Album: The Offspring - Ignition (1992)12 tracks / 37:23
Acquired: September 1998
Vocals and guitars: Dexter Holland
Guitars and backing vocals: Noodles
Bass: Greg K.
Drums: Ron Welty
All music by The Offspring unless noted otherwise.
As a kid, back in the late 90's, I saw the music video of "All I Want" by The Offspring on the television. I had never heard of them, nor had I listened to any punk music before, but that song made me pay some attention to it. After I saw it again once or twice, I decided that I really wanted to buy their album.
Unfortunately our local record shop had no copies of the album that had that specific song (Ixnay on the Hombre), so instead I had to buy an album I had no idea of. (You know how it is? As a kid you just had to buy something when you decided to do so - even if it wasn't something you originally wanted!) From the three albums the record shop had (the eponymous debut album; Ignition; Smash), I randomly picked the second one.
At first I was disappointed, for the album had no songs as catchy as the aforementioned "All I Want"; instead the songs were more raw and unpolished. However, after giving it a bunch of more listens (I really didn't have a choice - this was one of my, like, 5 CDs!) I gradually grew to like it, and find out that some of the songs were actually catchy as hell. Although the album never made a great big impact on me, it gave rise to the urge to buy me some more Offspring albums - some of which then did.
1. Session (2:32)
(The Offspring, Kristine Luna, Jill Eckhaus)
The album opens with an unforgettable way: a series of "fuck"-exclamations are shouted after which a bass-drum heavy drumming kicks in.
Buzzsawing guitars, frantic drumming and catchy chorus - this song has it all that made The Offspring famous some years later. The song might not be as polished or mature as their later works, but it does its job as a kick-ass intro track very well.
9/10
2. We Are One (3:59)
The song progresses into a bit slower track that seems to be more rock than punk. It is another regular Offspring track, with a chorus that relies as much on background vocal harmony hollers as on lead vocals.
I've listened to only two tracks and I'm starting to feel like a 12-year old again. Oh the nostalgia.
8/10
3. Kick Him When He's Down (3:16)
When I was kid, this song became quickly my favorite song from this album. The band does seem to have a knack with catchy punk-choruses, but this song has also that one aspect that really defines The Offspring so well represented: simple, yet interesting vocal melodies over a quite-simple-but-still-more-than-just-three-power-chords-chord progression. These melodies might not be that ground-breaking, but they are perfect for singing along and making the songs so damn catchy.
Though "Kick Him When He's Down" might not survive against the later Offspring hits, I still think that it is one of their greatest tracks - it wasn't even a surprise to me when I learned that back in '95 this song was released as the only single off the album.
10/10
4. Take It Like a Man (2:55)
This song is a tad heavier than the three previous tracks. The vocal melodies spiced with background hollers compete with catchy guitar riffing, supported with energetic drums and numerous snare fills.
Though not that memorable a song, still a strong performance.
8/10
5. Get It Right (3:06)
Musically this song is clearly more punk than rock, which is not that much my thing, but once again the chorus with background hollers along with a short bridge section save much.
Though not my favorite track, it's still to find any weak spots from these songs. Be it nostalgia, be it skillful work of composition, but after almost 15 years I still find this album enjoyable.
7/10
6. Dirty Magic (3:48)
A song that is as much 70's heavy metal that it is punk - with its ominous, clean guitar chord progression it sounds like Black Sabbath have composed a song in a faster tempo. And put a punk singer in the place of Ozzy.
And all this is complimentary. A well-balanced blend of classic metal and punk rock works really well for me. Noodles really shows how he is capable of noodling with his guitar - there are no blistering guitar shreds or incredible jazz chord inversions, only simple chords and melodies, and it all works like a charm. I wish they composed more songs like this.
10/10
7. Hypodermic (3:21)
Back again into those punk standards. Composition-wise this song is as punk as it gets, but Dexter Holland's vocals come into rescue once again.
Although this song would've been a lot more boring without those easy and catchy vocals, still they can't save everything, and this song doesn't quite cut the mustard. Oh well, we're already half-way through the album, I guess a weaker song at this point of album is acceptable.
6/10
8. Burn It Up (2:42)
In my opinion "Burn It Up" is another weaker performance. It sounds as if the band used up their energy during the first half of the album and now they're getting tired. The song is a bit too-straightforward (yes, I know I'm listening to punk rock here) to my taste, and though catchy, the chorus is a bit too asinine.
The song might be a classic to the 12-year old me, but not all classic are good.
5/10
9. No Hero (3:22)
Well, back again to those regular Offspring chord progressions. The band seems to be at its best either when they experiment with surprising song elements or when they don't emphasize their punk side that much.
"No Hero" is quite punk, but it has also many other elements that balance it out to be an entertaining track - surprising guitar fills and a drum breakdown, to name the most obvious ones. Not the best track of the album, but definitely on the better side.
