People who say that The Offspring's latest single, 'Original Prankster', sounds like their smash hit 'Pretty Fly For A White Guy', are missing the point. By this evidence, ALL of their songs sound like 'Pretty Fly...', only not as good.
Yes, The Offspring are one of the originators of the 'Skate Punk' sound, and yes, the likes of Blink 182 are but pretenders to the throne. But each one of the songs on this album follows a very distinct formula. Take simple, fast as hell drums, three chords, some shouty vocals and Noodles is your uncle.
'Vultures' features a particularly bad eighties guitar sound, as patented by Metallica circa 'One'. In 'Special Delivery' they have a potential single, the slightly sinister chorus of "And the voices tell me to blow you away" accompanied by a synth sound which, I'm told by a reliable source, sounds like 'Crazy Horses'. By The Osmonds! 'Special Delivery' also stars a slightly surreal 'caveman grunting' noise, but lets move on.
Aforementioned single 'Original Prankster' is a bit of a laugh, too, and indeed if the other songs on this album had half the charm of this one it mightn't be so bad.
The only song which differs in pace is 'Denial Revisited', which hints at some sort of romantic regret in The Offspring camp, "so here we go, having the same old fight again. If I could say all the right words I know I could make you stay". The only touching moment on the album.
The production is lame, and the album as a whole is unconvincing in it's pretences as hi-energy, bouncy and above all youthful punk. And Dexter Holland's vocals simply grate after a while.
Die-hard Offspring fans will find nothing which deviates from the original plot, so they won't lose any long-term believers from this offering. And they seem like nice, decent people who are still having fun from what they have always done. But a good album? You won't find one here.
