Conspiracy Of One

For disillusioned, disaffected disbelievers everywhere, Dexter Holland, lead singer with The Offspring, may well be the voice of a generation.

Not that he has anything to say, mind. That’d be another generation. At their best, The Offspring specialise in punk-rock anti-anthems that trade beliefs for natty cynicism, dreams for wry humour. Emotion is scrutinised against the backdrop of humdrum reality. The results are occasionally inspired.

On Conspiracy Of One, Holland and co. are in characteristically ebullient form. ‘Original Prankster’ is the natural successor to the previously brilliant ‘Pretty Fly For A White Guy’, sporting such pithy couplets as “Crime, crime/Rockin’ like Janet Reno/Time time/Eighteen and life in chino”. The music works best here too, swinging merrily around Holland’s frenetically staccato delivery.

Although the other thirteen tracks can’t quite meet this ultra-high standard, ‘Life In Chaos’ blends soulful guitar with heavier punk riffs to glorious effect. ‘Special Delivery’ also impresses thanks to its intriguing set of stalker lyrics (“The voices told me/ To blow you away – you’re gonna fall for me”) and kung fu-influenced chorus.

The band are at their most banal when they play it completely straight. ‘Denial, Revisited’ is woeful stuff with lyrics that sound like they were nabbed from Britney Spears. ‘Want You Bad’ rips off Green Day’s signature spiky chord style, while ‘Dammit, I Changed Again’ has only mediocrity to distinguish it.

On this, their sixth album, The Offspring showcase an impressive array of high, lows and much that dithers somewhere in-between.

For the highlights alone, this comes recommended.