8/10
10. L.A.P.D. (2:45)
Back to the no-brainer department. The menacing riffs are too repetitive and the vocal melodies as are absent. The biggest emphasis on the song seems to be on the lyrics lashing out the L.A. police department, but unfortunately the musical side has been left rather disregarded.
Maybe the band might have thought that these lyrics need a song simple enough to make them cut through, but unfortunately I'm not a fan of songs this punk.
5/10
11. Nothing from Something (3:00)
(The Offspring and Marvin Fergusen)
Once again a not-that-special Offspring standard. Both the chorus and the verses have semi-catchy choruses, and there are enough different parts to keep me interested, but on a whole, the song doesn't quite make it with the best songs. In a nutshell; an ok song.
7/10
12. Forever and a Day (2:37)
The album closes with an energetic tune that is surprisingly very reminiscent of their later works (and by that I mean their late 90's stuff). Catchy hollers, engaging riffing and simple-yet-working chord progression - this song is a great way to end an album, leaving a good aftertaste.
9/10
***
Final verdict
Well, I'm probably a little bit biased with this album - I'm not really a big fan of punk music. I prefer musical aesthetics over the political and ideological ones - the elements that most of punk music is all about. That said, it's even a little bit odd how The Offspring hit me even in the first place. However, it did, and especially with this album. Currently it is one of my oldest albums (in terms of owning it, not by release date), and probebly the oldest one I have bought with my own money.
Their trademark gimmicks are well represented already here in Ignition, their sophomore album - Dexter Holland's clever vocal melodies, strong output from background vocals, and chord progressions that don't always rely on a regular three-power chords -progression, but include also chords and more varied chord progressions (although this doesn't make them a prog rock band either!)
The majority of the songs are not that deep and mature, but the direction they are taking is becoming more and more evident during the course of the album; some songs clearly showcasing the elements that would end up well-represented in the following albums, Smash and Ixnay on the Hombre. Though there are some simple punk tunes in the album, there are also some clever and catchy tracks that combine the tempo and raw power of punk with the more varied sound and aesthetics with rock music. Songs like these are the ones that hooked me to their music big time.
Well, punk might not be everyone's cup of tea - and especially this form of "punk rock" that The Offspring well represents, combining raw punk music with more melodic songwriting, resulting in a more accessible, radio-friendly music. However, this album retains its roots deep in the punk aesthetic, and despite the catchy pop appeal found in some songs, there are no real punk-pop songs in this album. The album is just full of well-written, accessible punk rock, that really hits the spot if it just finds one.
Score: 77/100
Unfortunately our local record shop had no copies of the album that had that specific song (Ixnay on the Hombre), so instead I had to buy an album I had no idea of. (You know how it is? As a kid you just had to buy something when you decided to do so - even if it wasn't something you originally wanted!) From the three albums the record shop had (the eponymous debut album; Ignition; Smash), I randomly picked the second one.
At first I was disappointed, for the album had no songs as catchy as the aforementioned "All I Want"; instead the songs were more raw and unpolished. However, after giving it a bunch of more listens (I really didn't have a choice - this was one of my, like, 5 CDs!) I gradually grew to like it, and find out that some of the songs were actually catchy as hell. Although the album never made a great big impact on me, it gave rise to the urge to buy me some more Offspring albums - some of which then did.
1. Session (2:32)
(The Offspring, Kristine Luna, Jill Eckhaus)
The album opens with an unforgettable way: a series of "fuck"-exclamations are shouted after which a bass-drum heavy drumming kicks in.
Buzzsawing guitars, frantic drumming and catchy chorus - this song has it all that made The Offspring famous some years later. The song might not be as polished or mature as their later works, but it does its job as a kick-ass intro track very well.
9/10
2. We Are One (3:59)
The song progresses into a bit slower track that seems to be more rock than punk. It is another regular Offspring track, with a chorus that relies as much on background vocal harmony hollers as on lead vocals.
I've listened to only two tracks and I'm starting to feel like a 12-year old again. Oh the nostalgia.
8/10
3. Kick Him When He's Down (3:16)
When I was kid, this song became quickly my favorite song from this album. The band does seem to have a knack with catchy punk-choruses, but this song has also that one aspect that really defines The Offspring so well represented: simple, yet interesting vocal melodies over a quite-simple-but-still-more-than-just-three-power-chords-chord progression. These melodies might not be that ground-breaking, but they are perfect for singing along and making the songs so damn catchy.
Though "Kick Him When He's Down" might not survive against the later Offspring hits, I still think that it is one of their greatest tracks - it wasn't even a surprise to me when I learned that back in '95 this song was released as the only single off the album.
