The Offspring
Days Go By

After 4 years, the Offspring return and do not disappoint expectations. B. 'Dexter' Holland's band is back on June 26 with "Days Go By", preceded in spring by the singles "Days Go By" and "Cruising California (Bumpin In My Trunk)" - the latter deserves a special note to follow - overall recovering a natural and carefree 'Offspring style', already partially revived in their last 2008 album "Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace".

The opening is among the best, with the tracks "The Future Is Now" and "Secrets From The Underground". However, it is right to make an analysis; the Holland/Wasserman duo often draws their chord patterns from the same cauldron, with a style that now characterizes them, but in this case, the result is fully satisfying. The band also keeps up with the times by perfectly adapting the punk sound with different electronic samples.

Following this is the fresh title track "Days Go By", which may not excel in grit and speed, but it fully delivers in a more laid-back style, a side that characterizes the group nonetheless. The track works, as does the subsequent "Turning Into You", which, despite the aforementioned 'computer aids', seems like an Offspring piece in '90s style, with due credit. Also, on good rhythms turns the following "Hurting As One", while a special mention deserves the second single " Cruising California (Bumpin In My Trunk)". This track, which experiences dissatisfaction from many fans (just look at the negative opinions of the video's official YouTube channel, about a third), is, in my opinion, a piece not to be despised, despite being shamelessly Pop. It's true, the band tried to draw the ace by placing a nice radio-friendly track extolling summer and fun - as is clearly evident from the title - but it can't be condemned for being excessively popular. That the Offspring were commercial is evident from albums following their debut, which made their fortune in the late '90s and early third millennium, and therefore, at this point, one should start complaining from the sly "Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)", which I deem worse than the track in question, or from "Original Prankster". I see no reason why a band like the Offspring cannot release a commercially successful and well-made summer single.

After this interlude, a couple of mellow pieces like "All I Have Left Is You" and "Oc Guns" which with a hint of hip hop are not to be overlooked, rather they entertain. The band returns to strike (but not too much) with "I Wanna Secret Family (With You)" and more seriously with "Dividing By Zero", with the latter encapsulating one of the most punk sounds of the entire album in its 2 minutes and 22 seconds and is among the best tracks on the album. The closure is attributed to the good "Slim Pickens Does The Right Thing And Rides The Bomb To Hell", with a reference to an American western actor from the '60s. Overall, I believe that one cannot ask much more from the Offspring today compared to the material produced in this album, it should not be underestimated that a large part of the band is now approaching 50 years - the title and cover of the album might intend to highlight this - and whether we admit it or not, often the age factor significantly influences the musical paths undertaken. Despite everything, the present "Days Go By" is probably the most effective and most 'Offspring' album the band has released to date since "Conspiracy Of One" produced back in 2000.

A group considered by many to be declining after the 2005 Greatest Hits, has managed to return to produce fun and lively music, and considering the flamboyance of the eccentric 'Dexter' and 'Noodles', nothing else could have been expected, although, as the album's title suggests, the days go by, even for them.