Smash (Epitaph)

Their first album caught on at radio, but it did seem a bit of a struggle. Now that you've had a while to digest it, this should be easy to accept.

Same high-aggression melodic punk, with a few more artistic flourishes. Smash definitely establishes the Offspring as a band in the ascent.

Sure, they had a little exposure on the trailer and soundtrack of the Charlie Sheen exploitation flick The Chase (I'm sitting in a theater, and suddenly I go, "Wait, I know that song..."). You should still blast this puppy lotsa times. It may be the slightest touch mellower than the debut, but it satisfies just the same.

By Jon Worley, from A&A - May 15th, 1994