10/10
4. Take It Like a Man (2:55)
This song is a tad heavier than the three previous tracks. The vocal melodies spiced with background hollers compete with catchy guitar riffing, supported with energetic drums and numerous snare fills.
Though not that memorable a song, still a strong performance.
8/10
5. Get It Right (3:06)
Musically this song is clearly more punk than rock, which is not that much my thing, but once again the chorus with background hollers along with a short bridge section save much.
Though not my favorite track, it's still to find any weak spots from these songs. Be it nostalgia, be it skillful work of composition, but after almost 15 years I still find this album enjoyable.
7/10
6. Dirty Magic (3:48)
A song that is as much 70's heavy metal that it is punk - with its ominous, clean guitar chord progression it sounds like Black Sabbath have composed a song in a faster tempo. And put a punk singer in the place of Ozzy.
And all this is complimentary. A well-balanced blend of classic metal and punk rock works really well for me. Noodles really shows how he is capable of noodling with his guitar - there are no blistering guitar shreds or incredible jazz chord inversions, only simple chords and melodies, and it all works like a charm. I wish they composed more songs like this.
10/10
7. Hypodermic (3:21)
Back again into those punk standards. Composition-wise this song is as punk as it gets, but Dexter Holland's vocals come into rescue once again.
Although this song would've been a lot more boring without those easy and catchy vocals, still they can't save everything, and this song doesn't quite cut the mustard. Oh well, we're already half-way through the album, I guess a weaker song at this point of album is acceptable.
6/10
8. Burn It Up (2:42)
In my opinion "Burn It Up" is another weaker performance. It sounds as if the band used up their energy during the first half of the album and now they're getting tired. The song is a bit too-straightforward (yes, I know I'm listening to punk rock here) to my taste, and though catchy, the chorus is a bit too asinine.
The song might be a classic to the 12-year old me, but not all classic are good.
5/10
9. No Hero (3:22)
Well, back again to those regular Offspring chord progressions. The band seems to be at its best either when they experiment with surprising song elements or when they don't emphasize their punk side that much.
"No Hero" is quite punk, but it has also many other elements that balance it out to be an entertaining track - surprising guitar fills and a drum breakdown, to name the most obvious ones. Not the best track of the album, but definitely on the better side.
8/10
10. L.A.P.D. (2:45)
Back to the no-brainer department. The menacing riffs are too repetitive and the vocal melodies as are absent. The biggest emphasis on the song seems to be on the lyrics lashing out the L.A. police department, but unfortunately the musical side has been left rather disregarded.
Maybe the band might have thought that these lyrics need a song simple enough to make them cut through, but unfortunately I'm not a fan of songs this punk.
5/10
11. Nothing from Something (3:00)
(The Offspring and Marvin Fergusen)
Once again a not-that-special Offspring standard. Both the chorus and the verses have semi-catchy choruses, and there are enough different parts to keep me interested, but on a whole, the song doesn't quite make it with the best songs. In a nutshell; an ok song.
7/10
12. Forever and a Day (2:37)
The album closes with an energetic tune that is surprisingly very reminiscent of their later works (and by that I mean their late 90's stuff). Catchy hollers, engaging riffing and simple-yet-working chord progression - this song is a great way to end an album, leaving a good aftertaste.
9/10
***
Final verdict
Well, I'm probably a little bit biased with this album - I'm not really a big fan of punk music. I prefer musical aesthetics over the political and ideological ones - the elements that most of punk music is all about. That said, it's even a little bit odd how The Offspring hit me even in the first place. However, it did, and especially with this album. Currently it is one of my oldest albums (in terms of owning it, not by release date), and probebly the oldest one I have bought with my own money.
Their trademark gimmicks are well represented already here in Ignition, their sophomore album - Dexter Holland's clever vocal melodies, strong output from background vocals, and chord progressions that don't always rely on a regular three-power chords -progression, but include also chords and more varied chord progressions (although this doesn't make them a prog rock band either!)
The majority of the songs are not that deep and mature, but the direction they are taking is becoming more and more evident during the course of the album; some songs clearly showcasing the elements that would end up well-represented in the following albums, Smash and Ixnay on the Hombre. Though there are some simple punk tunes in the album, there are also some clever and catchy tracks that combine the tempo and raw power of punk with the more varied sound and aesthetics with rock music. Songs like these are the ones that hooked me to their music big time.
Well, punk might not be everyone's cup of tea - and especially this form of "punk rock" that The Offspring well represents, combining raw punk music with more melodic songwriting, resulting in a more accessible, radio-friendly music. However, this album retains its roots deep in the punk aesthetic, and despite the catchy pop appeal found in some songs, there are no real punk-pop songs in this album. The album is just full of well-written, accessible punk rock, that really hits the spot if it just finds one.
Score: 77/100
No comments:
Post a Comment