The Offspring - "Ixnay On The Hombre"

Having taken a three-year rest after its1994 release, "Smash," The Offspring are back with a new label, a new album and the same old punk-rock attitude. "Ixnay on the Hombre," the group's fourth album, is a brilliant mesh of what got The Offspring here and lots of new sounds as well - exactly what fans demand.

Singer Dexter Holland sounds even better than he did on earlier recordings, pushing The Offspring to their musical limits. "Ixnay" is the group's best release yet.

After opening with the playfully sarcastic "Disclaimer," in which Jello Biafra reads, "This American, apple-pie institution known as parental discretion will cleanse any sense of innuendo or sarcasm from the lyrics that might actually make you think," the album kicks off the music with the hyper-charged "The Meaning of Life."

"Meaning of Life" sets the tone for what is to come; it hits the listener with a blast of classic The Offspring formula - a pedal-to-the-medal rhythm section that is hastily joined by frantic guitar chords. The pissed-off lyrics, hollered by Holland, round out the song - one of best on "Ixnay," along with "All I Want."

Military beat drums introduce the next number, "Mota." Remember the line "ya gotta keep 'em separated" from the hit single "Come out and Play"? Well, in a similar fashion, we hear some guy commenting "mota!" between riffs. Sure, it's cliched - they did it before and, yep, they did it again. It's hard to complain, though, because it still works to perfection.

"Me & My Old Lady," is a new twist on the traditional Middle Eastern influences within The Offspring's sound, while "Cool to Hate" is a great demonstration of what makes a song punk. "I hate teachers / I hate school / I hate the cheerleaders and anyone who's cool . . . . yeah I hate everything / I even hate you / so fuck you," Holland shouts.

Punk rockers will find it hard to criticize the album because The Offspring hit the nail on the head with this one. While sustaining a hard rock feel, they incorporate some slow songs - "Gone Away" and "Amazed" - which fit like a glove in between the faster songs. The one banana-peel slip of "Ixnay" is "I Choose," a really weak pop tune with congas and cheesy vocals.

There's something for just about everybody - "Way Down the Line" is beer-bash, punk rock NOFX-style, while "Don't Pick It Up" is a sizzling ska dance sensation. If you've ever liked anything having to do with The Offspring, just get the album.

By Robert Chiles, from Stanford Daily - March 6, 1997