The Offspring - Let The Bad Times Roll (April 16, 2021) • Page 11

I still believe there's a timeline where The Offspring takes a more alternative rock approach after Defy You was released for the Orange County soundtrack. There are a number of moments I've enjoyed across their discography since Splinter, but 'Defy You' always felt like a crossroads for me, and I've just been more of a casual listener at best ever since then.

 

I mean, "Days Go By" was basically the Offspring trying to be the Foo Fighters, IMO.

 

They essentially did that as they couldn't find a way to fit into the emo movement like Green Day and Blink 182 did so essentially relied on the ever-shrinking modern rock radio landscape and now are pretty much regulated to playing butt-rock festivals in the US while maintaining a stronghold on the European festival circuit.

 

I’m guessing they’re not really looking to be challenged from now on. They have more money than God and albums don’t sell. Might as well just cash in on nostalgia and work with people you’re comfortable with.

 

Offspring felt like the band from their era that shed their punk roots the quickest.

 

I dunno about that. Americana and Nimrod came out around the same time, and Nimrod saw Green Day start to branch out their sound into other areas.

 

Fully agree, but Green Day still felt like they had a foot in the bay area. The Offspring were immediately bringing active rock bands on tour once their radio success took off and really going after that market.

 

Ever since someone pointed out it sounds like "Times Like These" I can't un-hear it. Though I will say there's some Rise Against "influence" in that album too.

 

100%. The Future Is Now is just Savior.

 

Yes but too much so, imo.

 

“Defy You” sounded like a decent Staind song.

 

I remember being rendered immobile when I first heard and saw the video for California Cruising. My brain couldn’t tell if what I was watching was real, a parody, some kind of fake music video from a movie where the Offspring play a fake cheesy version of themselves—TBH, I’m still at a loss. I don’t know what I saw. I still don’t know what it is I saw that day.

 

Yeah this might be the band I like the most that has the most bafflingly terrible songs

 

you could make one pretty great album out of DGB and LTBTR if they were produced competently I reckon

 

I think OC Guns is waaaaaaaay worse than Cruisin’ California

 

It was a semi-piss take but the band probably would not have also minded if it was a hit that people took at face value.

 

Is “tiki tiki tiki tiki what up homes?” really worse than “and the girl that you want is directly out in front and she’s waving her caboose at you/you sneeze achoo”?

 

Yes

 

I don't have a horse in this race, but I'd love to hear your reasoning on this.

 

Hahaha I don’t really have a horse in the race either. I guess that OC Guns just sounds sonically uglier. Then they throw on some odd appropriation (which they’ve done many times, but usually catchier).

Cruisin’ California is just regular bad, imo. I think them pushing it as a single is why people get so mad at it. I honestly think they have several songs worse. When You’re In Prison comes to mind.

 

Cruisin' California I can squint and go at least it has hooks and it's "ironic". OC Guns is just crap.

 

On the flipside on DGB, "All I Have Left Is You" is a brutal song. Must be about Dexter's divorce.

 

Me too

 

A good song! I prefer Days Go By to Let The Bad Times Roll on an album level.