 conspiracy of one
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 Conspiracy Of One Americana, Offspring's 1998 album, suggested the band could go one of two ways. They could follow the first path along the road of the wry social commentary of Pretty Fly (For A White Guy), delivering well-judged barbs in such a way that told you they could laugh at themselves as well as other people. Or they could have trodden the track ploughed by the turgid anthem The Kids Aren't Alright. Conspiracy Of One covers much the same ground, but reverses the quality. Rabble rouser Come Out Swinging is a fine opener before pun-in-cheek Original Prankster, which is kooky without being funny. Musically, though, the band have regressed. Out goes the latino percussion and hip hop elements that made Americana more interesting than other skate punk efforts. All that is replaced by is lumpen drumming and straight-down-the-line punk. I Want You Bad and Damn It, Changed Again are especially poor examples. When they let their wit flow, Offspring knock the Limp Blinks of the world into a cocked baseball cap. They need to stop trying to fit in by pretending to be stupid. That prank isn't working. By Chris Mugan, from Virgin |
