Cover of The Offspring Smash
Kiodo

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For fans of the offspring, lovers of 90s punk rock, and readers interested in alternative music history.
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THE REVIEW

The day is exactly this one, the year is 1994; "Dookie" has only been out for two months, but it has already cost Green Day their ousting from 924 Gilman Street. While alternative music enthusiasts around the world are still drying their eyes following the tragic loss of Kurt Cobain, Epitaph Records by Mr. Brett Gurewitz releases "Smash" by The Offspring.

Costing just $20,000, the third record for Dexter Holland and company will become the best-selling release by an independent label in the history of music, a record still unbeaten.

Like a resin cast that time transforms into amber, this album joins 4-5 other titles that have crystallized a specific moment in the lives of those who loved it. The people of my generation will surely remember the scent of gel soaked in the helmet, the clumsy attempts to learn to stand on a skateboard, the puzzled looks from girls, the curiosity towards those who had already chosen to embrace alternative looks and attitudes, but for some reason, it's not all there.

Because it cannot be said it was their intention, but with "Self Esteem", The Offspring officiate the farewell of grunge from international charts. For this reason, it would have been interesting to be a teenager back then to understand its immediate impact.

What is certain is that these 14 songs still make perfect sense today. The oriental riffs of Noodles, the hooks of Greg Kriesel, and the gallops of Ron Welty are well-known; every chorus is a classic, but thirty years later it all hits even harder, if possible: the initial doublet "Nitro"-"Bad Habits" is the emblematic answer to the question "but at 36, still obsessed with punk? That’s not normal, come on..."

I don't know, as long as the world goes on like this, it's always a good day to listen to punk rock, and it's always a good day to listen to "Smash".

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Summary by Bot

Released in 1994 by Epitaph Records, The Offspring's Smash became a historic punk rock album and best-selling independent release. With memorable riffs and hooks, it marked a cultural shift, signaling grunge's decline and punk's rise. The album's energy and impact remain relevant decades later, capturing the spirit of a generation's youth.

Tracklist Lyrics Videos

01   Time to Relax (00:25)

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02   Nitro (Youth Energy) (02:26)

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03   Bad Habit (03:43)

04   Gotta Get Away (03:53)

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06   Something to Believe In (03:17)

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07   Come Out and Play (03:17)

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09   It'll Be a Long Time (02:43)

10   Killboy Powerhead (02:02)

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11   What Happened to You? (02:12)

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13   Not the One (02:55)

14   Smash / Come Out and Play (reprise) (10:39)

The Offspring

The Offspring are an American punk rock band from Orange County, California, formed in 1984. Their 1994 album "Smash" became a landmark success and is widely cited as the best-selling independent-label release, helping push 90s punk into the mainstream.
24 Reviews

Other reviews

By let there be rock

 Among the great albums of that era, 'Smash' by The Offspring undoubtedly deserves its spot as a masterpiece.

 'Come Out & Play' and 'Self Esteem,' two masterpieces from the Californian group.


By El Kor

 To appreciate the leap in quality that The Offspring make with this album, it’s advisable to listen to Ignition first.

 Smash represents a must-hear milestone of ’90s American Punk, absolutely to be listened to, whether you like the genre or not.


By Trofeo

 It has already been talked about a lot, it has already been listened to a lot, but apparently, it’s never enough.

 The voice of actor John Mayer opens the dances with the spoken track “Time To Relax,” and from this point forward, it will be pure energy.