Its obvious that the Offspring will never exceed (or even match) the artistic or critical success they experienced in the past. That said, Rise and Fall proves that fans shouldnt completely give up on them. Album opener "Half-Truism harkens back to their Ixna on the Hombre days (minus the cheesy breakdown about two-thirds in); "Trust in You wouldnt have sounded out of place on Smash; and single "Hammerhead is a pretty good choice for a first impression. But the best aspect of this record is the absence of any "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy) or "Why Dont You Get a Job?-type songs. While this album definitely has its weak moments (the way too overproduced "A Lot Like Me and the built for radio "Nothingtown), it definitely has some good parts that shine through. This isnt going to win over any new fans but it wont disappoint diehards either.
(Columbia)The Offspring
Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace
BY Ty TrumbullPublished Aug 19, 2008