The Offspring Album: “Americana”

With all the "punk" fans out there trashing Americana, I'm not so sure I WANT to buy the other Offspring CDs. Every track on Americana is awesome, like Pretty Fly, Why Don't You Get A Job, Walla Walla, The Kids Aren't Alright, and Feelings. Everyone should buy this CD. It rocks!

First, I shake my head at those who label this pop and therefore won't listen to it. Stylistically, yes, perhaps our Orange County boys have changed a bit, taken a bit less of an angry young man approach, but they've replaced it with wit and depth. It's too easy for an album to complain, it's another thing entirely to make you think, while still pumping out punk in a day when punk is on a respirator and Dexter and Co. not only provide but provide with style. Maturity has served them well and this album is an all-time favorite with me, equal to Smash and Ixnay any day.

I mainly bought this for the 4 hit songs "Pretty Fly for a White Guy", "Why don't You Get A Job?", "The Kids Aren't Alright", & "Shes Got Issues", which are all great songs, and a few other good ones include Americana, Staring at the Sun, and Pay the Man. It also does something cool when u put it in the computer. But seriously, if u just got into the Offspring and are looking for this album, get one of their older albums first, like Smash, Ignition, & Ixnay on the Hombre, or their hard-to-find self-titled debut. Still this is good, but if I had to choose between this and Smash, Smash would definitely be it.

Sometimes in life we listen to albums which rise in our respect and reach great levels of liking. We appreciate them and wish they always are respected by everyone around. Americana is nothing like this. It is a salute to music in its own wierd form of a straight fisted NO APOLOGY attitude.

Its energy that comes not from youth but from life. Eddie Vedder was only partially correct when he said ALL THATS SACRED COMES FROM YOUTH.Americana is the true total sum of the feeling of punk , inspiration , pent up anger and love.....

Way back when it came out , I purchased this record with a view to buy something worthwhile.You can say it was my first ROCK album. Did it Rock? Not! Did I Headbang? Not! DId I fly? HELL YEAH!

The Album starts with a polite welcome which leans into HAVE YOU EVER which makes you think you've entered a room as such which the lyrics speak about."Staring at the sun" starts just when you think you're still but your mind and heart is pacing faster than ever."PRetty Fly.." Is something you can choose to love or hate but it will always be there, "Kids arent alright" is something that totally seems to heat things up and its a song a lot of NON OFFSPRING FANS appreciate too. Someone said "Feelings" was a filler.I think its a decent tune all the same."Shes Got Issues" Is just about as catchy as they come. Its a great funny song we all can relate to sometime in our lives.Track 8,9 carry on NO BRAKES which is a great straight out energy filled track."why dont you get a job?" is the reason I purchased this CD. "Americana" Is simply awesome with its brute and energy topped riffs.

Pay the man is something I choose to dedicate a paragraph too. To me this is not only the best song on Americana but also the best song Offspring have so far released or I have heard by them. Its progressive and I can call it a masterpiece and truly the best finisher I have ever heard in my entire life(some 200-300 CDS)It reaches a stage where your neck bangs without any control. Its just as intense as music gets.

I cant use words to describe this one album which is quite unique in its own way. Its something I can sing from start to finish non stop.After about 500+ Listens, I think Offspring gave this album everything they had. I dont even like Punk or whatever you call this music. Call it pop/rock/metal/goth/emo...whatever TO ME IT IS THE MOST ULTIMATE STRAIGHT OUT HONEST ENERGY ALBUM EVER!

I've heard over time that a lot of Offspring's fans find this CD to be a sell-out. What can I say? I have the "Smash" release, and I love it, too. "Americana" is full of energy and humor. What's not to love?

"She's Got Issues" is hysterical, wreaking of truth. The same can be said for "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" and "Why Don't You Get a Job?." The CD flows nicely from the one song to the next. Just because it's catchy doesn't make the band a sell-out. Sometimes the best thing a band can do is acknowledge life experience. With experience comes change.

Without question. I believe that Offspring is one of the best contemporary, punk style bands; that includes their release of "Americana."