The Offspring
Ixnay On The Hombre
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The Offspring
Ixnay On The Hombre
Columbia, 1997
RiYL: Down By Law, Green Day, Pennywise |
With the release of the Offspring's second album in 1994 on the Epitaph record label (still owned and run by ex-Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz), the band was expecting to continue touring clubs and playing to the same small crowds. But Smash sold more than 8 million copies and destroyed the conception of how big an independent punk album could get.
After signing with Columbia Records for a large and extended contract, the group put off its next album, showing signs of anxiety about its major label debut.
"(We're going) to try to do it the same way we've always done. We're not going to try and worry about getting another hit or anything like that because we've never been about that. There's a lot of pressure on it though," said Offspring bassist Greg K before a show in Indianapolis in 1995.
The Offspring returned to the CD racks in 1997 with its first original album in almost three years. There are 12 songs on Ixnay On The Hombre. While some of the songs are very reminiscent of older material, the Offspring blatantly try to progress past the catchy, hard riff style used on Smash.
After an annoying "Disclaimer," the real music begins with "The Meaning Of Life," which is a close cousin to "Session," from the band's first album. The similar drums and guitars are offset by continuously changing vocals by singer Dexter Holland. At times, the singer tries too hard to differentiate his singing from his past work, and it hurts the songs.
On "Me And My Old Lady" Holland hits higher notes, and his voice is reminiscent of an '80s hard rock group, the song itself is very catchy. The chorus is the highlight: " So what if we're making a scene now, you know she don't give a shit/when she's pawin' and grabbin on me now, you know I don't mind a bit." After this great display, Holland goes into an annoying whine, "She ain't my ball and chain," which almost ruins the song.
The album's tracks are drastically different than what listeners had come to expect from an Offspring album. "Gone Away" and "I Choose" both have a distinctive '80's pop flare. While many might see this as a fault, it actually proves the band can escape the trappings of playing rehashed Circle Jerk riffs and move on to something oddly original for punk rock.
"I Choose" is the most drastically original of the album and easily its best track. A rhythmic mix of percussion and bass grooves on the song produces a very distinct blend of pop-punk not often associated with the Offspring. At the same time, Holland's vocals on the album's first single "All I Want" are half distorted and half classic Offspring. Here, Holland and the rest of the band kick back into a style they know and have recorded since they began to play. The fast-paced guitar frenzy ends in two minutes and has an easy-to-remember chorus: "All I want."
"Amazed" is a slower paced rock tune heavy on guitars and light on punk riffs, another diversion for the group. It seems to be tailored for alternative radio. The next and final track on the album, "Change The World," has an intro amazingly similar to that of "Dirty Magic" from Ignition, but changes the slow tempo after a minute and opens up into a fast-paced anthem.
Ixnay On The Hombre outclasses the hit Smash, but won't be able to outsell it. The Offspring is more relaxed on Ixnay, and it shows. They try numerous new hooks and vocals, but the originality will be lost on those looking for a repeat performance of earlier successes.
DAVID THOMAS |