Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace out today!

After waiting 4 and a half years for another Offspring album to be released (a greatest hits album doesn't count!), we are finally treated to a brand new album from our favorite Orange County punk band.

I will always have a place in my heart for The Offspring. They were my first real favorite band. I have all their albums, all the soundtracks and compilations they appeared on, joined the fan club, saw them in concert twice, bought six bootleg concert albums, etc. etc. - common over obsessive fan crap. I even made a video containing all their music videos, TV interviews and photo slideshows that's about 2 1/2 hours long.

After being a bit disappointed with 2003's Splinter, I was hoping the guys would bring it back full force for this album. And I must say after listening to the album a few times, I give it an enthusiastic hell yes.

The guys try very hard to reclaim their earlier sound while still venturing into new territory with their music. Songs like "Trust in You" and "Takes Me Nowhere" definitely sound like songs that were made during their Ignition days, while power ballads like "A Lot Like Me" allow the band to expand their style. Dexter Holland and company, unfortunately, will never recapture the magic that made them great. But they come pretty damn close.

Hammerhead from Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace (buy here)


Let's take a trip down memory lane with some of the best songs from each of their releases:

Jennifer Lost the War from The Offspring released 1989
Get It Right from Ignition released 1992
Gotta Get Away from Smash released 1994
The Meaning Of Life from Ixnay on the Hombre released 1997
Have You Ever from Americana released 1998
Come Out Swinging from Conspiracy of One released 2000
Race Against Myself from Splinter released 2003