Review: The Offspring – Rise and Fall, Rage And Grace

Sergio reviews The Offspring’s ‘Rise and Fall, Rage And Grace’.

Artist Name: The Offspring
Album Name: Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace
Year: 2008
Genre: Punk Rock/Pop Punk

Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace is a diverse album that showcases the band stepping out of their traditional punk roots and progressively adapting their sound.

There are tracks on this album, such as ‘Trust in You’, which bring back the nostalgia of the wonder years of Smash and Ignition. But there are also other songs such as ‘You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid’, which will excite the younger fans from the Americana and Conspiracy of One era.

While I believe that many punk rock fans will probably slam the album for having mass commercial appeal, there will be those that appreciate the fresh approach and evolution of a band that has been around for 24 years. Stepping into unchartered territory, Dexter Holland and company have taken the brave risk of experimenting with pianos – a big step, but one for which I applaud them for being pulled off marvelously.

While perhaps more of a pop punk album, it is still enticing enough to keep the Offspring relevant today. Punk is rooted in the principles of doing it your own way, and this band has stayed true to the cause with their latest release.

Overall, there is a unique blend of punk ‘n roll, which is sure to satisfy Offspring fans – old and new.

Best Tracks: ‘Trust in You’, ‘Kristy, Are You Doing Ok?’ and ‘Fix You’

73/100

- Sergio Pereira
sergio@musicreview.co.za