The Offspring are my favorite band, and I own all 5 albums (though I have yet to see them live). This album is not the best in my opinion, and is actually my least favorite (Ixnay On The Hombre being my favorite, followed by Smash, Americana, Ignition, and this) but it is still noteworthy. The obvious highlights/standouts of this album are Jennifer Lost The War, Beheaded, Tehran, and I'll Be Waiting, and the only real flaw on this album is that the rest of the songs sound pretty much the same. Still, the lyrics are meaningful (which is to be expected from the Offspring) and Noodle's lead work is right up to par. All in all a decent recording. P.S. Does anybody else notice that Dexter's voice sounds very different on this album?

I could easily have this little recive be nothing more than the title -- this is pure punk, at it's best. The Offspring are (or were) one of the best bands in the early 90's, because they combined the great punk sound with incredibly smart writing. This self-titled album that was released really proves it. If you liked The Offspring for some of their light pop-type hits (Pretty Fly For a White Guy; Get a Job; She's Got Issues) you probabaly won't enjoy this album. For true punk fans, it's highly recommended.

The Offspring's self-titled debut album is a rawer, harder-edged collection than their breakthrough set Smash, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's a better record. Although it makes a more convincing argument for the band's punk credibility - the record lacks the metal guitar crunch that dominated Smash - The Offspring doesn't have any songs driven by hooks as catchy as "Keep 'Em Separated" or "Self Esteem.," nor does it have the consistency of Smash. A handful of tracks make a lasting impression, but most of The Offspring is notable for its surface style, not its substance.

Hey, this is a great CD, and it is pure punk rock. It is alot different from "Conspiracy of One" and "Americana", and even somewhat more punk than Ixnay and Smash. I dont' own Ignition, so I can't compare it to that. If you want some good old fashioned, non-commercial punk rock, this Cd is for you. You can tell the Offspring had not found their true style when they made this album, but Noodles' guitar is better than ever. For a debut album, the recording quality is magnificent. I'd say the best songs are definately "Beheaded" for it's humor and "Jennifer lost the War" for it's somewhat seriousness. I'd reccomend this to any TRUE punk rock fan.

The Offspring is a band known by many and adored by a lot, including myself. The Offspring produces high performance music that is useful for pre-game inspiration. It also can be considered angry music for a depressed teenager, or catchy music for a party. They have been credited with the previous as well as leading punk music into the mainstream of music listeners in the early nineteen nineties.
I have to admit that as much of an offspring fan I am I have not purchased their newest album. As a young teenager I lived and breathed their music listening to such CD’s as this one, Ignition, Ixnay on the Hombre, and Smash. I enjoyed some of the songs from Americana. However, that album, due to songs such as “Pretty Fly for a White Guy” to me was the beginning of the end of my love for these guys from Orange County.
If you look up the “punk-pop” genre on Amazon.ca you will find such bands as, Blink-182 and Jimmy eat world, as well as a few of The Offspring’s newer albums. It is this genre that is responsible for teeny-boppers who say they love punk music, and is a disgrace to true punk routes. However I promise you that you will not find their original self-titled album in this category.
In my opinion “The Offspring” is the definition of punk rock. It is a heavy album packed with wicked guitar riffs and fast drums. The lyrics have everything from gratuitous violence to political statements and an overall rebellious attitude.
This album begins with a sad tale of a young girl being abused and left to die. “Jennifer Lost the War” is a song with a morbid topic, but it really makes the listener think about today’s society. “They found her burned and raped…but will the morning headlines even say that it’s a shame?” It is lines like this that shows the true character of The Offspring, and comments on the world we live in. The music of the song is average as far as the sound of the band goes, but it is the lyrics that make it one of my favorite.
The next song on the CD has lyrics worthy of a poem. It is about an aging youth coming to the realization that he has been lied to by his elders. “Elders” is a ballad for the teenage generation when they realize that their parents are not perfect, and all they ever wanted was for them to be truthful in what they share with their children. It is a fast and exciting song which I quite enjoy.
“Out on Patrol” opens with a wicked fast acoustic guitar, a rare find in the Offspring’s music. It is this guitar and the fast beats performed by Welty on drums that make the song what it is. The music itself over powers the lyrics in that I never really understood the song, but I loved to hear it.
Up until now, the album has been traveling in a definite path, following song after song of which all seem to sound the same to the untrained ear. It is “Demons” that takes this CD for a curve. What makes this song special is a change of pace on drums and the high pitched guitar by ‘Noodles’ that The Offspring are so known for. As well as the slowing down of the song while Dexter’s voice comes through the speakers sinisterly. It is words like “your misery in life is your ecstasy in death” that makes for a devilish tone in this song. It is not one of my favorite but it definitely shows how versatile the band truly is.
“Beheaded” is by far one of the most unique songs ever written by the Offspring. This song contains gratuitous violence and builds morbid images in one’s mind while listening to it. It is a story of a man that is suffering some sort of mental instability while on a killing rampage. It is the screaming guitar and emotion in Holland’s voice that makes my blood curdle. I’m not trying to say that I am sadistic but I truly enjoy this song, it fills me with emotion and is a useful outlet for rage.
“Tehran” is a song that proves that the Offspring is more than just a band that can sing about white guys posing as an African American thug. This song relates to the Gulf War and triggers thoughts about war in general. Not only is it well written but it keeps with the trend of pure, hard, punk rock.
“A Thousand Days”, “Blackball”, and “Ill be waiting” are average, yet still awesome songs on this album and I enjoy them immensely.
The album ends with a message of rebellion in the song “Kill the President”. It has words such as: “In a world without leaders who would start all the wars?” This is a powerful song that provokes thoughts in a young mind about what politics is all about. Not only does it make you think, but it continues the trend of fast paced angry music.
I believe that the best music produced by The Offspring was their older music. The Offspring has a natural hard and crunchy sound. They eventually expanded on it and mixed it into a more catchy and crunchy sound. It is once they realized that the songs that were profitable were the ones with goofball lyrics and oddball sounds, that their combination of catchy and crunchy became too catchy. This is not to say that the newer albums do not contain some classic Offspring. I have always enjoyed their music and I will continue to enjoy it, but more so this album than any of the rest. Due to the unique voice of Holland, rhythmic base by Greg, the screaming guitar of Noodles, and the speedy drums of Welty, this album with its hard garage sound is a necessity to any fan of The Offspring.