The Offspring - Days Go By Album Review

Even when reaching their commercial peak with novelty anthem 'Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)', California punk veterans The Offspring never strayed far from a particular sound - and their ninth studio record doesn't see them make the leap. In other words, fans will be satisfied and those never interested won't be converting now.

Straight off the bat with 'The Future Is Now' you get the sort of riffs and energy that have long served The Offspring well, something that continues through the likes of 'Turning Into You' and 'Dirty Magic', which are just a couple of examples of perfectly acceptable if not thrilling guitar tracks. Whether the AOR moments are a reflection of the band's advancing years is debateable, but the title track 'Days Go By' and 'All I Have Left Is You' prove to be uninspiring if nothing else. Of greater interest is 'Cruising California (Bumpin' In My Trunk)', which probably doesn't sound too appealing if only described as an uncomfortable attempt by Dexter Holland to rap through his vocals. However, the track is actually a very slick pop record and lyrics aside could easily be the sort of chart-topper produced by the likes of Katy Perry. It's an enjoyable break from the guitar assault, as aside from this it is very much a case of business as usual for this outfit.

Alex Lai