THE OFFSPRING / Conspiracy of One (2000)

I don’t know how the Offspring fandom or society at large feel about this album. That’s for the best as you’re going to get a completely uninfluenced opinion. A chunk of these songs feel surprisingly philosophical without ever falling into pretentiousness, and blunt without being crude or superficial. There’s an overall sense of jauntiness and fun that has been absent from all I've heard from them since. On paper, I wouldn’t think all of this would gel, but it does. It’s only enhanced by the art direction which I find to be spot on and crucial. Alan Forbes, Sean Evans, you rock. 

This is the only Offspring album I’ve ever been able to enjoy from front to back. It’s been the only one in my collection for quite a while, as a result.

Songs of Note: Want You Bad; Conspiracy of One (accompanying artwork)

3 (Not So) Secret Desires For Suicide Girls out of 5

THE OFFSPRING / Days Go By [2012]

After being together for over 20 years, pop punkers The Offspring spew out 2012's lacklustre Days Go By. It's a nice sounding snoozefest that makes me think the band is only still doing this because they don't know how to do anything else.  It lacks enthusiasm for the greater part of the record and is neither witty, exciting or even remotely inventive.  There's a few sparks of life scattered throughout the album but it's mostly stale and in dire need of a boost.  If The Offspring don't try a little harder next time, they're going to become parodies of themselves and sputter out into nothing.  

1 forced Ramones reference out of 5 

Songs Of Note: Crusing California (Bumpin' In My Trunk); OC Guns