The Offspring
delivers sound for posterity

What would you do if you owned your own record company?

Let’s say your name is Dexter Holland and you’re the

lead singer of the band, The Offspring. Let’s also say that

you own Nitro records. Wouldn’t you produce your own punk

bands’ records and distribute them under your record

company’s name? Or would you sign on to a major label like

Columbia Records and do all your business through them only to

produce lesser-known punk bands on your lesser-known punk label,

just as a hobby? Wouldn’t that kind of be like drinking Pepsi

even though you owned R.C. Cola?

Whatever the case, The Offspring, with front man Dexter Holland,

have completed a new record. Now going two decades strong, The

Offspring continue to deliver their well-known punk sound on a

seventh album titled “Splinter.”

The album was released over the holiday season on the Columbia

Records label, and The Offspring spent close to three years for

this follow up. With all new tracks, “Splinter”

maintains The Offspring’s talent of splicing subculture

underground with slick pre-packaged pop. This may seem

contradictory, but the Offspring have been best known for their

mainstreaming of punk rock influenced beats and have always managed

to pull it off impressively.

You don’t have to be a fan of punk rock or The Offspring

to enjoy “Splinter” (although it helps). Many of the

songs are reminiscent of their earlier music

pre-”Smash,” their second album.

“Splinter” has the makings of a band that really

knows what they’re doing when it comes to recording and it

shows in the music’s quality. Even the slower, hard

rock-style songs showcase the bands’ experience when it comes

to making effective tunes. A band that has been around for twenty

years and started off in high school should know how to capture the

listeners’ attention by now; The Offspring do just that.

With the help of the Vandals legendary drummer Josh Freeze (who

joined due to the departure of former drummer Ron Welty), the

tracks range from murky and angry to almost wacky.

Alongside the title track and the single “Hit That,”

which has received countless airtime play, other songs include

“Worst Hangover Ever” which is a melodic song that

seems to be derived from any one of the band members’

personal experiences. The title is self- explanatory as to what the

song is about.

“Spare Me the Details,” is a semi-melancholy ballad

with an up-tempo tone (if there is such a thing), where

Holland’s singing is so happy it’s almost sarcastic.

And “Lighting Rod,” a high-octane sprint through three

minutes of good ol’ fashion Orange County punk rock.

With their charismatic wit, The Offspring re-establish why

they’re a top market rock band, and why it’s okay to

like their music (even if you don’t like people named Dexter)

The ability to be catchy is their hook and it’s no wonder

they signed on to a major label. It’s not because of money;

it’s to expand their music to a bigger audience.

In 2000, the band encouraged fans to download their album

“Conspiracy Of One” from the Internet before the

albums’ release, free of charge. Having upset the record

company and nearly getting sued, The Offspring stayed on the side

of the lesser-known punk.

 

Overall rating

3 Stars

How much I liked it

3 Stars

 

Writers note: Speaking of the lesser-known punk, I urge every

one who reads this to call ‘Big Jay’ at KQXR and

request the Dead Milkmen’s ‘Bitchin’

Camero’. He told me if we got 5000 votes he would play it.

Sure, I could go out and buy the album, but that would defeat the

purpose. If you remember who the Dead Milkmen were than you know

it’s worth the call. 287-1003

Dan McNeese
A & E Writer
The Arbiter

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