rise and fall, rage and grace

So my favourite SoCal punk band have released their latest LP. First thoughts are that the album art looks practically nothing like what you'd expect from an Offspring release. Similarly, a few of the tracks seem to have gotten lost trying to find their way onto other punk band's albums.

After Hammerhead sounded just like previous songs made by these chaps, I was excited to find that they'd returned to what made them famous in the early 90s.

After catching the advance, I'm trying to figure out whether it is a good thing that they're taking bits and pieces from their older songs and rehashing them into their newer ones. I'm leading towards a 'yes', because it beats trying to go off on a radio friendly tangent. That privilege wears thin really quickly... in fact it wore out as soon as Pretty Fly came out.

A return to form is a return whichever way you look at it, not matter how many times you think to yourself "I think I've been here before". This is only apparent for about half of the record, as some songs have hints of Offspring's later tracks. It's like driving at night during a snowstorm, and nearly spinning out around a corner constantly. It nearly spoils this album for me. But doesn't. Only just.

Dexter brings powerful vocals (but we expect that) and the lyrics are curious and interesting. There is nothing really new about the makeup of the music, but I would feel weird and alone if there was.

The main thing that really kicks serious ass about this record is that it reminds me how awesome their older stuff is. It also spurs me into wanting to listen to their back catalogue over and over. Whether or not that was really one of their intentions is up for debate, but that's what's happening.