THE OFFSPRING
Days Go By
[Columbia Records]
Verdict: 6.5/10
RIYL: Face To Face, Lit, Sublime

It’s difficult for me to admit this, but the first song on the new Offspring record makes me think I’m listening to Rise Against. No shit, “The Future Is Now” pops on right at the start of the album and I keep thinking it’s RA. Now, this vibe doesn’t stick with the rest of Days Go By, but this still doesn’t feel like an Offspring album nonetheless. While the band has always had a strong rock foundation, they also had some special punk and odd attributes that made them stand out all those years ago. For the most part, those nice formula “game changers” seem to be absent on Days Go By. There are a couple exceptions – like “Hurting As One”, “Cruising California”, and “OC Guns” – but for the most part, this feels more like a general rock record than something unique (which was the kind of tag the band used to get in the 80′s and 90′s). It is those three previously mentioned exceptions that come off the most catchy on the record, and it’s that kind of funk the band needs to have from start to finish. Sadly, that is not the case here. Granted, there are some very good rock songs to be heard here, like “The Future Is Now” and “Turning Into You”, but longtime fans will certainly have a problem shaking the fact that this is supposed to be The Offspring, despite no longer sounding like them. – by Nathaniel Lay

>> Classification: Rock
>> Recommended Tracks: “The Future Is Now”, “Turning Into You”, “Hurting As One”, “Cruising California”, “OC Guns”
>> In Conclusion: For those who didn’t grow up on this band, Days Go By will probably pass as a very solid rock album for you. However, if you’ve known this band all your life, there’s a good chance this record will fall short in many ways.