The Offspring – Americana

Type of Music: Commercial Punk

Track List:

1 Welcome
2 Have You Ever
3 Staring at the Sun
4 Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)
5 The Kids Aren’t Alright
6 Feelings
7 She’s Got Issues
8 Walla Walla
9 The End of the Line
10 No Brakes
11 Why Don’t You Get a Job?
12 Americana
13 Pay the Man

Review:
This album was The Offspring’s first real attempt at making commercial music. A complete tragedy for many die-hard listeners. Rough edges and jagged guitars were traded in for a polished, radio friendly, heavily produced sound.

Let’s face it. Heading onto commercial turf is inevitable for some bands, it is the natural maturation process which many bands will go through. Bands which are too commercial to be regarded as underground, but too underground to be regarded as commercial seem prone to crossing over to the mainstream path, and The Offspring are no different. Having released a couple albums and being around for about a decade or so, The Offspring decided to change their path somewhat.

Getting back to the album, I will divide my recommendations. If you are a radio friendly, easy listener looking for catchy turnes, this album is probably right up your ally. At the same time, if you are an old-style Offspring fan, get this album, tracks like ‘Have you Ever’ and especially ‘Pay the Man’ are immense tracks, showing versatile song construction and the genuinely cool bridges and riffs Offspring comes up with.

Ultimately there is a unique undertone to this commercial album. One which is brilliant and mature. I often wonder what I’m doing listening to Americana, but by the time i hear ‘Pay the Man’, I remember. I’m listening to one of the best ‘sold-out’ albums of all time.

70/100

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