Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace
- Rock/Alternative
- 2008
- Buy the CD
Reviewed by Jeff Giles
()
Longtime fans might bristle at that statement; as with most punk bands made good, the Offspring have generated a lengthy debate among fans and critics over if and when they sold out, and whether their new music is still sufficiently “punk.” But the Offspring were never really “punk” – they were loud, sure, but from the moment they pierced the national consciousness with Smash, they’ve always been a hybrid act, equal parts Ramones and 1910 Fruitgum Company. They might have had an inordinate fondness for downstroked riffs and foulmouthed lyrics, but their sound was spotless – if it weren’t for Dexter Holland’s rusty trombone of a voice, they might as well have been Night Ranger.
Their fans may have debated the particulars, but the Offspring never seemed to regard “punk” as much more than a building block for their meticulously overdubbed AOR – or a launchpad for a series of gratingly unforgettable novelty tracks/Top 40 hits. Thankfully, Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace finds the band letting up on the “humor” – there isn’t a “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)” to be found – and those longtime fans should be pleased to discover that the record is louder overall than the band’s recent efforts. It’s more overtly political, too, although we’re still talking about the Offspring here – a quick perusal of the lyric sheet turns up plenty of connect-the-dots rhymes like “I am the rock that pushes away / I gave up tomorrow to spite today.” Social critics, these guys ain’t.
Of course, that isn’t really the point. Offspring records are meant for turning up and rocking out, and even if Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace makes room for a pair of power ballads (“A Lot Like Me” and the awful “Fix You,” which is destined to be a hit) and a pop sing-along (the better-than-it-looks “Kristy, Are You Okay?”), it still succeeds in all the ways it’s supposed to. Producer Bob Rock has dialed back the gloss of albums like Americanain favor of a simpler aesthetic – and given that these are pretty simple songs, with simple hooks, that approach works well.
If you’ve never had much use for the Offspring, this record certainly won’t change your mind – but you’ll still find it hard to deny that for what it is, it’s extremely well-crafted. Who would have guessed that the guys behind “Self Esteem” would still be around in 2008 – and settling gracefully into rock & roll middle age, to boot?
You can follow us on Twitter and Facebook for content updates. Also, sign up for our email list for weekly updates and check us out on Google+ as well.