The Offspring Album: “Offspring”

I starting listening to the Offspring in a bad order. I bought Splinter when it came out, liked it, and bought Conspiracy of One, then Americana, then Smash...and wait, wow, Smash is really good! I noticed the difference in their sound right away, and listened to Ignition and Ixnay and fell in love. Americana and after is great, but it's just not the same sound. Anyway, this album is awesome. Some people say it sounds like crap, and if u go back to this time, not everyone's first album was produced amazingly. If you're into heavy metal, look at Metallica's first album, it sounds horrible, but is still awesome. Same goes for this album, its not as perfected as Ignition and Smash, but just as good. This is how i rate their albums...

1. Smash

2. Ignition

3. The Offspring

4. Americana

5. Ixnay on the Hombre

6. Conspiracy of One

7. Splinter

and even though the latter aren't my favorites, i would still listen to them just as gladly as Smash or this album here.

This is a really touching song. "jennifer lost the war" Is not a War song first off. Here's the background for the song to clear things up a little. I read this article years back explaining the influence of the song. Here goes. Back in the late 80's on so cal there was a series of unsolved child kidnappings and murders. The thing is none of this was really big news and got relegated to like page 8 of the papers. Jennifer was one of the girls and another "miss 1565" was another. Her name came from the adress she was found at, no one ever claimed the body. The song was writtn in outrage and a reaction to the uncaring attitude of the media and the lack of outrage in the area.

Honestly I think this song still stands even with the media boom since the 80's every story get's like a few minutes without room for outrage. It's always pass the buck, blame the police, blame the parents, blame video games, music etc.. and then we move on. I'd like to think this song blames society for not making a stand and looking back at itself and treat these kinds of things as tragedies rather than as news stories... but that's just me. anyways great song, great album really, sure it's raw but I think that rawness gives it more gravity and edge. I kind of miss songs that take the chance to offend. They are too few and far between.

Jennifer lost the war today

you'll find her burnt and raped

Through it all she must have wondered

what have I done

But nobody really cares today

the world's a busy place

Guess she must've really sinned now

(Really sinned now)

I guess we're all just soldiers

She was only six years old

Left to die by strangers

Her family waits

And if we're all just soldiers

is it so wrong to be afraid?

Jennifer lost the war

Phoebe lost the war today

there must be some mistake

Say it happens all the time

and it's said and done

Little Miss 1565 Your soul remains unclaimed

Guess you must've really sinned now

(Really sinned now)

Morality won't help her

When she lies silent in a morgue

And all our sorrows just don't count at all

But will the morning headlines

Even say that it's a shame

What are we headin' for

Jennifer lost the war

Seen it all before

Silent on the ground

as he's walking away

And I wonder how many more

everybody take it

like it's nothin' at all

Jennifer lost (,lost ,lost ,lost) the war

Okay, i know a lot of people know The Offspring from their Americana CD or later, and that's cool. But really(at least in my modest opinion) that's not what the The Offspring's all about. This album, released back in '89, captured The offspring in their youngest and rawest state. But, that doesn't necessarily make this album completely inaccesable to new fans of the band or of punk rock in general. There are quite a few songs that almost anybody could headbang to. For example the song "Elders" anybody could automatcially recognize as the offspring and love it. Also, who wouldn't enjoy the badass guitar solo in the middle of the song? Another one would be "crossroads" which is great. It's really kind of sad though, you listen to this album, which is punk rock at it's finest. then you hear something from today chart-topping "punk" bands like My Chemical Romance*shudder* or coheed and cambria*shudder*, which, to me, portray punk rock music as a f***'n joke. It really depresses me. Well, anyway, next time you're at the local record store and looking for a good punk album, head straight over the the offspring section and pick up a copy of this, if it isn't already sold out. That is, of course, you're one of those bleched hair, volcom t-shirt wearing, posers who think you're a harcore punk-rocker by blasting story of the year outta your crappy stereo in your mom's Corsica.

I don't usually bother to write reviews, but after reading some of the words being spouted regarding this album, I just had to throw in my proverbial two cents.

First, my early exposure to Offspring, like many, was Smash. I loved that CD. This was about the time in my life I was getting out of metal and more into punk. Since then I've grown to love bands like Bad Religion, NOFX, Rancid, Dropkick Murphy's, Flogging Molly, Avail, Dillinger Four, AFI, and I could go on and on. And I definitely prefer the more underground, independent, and raw sounding punk as opposed to the radio-friendly crap that's so popular today.

With all of that said, I can see where some people dislike this album. As opposed to Offsprings later stuff, this is completely different. To me, this is a less-refined, less mature, version of Smash. And it's an awesome CD. To me it's punk at it's finest. It's the type of CD a band puts out before they have even given any thought to radio-play or record sales. Not to say Offspring 'soldout', but they definitely changed. To me, Smash was the last trace of the sound you hear on this CD before it left the band completely, in my opinion. But this was defitely Offspring at it's rawest and finest.

To those complaining about the vocals or the production value, this is how real punk is supposed to sound: raw, fast, and furious. To those upset with the lyrics and topics, grow up, get a grip, and learn to take a joke. As for my personal favorites, that would have to be Tehran, Black Ball, Out on Patrol, and I'll Be Waiting. Don't get me wrong, the whole cd is true punk at it's best.

I love this CD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's why:

1//Jennifer Lost The War//(6/10)Most of it is dull...probably the worst song on the whole album.

2//Elders//(10/10)The first time I heard it, it sounded like just any old offspring song, but now, it is awesome!!!!!!

3//0ut 0n Patrol//(THE HIGHEST NUMBER/10)The best song by offspring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4//Crossroads//(9/10)Interesting title for an interesting song.

5//Demons//(10/10)Wow!!

6//Beheaded//Some of the lyrics make my feet sting.......but it's an overall good song.

7//Tehran//(7/10)I don't get this song, but I like it anyway.

8//1,000 days//(6/10)Just doesn't sound very good(in reality).

9//Black ball//(11/10)Awesome song!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10//I'll be waiting//(9/10)This makes them sound classic, TOO classic......

11//Kill the president//(10/10)Great song!

Well, there ya have it! (Best songs=2,3,5,6,9,11)