The Offspring Album: “Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace [Japan Bonus Track]”

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.

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.

I have been a fan of the band since the beginning. From the rough edges, to the more polished sounds of this current album. I'm not sure if this album is full of #1 hits, but it is solid from start to finish. There is usually a song or two on other Offspring albums I just don't like. With this however, I can't find a sound I don't like. It is very rare for me to find an album that I don't skip over songs. Yes, this is a little less hardcore and a little more produced sound, but it is great original material, and a really good Offspring album. I recommend this highly.

I've been a fan of The Offspring since their first album and have watched their music change direction slightly which isn't uncommon for a band who's been around for over 20 years. After Conspiracy Of One and Splinter which were good albums but not as good as previous ones, I was pleasantly surprised that Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace is The Offspring back to their best. In my opinion this is the best album since Americana and possible the best yet.

There isn't a single song that I don't like and not a single song that I feel the need to skip (which is quite unusual for me). The Offspring are back on top and look like they'll be there for many years to come.

Amazing album and it gets better the more you listen to it.

When you look at the most successful albums of The Offspring's career to this point, Smash, and Americana stand head and shoulders above the rest. When you look at the enduring quality of their songs, Ignition and Smash have among the best. Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace, may not be the juggernaut that was Smash, I'm sure The Offspring's decline in popularity over the years will see to that.

But their newest album is definitely among their very best.

The Offspring have shown a return to their roots in violent lyrics and outrage, but they've also shown a maturity that's never been seen before either, at least not to this extent.

Hammerhead may be their first single, but already I can tell you it's their worst by far, and that's not a slight against Hammerhead, rather a compliment to the rest of the album. Half-Truism, You're Gonna Go Far Kid, and Kristy Are You Doing Okay?, are three standout songs on this album that will sit along side songs like Genocide, Smash, Kick Him When He's Down, and Gone Away as some of the very best the band has ever written.

Kristy, Are You Doing Okay? in particular shows a maturity and retrospective that's really touching. Very different in feel and sound than anything The Offspring has done. After having just listened to Jennifer Lost The War, it really brings out the sadness of this song. The concern and sorrow expressed by Dexter is truly moving. I hope they make this song a single, because it's probably the best song they've ever written.

This will be a defining album in The Offspring's career.

After having read some of the other reviews I'm wondering if they've ever listening to The Offspring's first album, and heard songs like Jennifer Lost The War, and Beheaded. This is was the first band I ever listened to (them and Green Day, back when there was a battle of the punk bands headlined by these two) and for years they were my favorite band ever. The Offspring after having been releasing albums for 20 years are growing up, they're not just the same band the wrote songs like Bad Habit and Beheaded. These "emo" songs people are whining about are a show that they don't understand the story of what is really going on in the lives of The Offspring's lives. I applaud the bands maturity, they're not feeling sorry for themselves and whining about how their girlfriend dumped them, they're trying to help those closest to them, that's not "emo" that's called caring.