Offspring are such a weird band. Their transition to these comedy punks is odd, but they just come across as creepy really. Watched the video to Original Prankster recently and thereās these 4 old (Noodles looks about 70) looking men in shades playing whilst half naked women walk around them for no reason
Saw them at Leeds Fest 2011 and I have never seen a more bored looking band playing
Saying that though, first few albums are undeniably great and even though the big hits are easy to mock, Iāll always have a soft spot as they were some of the first songs I really liked.
Smash dropped during our early days of indie-clubbing and, along with Green Day, I never really got on with that whole pop-punk thing. Wasnāt my cuppa at all, but not offensive to my ears. Fast Forward to that āPretty Flyā¦ā shit and I actively hated all that sort of crap.
I got Smash as an album on the 1001 albums to hear before you die thing over Christmas so I gave it a listen whilst out on a run. First time Iād heard it since about 1994, and whilst I got a minor nostalgia hit for Self Esteem and Come Out And Play, it was pretty one-dimensional and boring for the most part.
Iāve gone with a 2 because there are acts I despise considerably more than The Offspring, but it is not good music at all.
Easily the worst band weāve done so far. Agree with what others have said about Dexter Hollandās voice ā it sets my teeth on edge ā but itās the punching down in his songs that really sets them apart. Their insane popularity in the 90s genuinely made me re-asses my worldview. 1/5
Was introduced to them by a pal at high school cause they were playing the barras (I think) and so I dutifully ended up seeing them. Had attempted to get into them a bit beforehand but although there was a few decent songs they never quite clicked for me.
Was astounded to hear them on radio 1 with pretty fly for a white guy which reeked of novelty even to my teenage ears. When they suddenly became popular off the back of that song it baffled me even more.
Not heard or thought about them for years but doubt even the earlier stuff will do much for me these days. Iāll have a wee listen and decide on a score later.
Generous 3. Very of their time and not a band Iād ever listen to now but they clicked for me in a way that 99% of pop-punk just didnāt. Also I think I was 10 when Pretty Fly (For a White Guy) came out which is pretty much the exact right age to enjoy that song.
Also enjoy that music is only the third thing listed on Dexter Hollandās Wikipedia page, after his work in microbiology (which sounds pretty amazing tbf) and his hot sauce empire.
Tapes of Smash and Dookie with a portable tape player were the soundtrack to park drinking/smoking as a teen. Heady days. Opened my eyes to the fact that punk did still exist and opened up a whole world of music to me. Smash is banger after banger, and still holds up to the occasional listen (when drunk, with old friends, that kinda deal). His voice is an pretty awful but it works so well. Helped them a bit when there was all the skate punk about with everyone going down the snotty billy joe armstrong approach. Ixnay was still good but after that it just got worse and worse and worse. Couldnāt believe it when Pretty Flyā¦came out. Punk had died all over again
Obviously, the older and wiser you get you realise that they may have been a punk band but by the time Smash hit they were on the marketing machine and they were being pushed everywhere etc etc but still, as i said through them/green day it opened me up to all the Gilman st stuff, epitaph, fat wreck black flag and ultimately an obsession i still havenāt grown out of today.
Few years back i saw a link to a video of them playing self esteem acoustic. They were doing an acoustic tour i think which was one of the funniest thoughts to me (which was mean). Anyway, i watched the song and it was truely awful and i wanted to a laugh a lot. But they were just having so much fun! still! I dunno, just found it kinda nice and hard to mock when i actually watched it.
Anyway, no one gives a shit and theyāre a pretty average band at best. But what iād do to go back and be sitting in the park with some shitty warm beer and roll ups listening to this on repeat right now.
Iāll give 'em a 2 though, 'cos they aināt that good.
Always one of my least favourite bands despite my love of pop punk. Some of their worst songs are rip-offs of other things (Why donāt You Get A Job is the exact melody of Ob-la-di-ob-la-da and the Kids Arenāt Alright sounds like the Buffy theme).
One or two decent songs but I cannot score them higher than Blink 182 so itās a 1.
