addition to any music fan's collection.

Oh, by the way, "a-fire-outdoors", or "a-fire-inside", or whatever the hell you call yourself, you seem to have taken a crash course in The Offspring. It is regrettably true that Ron Welty left the band, and Josh Freeze was enlisted to drum for Splinter. HOWEVER, he was SUPPOSED to be temporary. He helped them out for the album and handed the sticks over to Atom Willard, who is now the official drummer for the Offspring. But that is only the tip of the iceberg. When in the hell did Greg K. ever leave?! Exactly! He didn't! Check your sources, Pepe le Pieu! And the Hungarian guy was right- your spelling sucks.

Here endeth the lesson.

I bought this album because I saw it for a very low price in a supermarket somewhere in Norway and I had heard that the Offspring was fast, good rock/punk. I was lucky that I bought this album, because I like the album pretty much! It never gets bored and the punk-sound is just very good. The only bad thing is that it's very short, but you should not care, because this music never gets bored! The songs are all good fun and here is my opinion about the songs.

1. Neocon (7.5/10) - This is a very short song with lyrics against Bush. It's not a really good opener, but it's fun.
2. The Noose (10/10) - Maybe my favourite. Good guitar-playing, fast and catchy. Just a great song.
3. Long Way Home (9/10) - Similar to The Noose, but not as fast and not as catchy, still good.
4. Hit That (6,5/10) - Don't know why this was a single. It's one of the worst songs on the album, but the lyrics are pretty good.
5. Race Against Myself (9/10) - Well, you can't really call it a ballad, because I think the guys of Offspring don't know what a ballad is, but this comes very close to a good ballad. Nice (back)vocals and a strong song.
6. Can't Get My Head Around You (7/10) - Again, wondering why they made this a single. It's not as bad as Hit That, but still not really good for a single.
7. The Worst Hangover Ever (7,5/10) - Just for fun, not a really good tune, but again very funny lyrics.
8. Never Gonna Find Me (8,5/10) - Sounds a little like Hit That and Can't Get My Head Around You, but it's very much better. This should have been a single.
9. Lightning Rod (7,5/10) - Good song, but don't listen to it too much, because then it gets boring.
10. Spare Me The Details (10/10) - This is really a good, catchy, funny song. One of my favourites and a really good tune and VERY good lyrics.
11. Da Hui (8/10) - A typical punk song. Fast, agressive and lyrics about nothing.
12. When You're In Prison (9/10) - Don't know why I like it. It's just very well done and very funny (again...).

Album: 8,2/10. It's not really outstanding music, except for some few songs, but the lyrics are very outstanding and you will listen to it with a big smile

Is it surprising that this was my first Offspring album? I haven't loved them since Smash came out. In fact, I didn't even know who they were back in 1994--but I do have a good excuse. I was only four years old! Now that I'm older and wiser, the Offspring are my favorite band and I own all their albums. Splinter happens to be my third favorite after Smash and Ixnay on the Hombre. My favorite songs are The Noose, (Can't Get My) Head Around You, Spare Me the Details, and Da Hui. My only problem with this album is, of course, the fact that it's only half an hour long. (About thirty-two minutes including When You're in Prison, but I never listen to that.) Anyway, I don't skip any tracks when listening to this album and overall, I just love it. This should have been a huge hit. By the way, please don't get the edited version. A few swears won't kill you.