Dexter Holland Talks On New Offspring Album

Rocky Mountain News writer Mark Brown recently sat down with Offspring frontman Dexter Holland to discuss the release of band's latest album, "Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace", which came out a couple weeks ago.

When asked why the follow-up to "Splinter" took 5 years for the band to make, Holland replied:

"You get off tour, spend six months writing a record, six months recording it, then you tour for a year. It's this two-year cycle that goes by before you know it. It's hard to do anything much quicker. We did do the greatest hits in between, recorded a few songs for that, did a little touring, and all of a sudden a year and a half had passed. This was our eighth album and you have to make sure it's special and unique. Sometimes you have to dig around a little bit more to get to that point. It's natural in a band to go back to the same thing you did before."

On the band's decision to tap Bob Rock (known for his work with Metallica) as the producer for the album:

"I didn't watch [the Metallica documentary Some Kind of Monster] until after I started working with him... so I had a little different perspective. Working with Bob was great. He was not the person I initially thought of just because his pedigree is something I'm not familiar with. I didn't realize till later he was in the Payolas and was part of the old Vancouver punk scene. Once we actually sat down and talked about music and playing songs it worked out great. A really great producer to work with."

The band is currently on tour supporting "Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace". This tour marks the band's first full scale tour in three years since the Warped Tour, as well as their first world tour with new drummer Pete Parada (formerly of Face To Face).

There are rumors that The Offspring will be playing a number of other "festival" shows in Europe and the United States, and will be embarking on a full-scale North American tour in late 2008/early 2009 following their Japanese tour, which kicks off in October.

Comments

[Alex101]

Well, what can I say? Rise and Fall is, in my opnion, the Offspring's best-ever album since Conspiracy of One (I really hate Splinter, actually). I remember waiting very patiently for a new record from these guys, and then a couple days after it was out, I immediately started to like it. I think Rise and Fall is the greatest comeback album ever!

[zalitz]

I don't care to much for Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace. I found most of the tracks skippable, and it didn't feel like the Offspring. I'm not saying I want the same old crap rehashed, I just couldn't get into it this time around. I mean, Weezer's Red Album was completely different than anything else they've put out so fay, but still was completely Weezer. Some of the tracks of Rise and Fall could honestly, and have honestly, fooled me. I've found myself listening to it in a friend's car and on one track I actually asked "Is this Panic at the Disco?" And he corrected me, and I just felt sad. Part of me wishes it was Panic at the Disco, and that I was still waiting for my Offspring album to come out.

[elchavo]

Actually, I think it was quite mediocre (although hammerhead is a great song); these guys haven't done nothing really worth my money since ixnay on the hombre. As the comment posted before mine, i am still waiting for a new offspring album that deserves to have the band's name printed on the record.

[David_Bowie=GOD]

I liked it better than splinter, but the only tracks I always listen to are the first four. Most of the others I usually just skip over, Bob Rock better not produce the next album. I think he was probably the reason behind the softer tracks. And to the guy above me, what do you mean the only thing since ixnay? Americana was great, sure pretty fly and why dont you get a job may have gotten overplayed but it was a great album. This one was just okay for me though. It would have been better if it had been minus bob rock.

[b.c.rich rules]

I liked Rise And Fall more than Splinter, but that's not saying much seeing as I really hated Splinter. and, as zalitz said, it just didn't feel like an offspring album. there are only 2 or 3 songs that I actually listen to off of it, and overall I'm disappointed.

[Jaw Knee]

Rise and Fall ****ing ruled and you know it.

[Guitarfreak777]

A lot of the tracks were to soft for me and didn't impress me, half the cd rocked, half the cd didn't.

I hope to get a more Offspring sound on their next album, whenever that is gonna be.

I'm still going to see them if they come around my area though.

[motorbreath_445]

Well, what can I say? Rise and Fall is, in my opnion, the Offspring's best-ever album since Conspiracy of One

dude, i totally agree with you. this album is a brilliant reminder of just how ****in awsome these guys really are. i cant wait until they come back to america to begin touring. gonna be a sweet fall for shows.

[Ibanez_4]

this cd owns these guys are definetly amazing...my favorite band there best album since americana

[mr.happyman]

This is a good album but there's four or five tracks I don't really like though. Definatley better than their last two efforts but some of the songs sound suspiciously similar to others (Trust In You/Smash). Suppose that's just The Offspring; still love 'em!

Anyone else think this sorta has the same feel as Americana? Where Americana was about the 1990's, this is similar but about the 2000's. My two cents.

[David_Bowie=GOD]

mr.happyman wrote:

This is a good album but there's four or five tracks I don't really like though. Definatley better than their last two efforts but some of the songs sound suspiciously similar to others (Trust In You/Smash). Suppose that's just The Offspring; still love 'em!

Anyone else think this sorta has the same feel as Americana? Where Americana was about the 1990's, this is similar but about the 2000's. My two cents.

I kinda agree with that, though I liked Americana more.