Music's Bottom Line Interviews Greg Kriesel

Though the Offspring might not consider themselves punk per se, they definitely sprung from punk roots - the early ‘80s Orange County punk scene to be exact. TSOL and Social Distortion were their choice bands. And furious guitar and enraged lyrics was their choice style. Recently, Music’s Bottom Line talked with Offspring bassist Greg Kriesel about how this legacy continues on their new album AMERICANA.

AMERICANA is similar to the Offspring’s other two multi-platinum albums - 1994’s SMASH, and 1997’s IXNAY ON THE HOMBRE. Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman plays mostly in his frantic punk-guitar style, though still employs catchy rock riffs that made their earlier singles hits. Kriesel keeps the basslines simple, though does play a well-written bass bar on "Have You Ever." Drummer Ron Welty pounds fast and furious while again managing to add some complexity to the two-beat drumming punk is known for.

Like their previous albums, AMERICANA is full of the vivid, story-telling lyrics that singer/guitarist Bryan "Dexter" Holland is known for writing. This "slice of life" approach, which is illustrated in past hits like "Come Out and Play" and "Self Esteem," is prevalent on this album as well. The method shows Holland has an acute eye for dysfunction.

It is the album’s focus on dysfunctional America that makes AMERICANA different from previous albums. It takes a hard look at the "American dream," and then shows the many Americans that have no part in it.

"We just wanted to show a different side to things," says Kriesel. "‘The Kids Aren’t Alright’ was based on the people who grew up in our neighborhood. A lot of people came out and are doing fine. But the song is about the people who didn’t make it out and whose lives didn’t turn out the way they wanted them too."

Kriesel admits that the album didn’t begin as an exposition of American culture. After Holland wrote the lyrics for the first few songs, the band saw a pattern emerging. Upon hearing the lyrics to "Pretty Fly," "Why Don’t You Get a Job," and "The Kids Aren’t Alright"; they decided to call the album AMERICANA. Holland then finished the album based the concept.

Concept albums aren’t exactly common for punk bands to make. It makes one think the Offspring aren’t the common punk band. Though according to Kriesel, 15 years ago they decided that punk was the style in which they were going to play. So, do they ever find that label limiting?

"It can limiting if you let it be limiting," he says. "A lot of bands are like that and say we can only play three or four chords, and it has to be driving guitars all the way and the drums have to be really fast - two beats. We’ve tried not be limited by that. On SMASH we have ‘Come Out and Play’ and ‘Self Esteem.’ On [Ixnay on the Hombre] we have ‘Gone Away’ and ‘Me and My Old Lady’ that were a little different."

Most of the tracks on AMERICANA are very tight punk songs, with very little experimenting done. However, there are some looser songs on the album. "Why Don’t You Get a Job," which has been released as the album’s second single, is an acoustic number, backed up by some cool horn arrangements and Caribbean-style drums. "Pay the Man" is a great deviation from not just punk, but rock music in general. It has an Indian guitar melody that is a departure from anything they’ve done.

According to Kriesel, the Offspring have always pushed the limits of a punk band. "Even back in the’80s we would write different songs and be reluctant to play them. If we went to a show and were playing to 50 skinheads, then we wouldn’t bust out something like ‘Why Don’t You Get a Job.’ But we have always played around with different sounds and we’ll continue to do so," he says.

Playing with different styles seems to have always paid off for the Offspring. Their biggest hits have all been the songs that have deviated from what is traditionally punk.

"As far as radio friendly, the songs that are a little different are the ones that seem to get picked up on," admits Kriesel. But that doesn’t mean that the band is going to forget their roots. He goes on to say the faster songs are for the core fans, and these make up most of the album.

In AMERICANA, like their previous albums, the Offspring have struck a good balance between their punk origin and their radio hits. They stay close to what they know but experiment just enough to keep masses entertained.

Experimenting seems to be the theme of popular music during the ‘90s. Throughout this decade we have seen a lot of different styles come into the mainstream - ska, techno, even swing. The Offspring themselves helped bring punk rock back a few years ago. Kriesel, however, doesn’t believe his band experiments because of the fads.

"Actually, we had a ska song on SMASH - 'What Happened to You.' That was before the whole ska thing got big. We actually had another ska song written for [AMERICANA], but we were reluctant to do it because ska was like ‘the thing.’ Also, we didn’t think it was that good of a song to put on the album. I don’t know that we’ve ever thought of doing something just because it was big."

The Offspring also don’t feel pressure from their older fans to play straight punk rock. Kriesel remarks, "Some of the older fans would say, like when ‘Get a Job’ was first played on the radio, ‘what the hell is that?’ Well, it’s just one of our songs. But we try not to think about what other people say. We’re just going to write the songs that we like, and we feel comfortable with."

The Offspring begin their American tour here in Cleveland February 23.

The Offspring’s AMERICANA is available now on Columbia Records.

By Mike Bellart, from Music's Bottom Line