Posted on: July 23, 2008 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

The Offspring have been around longer than about 90% of their fan base has been alive. This means that the act has been together since 1984, and “Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace” shows off a maturity that befits a band that is on their eighth studio album. The album follows from “Splinter” in that all four recording members of the band – Dexter Holland, Noodles, Greg K and session member Josh Freese, recorded on “Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace”. “You’re Gonna Go Far Kid” is an early hit for The Offspring, showing a more heavy and emotional version of the band that has crafted hit after hit in the punk genre.

Where producer Bob Rock was single-handedly responsible for destroying Metallica, the smoother style of the tracks on “Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace” follow well from the precedent crafted during “Splinter” and “Americana”. “Hammerhead” is the first single on the track, and aside from the driving drum beat, the band seems to be adopting a heavier approach to things. In that sense, the song sounds like “Tehran”/”Baghdad”, and when listeners take it along with “You’re Gonna Go Far Kid”, understand that “Rise and Fall” is an album that touches all bases. The band’s lyrics have not softened up in the years since the band’s foundation: Holland discusses school shootings throughout the track’s runtime. “Rise and Fall” is the disc’s concluding track and acts as a great conclusion. Hints of Green Day’s “American Idiot” come through on the track’s guitar and bass lines, where Dexter’s vocals operate as the anchor the keeps the overall sound rooted in the Offspring mythos.

The band took the longest time between albums that they have ever taken, and the end result in “Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace” is a well-polished album that is full of single-worthy tracks. Try to make it a point to see The Offspring whenever they come around your area. This may be a harder feat than individuals may think, as the dates that come forth on their web site are pretty much Japan-only. Regardless, the twelve cuts on this album will keep good company for individuals until that time. If you would like to see how Offspring have evolved in the years since “Splinter”, “Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace” is the album that you have to pick up.

Top Tracks: Takes Me Nowhere, Kristy, Are You Doing Okay

Rating: 7.7/10

The Offspring – Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace / 2008 Columbia / 12 Tracks / http://www.offspring.com / http://www.columbiarecords.com /

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