Album Review: The Offspring Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace
by RomBox.com for the Rock n’ Roll Romper Room
The Offspring
Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace
The Rise And Fall, Rage And Disgrace album was released in 2008 by the Offspring. In June, they announced it would debut on-line. The release of the CD came later in the year. It is the bands eighth album, and the first since 2004. Drummer, Atom Willard, left the band in 2007 and joined Angels & Airwaves. However, he hadn’t been drumming on the recordings. Because of a contract dispute with Geffen records, Willard was not allowed to record. Studio musician, Josh Freese, had been doing the drumming tracks as he had on the previous album.
In any event, the album eventually came out… and due to the onslaught of bad reviews, many people instantly dismissed it. In fact, this reviewer was not even going to give it a try.
Despite the critics, and in the true spirit of American Punk, the album developed an underground fan uprising. It was recently brought to my attention by several of these underground offspring. They said, “you’ve got to listen to this!”
The Offspring have often been pigeoned-holed as a Punk band. Perhaps the music is Punkish. But, on this album, the music has more depth than what comes to mind when you hear “Punk.” Yes. There are elements of Punk and Ska in many of the songs. On the other hand, the melodies, hooks and metal overtones tend to broaden the listening horizon. Some people might even go so far as to say, “the more you listen to it, the more you like it.” Does that mean it boarders on Pop? Shhh… don’t tell the underground fans.
1. Half-Truism 3:27
2. Trust In You 3:09
3. You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid [Explicit] 2:57
4. Hammerhead 4:38
5. A Lot Like Me 4:28
6. Takes Me Nowhere 2:59
7. Kristy, Are You Doing Okay? 3:41
8. Nothingtown [Explicit] 3:30
9. Stuff Is Messed Up [Explicit] 3:31
10. Fix You 4:20
11. Let’s Hear It For Rock Bottom 4:04
12. Rise And Fall 2:59