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So have any of you lot heard it yet?
The guys have taken a long time on the album (it's been three years almost to the day since the release of Conspiracy Of One) and have been through some problems through that time, such as the loss of drummer Ron Welty and complications over the album title. But its also given Noodles a chance to create a record that seems much more tight and professional than previous ones.
Upon first listening, links to Americana and Smash are immediately obvious. The 'blip' that many people thought Conspiracy Of One was has obviously been forgotten and the Offspring have returned true to form. Many tracks such as The Noose and Long Way Home are laden with the melodic riffs, super-aggressive chord progressions and startling vocal harmonies that many an Offspring fan has come to recognise as their traits. However on top of this, the band have also brought in other interesting sounds, like piano, some acoustic guitar and effects-intense keyboard. This has helped to give an intriguing twist to the album that sets it apart from the others.
However despite being as tight as a gnat's nutsack, this still can't help tracks that just shouldn't have reached production stage. Of course there's the requisite ska track, that is competent and easily as good as its alternatives on the other Offspring albums. However when faced with factory-pro, generic punk songs such as Da Hui (and then there's the frankly bizarre When You're In Prison) I can't help but feel disappointed. Don't take me wrong, they're not bad tracks, just when held up against the searing quality of other songs on Splinter, they seem a bit like a joke.
So to round this message up that has somehow turned into a review, I'd say that this CD is an invaluable addition to any self-respecting punk's collection and for anyone who's even heard of the Offspring - songs on Splinter represent the very essence of what they stand for. The album is nowhere near as commercial as Conspiracy Of One turned out to be, however it retains the studio-bred clarity and musical cohesiveness and tacks that onto the classic Offspring Style. Very good indeed.
The guys have taken a long time on the album (it's been three years almost to the day since the release of Conspiracy Of One) and have been through some problems through that time, such as the loss of drummer Ron Welty and complications over the album title. But its also given Noodles a chance to create a record that seems much more tight and professional than previous ones.
Upon first listening, links to Americana and Smash are immediately obvious. The 'blip' that many people thought Conspiracy Of One was has obviously been forgotten and the Offspring have returned true to form. Many tracks such as The Noose and Long Way Home are laden with the melodic riffs, super-aggressive chord progressions and startling vocal harmonies that many an Offspring fan has come to recognise as their traits. However on top of this, the band have also brought in other interesting sounds, like piano, some acoustic guitar and effects-intense keyboard. This has helped to give an intriguing twist to the album that sets it apart from the others.
However despite being as tight as a gnat's nutsack, this still can't help tracks that just shouldn't have reached production stage. Of course there's the requisite ska track, that is competent and easily as good as its alternatives on the other Offspring albums. However when faced with factory-pro, generic punk songs such as Da Hui (and then there's the frankly bizarre When You're In Prison) I can't help but feel disappointed. Don't take me wrong, they're not bad tracks, just when held up against the searing quality of other songs on Splinter, they seem a bit like a joke.
So to round this message up that has somehow turned into a review, I'd say that this CD is an invaluable addition to any self-respecting punk's collection and for anyone who's even heard of the Offspring - songs on Splinter represent the very essence of what they stand for. The album is nowhere near as commercial as Conspiracy Of One turned out to be, however it retains the studio-bred clarity and musical cohesiveness and tacks that onto the classic Offspring Style. Very good indeed.
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Der Nazi wrote:
> I think you'd be pretty irate if YOUR band had spent 8 years in the
> wilderness recording on and off as well...
If I was in a band, I'd get off my damn backside and get the album out! :P
> I think you'd be pretty irate if YOUR band had spent 8 years in the
> wilderness recording on and off as well...
If I was in a band, I'd get off my damn backside and get the album out! :P
The last song...as well as Da Hui, these have a strong whiff of 'We're the Offspring, so we can force stuff like this on you and you'll love it,' even though it might not be that good.
Still listening to the album unstoppingly though. Growing fonder of Spare Me The Details and Lightning Rod.
Still listening to the album unstoppingly though. Growing fonder of Spare Me The Details and Lightning Rod.
*a
Der Nazi wrote:
> The Offspring's 1998 album
> Americana, which turned out to be decidedly average.
You think American was average?
I have to say i dont agree there. I think the new album is great, the last song is quality.
> The Offspring's 1998 album
> Americana, which turned out to be decidedly average.
You think American was average?
I have to say i dont agree there. I think the new album is great, the last song is quality.
I think you'd be pretty irate if YOUR band had spent 8 years in the wilderness recording on and off as well...
Surely Mr. Rose wouldn't be too bothered about Offspring titling their album 'Chinese Democracy' if that was only the working title for the new GNR album though...?
Sibs wrote:
> Mess wrote:
> Chinese Democracy was the intended name for the new Iron Maiden
> album
> which was taking ages to be produced. Noodles and Axl Rose are not
> the best of friends and so Noodles wanted to call the album 'Chinese
> Democracy: You Snooze You Lose.' However copyright arguments with
> Iron Maiden was slowing down the release of the album so it was
> renamed Splinter.
>
> Erm... Axl Rose... Iron Maiden...
>
> Guns 'n' Roses new album was sposed to be called Chinese Democracy,
> not the new Maiden album...
The new Iron Maiden album is titled 'Dance of Death'. And 'Chinese Democracy is probably only a working title- 'You're too old and fat to make porn' was the working title for The Offspring's 1998 album Americana, which turned out to be decidedly average.
> Mess wrote:
> Chinese Democracy was the intended name for the new Iron Maiden
> album
> which was taking ages to be produced. Noodles and Axl Rose are not
> the best of friends and so Noodles wanted to call the album 'Chinese
> Democracy: You Snooze You Lose.' However copyright arguments with
> Iron Maiden was slowing down the release of the album so it was
> renamed Splinter.
>
> Erm... Axl Rose... Iron Maiden...
>
> Guns 'n' Roses new album was sposed to be called Chinese Democracy,
> not the new Maiden album...
The new Iron Maiden album is titled 'Dance of Death'. And 'Chinese Democracy is probably only a working title- 'You're too old and fat to make porn' was the working title for The Offspring's 1998 album Americana, which turned out to be decidedly average.
it got a f**king panning, i did laugh. then i stopped.
Whoops lol, my bad. Thanks for clearing that up.
Mess wrote:
> Chinese Democracy was the intended name for the new Iron Maiden album
> which was taking ages to be produced. Noodles and Axl Rose are not
> the best of friends and so Noodles wanted to call the album 'Chinese
> Democracy: You Snooze You Lose.' However copyright arguments with
> Iron Maiden was slowing down the release of the album so it was
> renamed Splinter.
Erm... Axl Rose... Iron Maiden...
Guns 'n' Roses new album was sposed to be called Chinese Democracy, not the new Maiden album...
> Chinese Democracy was the intended name for the new Iron Maiden album
> which was taking ages to be produced. Noodles and Axl Rose are not
> the best of friends and so Noodles wanted to call the album 'Chinese
> Democracy: You Snooze You Lose.' However copyright arguments with
> Iron Maiden was slowing down the release of the album so it was
> renamed Splinter.
Erm... Axl Rose... Iron Maiden...
Guns 'n' Roses new album was sposed to be called Chinese Democracy, not the new Maiden album...
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