The Offspring - Ixnay On The Hombre
Grade: A-

Back in 1994 a little band called The Offspring released an album called "Smash" on Epitaph Records. That album sold over 9 million copies and brought them to superstar status behind such classics as "Self Esteem" and "Come Out And Play." Now they return with "Ixnay on the Hombre" which brings back the same style and adds some new surprises. The first single "All I Want" sounds like a standard Offspring song with a straight ahead punk rock feel. The Offspring stay with that same sound on "Ixnay On The Hombre" and build upon it to create some new sounds. "Amazed" exemplifies this with innovative guitar hooks and soothing vocals. The best song on this album, and one of the best Offspring songs to date, is the power ballad "Gone Away." The vocals on "Gone Away" are powerful and the guitar work is captivating, just a great song. The Offspring's "Ixnay on the Hombre" come close to "Smash" here, but just fall short. Hopefully "Gone Away" is a preview of what The Offspring will do in the future.

By Jess Redmon, from ARW Reviews