The Offspring

The Offspring have done more than enough to earn their punk rock stripes, and just as much to ingratiate themselves in the worlds of rock and pop. They won't let any of the above down with new release Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace, where they storm the beach with breakneck waves of punk-rock riffing, vocal chants and melodic runs, rhythmic sprints, and even a tender moment or two. While that signature air of Offspring familiarity is ever-present, what’s truly surprising are the couple of obvious moments where other bands ring through. "You're Gonna Go Far, Kid" jolts along with an infectious flurry of skanking riffs and pulsing beats that's more punk-pop than alt-rock, despite vocal melodies that share more than a passing similarity to Muse's "Time Is Running Out." The military-inspired lead single “Hammerhead,” meanwhile, careens like a humvee through open sand, kicking up dust at a blistering pace before falling into formation behind The Kinks' "All Day And All Of The Night." "Takes Me Nowhere" blitzes forward with The Offspring's more straight-ahead punk ethos, resplendent with the band's renowned pop hooks and lush layers of vocals, but it's "Stuff Is Messed Up" that truly distances itself from the album’s upbeat pack, blending the band’s songwriting bounce with a lyrical pounce attacking today’s culture and politics with a quick wit and sarcastic snap. Two of the album's standouts are slower-tempo, "Kristy, Are You Doing Okay?" taking a tender look back at a victim of child abuse, and "Fix You" a moving ballad that could prove the band's biggest crossover hit to date. It’s been a decade since The Offspring smirked and jerked their way through "Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)," but the band are living proof that a little maturity never hurt anyone, even a punk band. Offspring pull it off with rage and grace.

—Paul Gargano
06.20.08