The Offspring Conspiracy of One
(Columbia)

Funny thing when you let a dog out of its cage. For the first few minutes it does nothing but sprint around in circles with no goal in mind other than to burn off its pent-up energy. After that, though, lack of stamina and foresight catch up to the animal and it ends up trotting around, going through the motions like everything and everyone else. Unless, that is, you throw it a bone or something.

No, the latest punk rock platter from the Offspring isn't a wasted effort, but it ain't no Fun House or Never Mind the Bollocks, neither. Not that anyone was expecting it from the Offspring in the first place. Since the beginning, they've never taken themselves too seriously (which isn't to say that any punk band should), coating the airwaves with such goofy lines as "If you're under 18 you won't be doing any time" and "I took her back and made her dessert" after a dwindling grunge movement paved the way for juvenile jokers and fellow power-chord minders like Green Day and the Offspring. Yet, one is led to marvel over the fact that despite a ska leaning here or there, the Offspring haven't blinked (blink-182, that is) since 1994, keeping their own, and most astonishingly of all, remaining at the head of the pack in today's flavor-of-the-month mainstream.

At this stage in the game, to talk about how painstakingly derived the Offspring are is as useless as telling a kid with mono to watch where he puts his mouth. With moniker in mind, let's just assume that the Offspring never intended to break definition in the first place and it's safe to say that the Offspring have made a name for themselves at this point establishing their own "sound." That's what's so funny about the typical teen empowerment sing-a-long Conspiracy of One – more than a new flavor, the album's a blast from the band's own past: anyone with a verse or two from Smash left in their Bizkit-rattled brains will recognize Conspiracy songs as dead ringers for older Offspring ones (i.e. "Come Out Swinging" for "Genocide"). Could it be, a band ripping themselves off? A job well done, boys.

As usual, front 'spring Dexter Holland is singing about everything and nothing. Milking the pop culture cow for all its worth, he manages to mention "hoochie mamas," Janet Reno and Son of Sam all within the same song – "Original Prankster," the album's first radio single. A few ditties later, Holland's caught up in his own rhetoric again, this time with reason (but not rhyme) thrown out the window: "Red over white / It's one last fatal scene / Brought on by / Someone unseen / Moving on their own / Bring on the night / And bring us all / To our knees / All are gone and none agreed / One who acts alone." Huh?

But who's counting when everybody's listening? Look at it this way: the Offspring didn't have all that much to disappoint with when they "sold out" to a major, and since then have at least offered palatable fodder for the airwaves if nothing else. "One Fine Day" is sure to please after "Original Prankster" wears its welcome, and thank the Lord if one or the other throws that f**king "Kryptonite" song off the Top 10. All in all, Smash or Ignition ("Kick Him When He's Down" and "Session" remain dear to the heart) are more worthy collection staples.

By Kurt Orzeck, from Virgin Mega Magazine - October 14th, 2000