Supercharged
Supercharged is a fairly sensible name for an Offspring record. It suggests speed, loud guitars and very little need to check the instruction manual. The band deliver plenty of that here, along with a few moments where the familiar approach runs out of fresh ideas.
The opening Looking Out for #1 is less convincing than what follows. It has the recognisable voice and the expected shape, but doesn't make the strongest case for another album. Light It Up is much better. The pace increases, the hook lands clearly, and the band sound involved in the song rather than simply operating a reliable machine.
The Fall Guy is another effective track. Dexter Holland's storytelling gives the arrangement a reason to keep moving, and the melody has a natural pull. This is a useful reminder that the band's best songs usually have something going on beyond the chorus.
Make It All Right leans towards a brighter pop-punk sound. It is easy to follow and easy to like, although it won't surprise anybody familiar with this side of the band. Truth in Fiction is sharper. The fast attack suits its concern with misinformation, and the song gets the thought across before the energy starts repeating itself.
Then there is Come to Brazil, which takes the album towards a heavier, more exaggerated sound. It's an entertaining change in places, but the joke and the metal gestures don't fit together quite as naturally as the stronger punk songs. The band are capable of doing this sort of thing, yet the result feels less essential.
Hanging by a Thread brings the focus back to a forceful rhythm and a memorable melody. It is one of the songs that makes the album's direct approach feel worthwhile. The guitar playing has plenty of life, and the band still know how to build a proper release into a short track.
Supercharged is uneven, but the good songs are more than reminders of older ones. The Offspring sound best when they keep the idea clear and give it everything. They manage that often enough to make this an enjoyable record, with a handful of tracks worth keeping close.
