Smash (The Offspring album)

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Smash
File:TheOffspringSmashalbumcover.jpg
Studio album by The Offspring
Released April 8, 1994
Recorded October–December 1993
Studio <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Genre Punk rock
Length 46:47
Label Epitaph
Producer Thom Wilson
The Offspring chronology
Ignition
(1992)Ignition1992		 Smash
(1994)		 Ixnay on the Hombre
(1997)Ixnay on the Hombre1997
Singles from Smash
  1. "Come Out and Play"
    Released: March 10, 1994
  2. "Self Esteem"
    Released: December 22, 1994
  3. "Gotta Get Away"
    Released: February 2, 1995
  4. "Bad Habit"
    Released: March 15, 1995 (radio only)

Smash is the third studio album by American punk rock band The Offspring. After touring in support of their previous album, Ignition (1992), The Offspring began recording Smash in October 1993 at Track Record in North Hollywood, California. Recording and production were finished two months later, and the album was released on April 8, 1994 on Epitaph Records.

In the United States, Smash has sold over six million copies[1] and has been certified 6x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Peaking at number four on the US Billboard 200, it has sold over 11 million copies worldwide,[2][3][4][5][6] making it the best-selling independent label album of all time.[7] It was also the first album released on Epitaph Records to obtain gold and platinum status.[8] Smash was The Offspring's introduction into worldwide popularity and critical acclaim, and produced a number of hit singles including the hugely successful "Come Out and Play", "Self Esteem" and "Gotta Get Away" singles. Alongside Bad Religion's Stranger than Fiction, Green Day's Dookie, NOFX's Punk In Drublic and Rancid's ...And Out Come the Wolves, Smash was responsible for bringing punk rock into the mainstream, and helped define the sound of the emerging pop punk scene in the 1990s.[9][10][11][12] As a fan-favorite, the album received generally positive reviews from critics and garnered attention from major labels, including Columbia Records, with whom The Offspring would sign in 1996. Smash is the only release where the band was referred to as "Offspring".

Background and recording

In 1991, The Offspring released the Baghdad 7". This EP was the turning point for the band; due to its success the band signed with Epitaph Records. Thom Wilson, who produced The Offspring's first two albums, had been trying to get the Offspring to switch to Epitaph, a label run by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. Gurewitz felt that The Offspring was just not quite pronounced enough for his label, but Baghdad convinced him to give the band a shot. Wilson and The Offspring entered the studio again and recorded Ignition. Released in 1992, Ignition exceeded all of the label's and band's expectations.[13] Following the subsequent touring to support Ignition, The Offspring began writing new material for their third album in mid-1993. Recording sessions for Smash took place during October to December 1993 at Track Record in North Hollywood. On the recording process of the album, frontman Dexter Holland told Flux Magazine in 1994, "When we recorded this album, our last one has sold maybe 15,000 copies, so the possibility of us getting played on the radio or anything like that was pretty much nonexistent. Especially because this kind of music is not generally considered acceptable by the mainstream - so, for something like this to happen, it really took us by surprise."[14]

Writing and composition

"Come Out and Play" and "Self Esteem" have been played at almost every live show.

Although Smash has a dark, punk rock sound, the album is heavily influenced by the emerging pop punk scene (as opposed to the hardcore punk influences on their first two albums). Bands like Green Day and Rancid were gaining popularity, and riding on this wave of popularity, Smash's singles became modern radio rock hits. An example of this was the success of The Offspring's first major single release, "Come Out and Play", which reached #1 on Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. "Come Out and Play" features a Middle Eastern-influenced guitar riff.[15] The lyrics discuss gang violence in high schools.[15]

The second single released from the album, "Self Esteem", became a radio hit, managing to peak at number 4 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, although it didn't hit number 1 like its prior hit, "Self Esteem" was actually more popular and more successful worldwide. The lyrics are about an abusive relationship in which the girl takes advantage of her boyfriend, as he has "no self-esteem" to stand up to her. Contrary to popular belief, the song is not autobiographical. In an interview Dexter revealed that it is about one of his old friends.[citation needed] This song was the most successful and most popular of the album's three singles.

The third single, "Gotta Get Away" was another rock radio hit, although it was not as successful as the previous two singles. The song reached number 6 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Being the last song written for the album, the lyrics describe a point in Dexter's life when he was suffering from extreme pressure due to the then-upcoming deadline of the album. "What Happened To You" is driven by a Jamaican ska beat.[15]

A fourth song, Bad Habit, received radio play in some areas, but was never officially released. However, it is often their set opener and is a favorite among fans. The lyrics discuss road rage to the point where the protagonist shoots at the car in front of him.

Reception

Professional reviews

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 4.5/5 stars [16]
Robert Christgau (neither) [17]
Rolling Stone 3/5 stars [18]
Sputnikmusic (4/5)[7]

Critical reviews of Smash were mostly positive. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called it a "solid record, filled with enough heavy riffs to keep most teenagers happy". Erlewine praised the music as "relentlessly heavy". For the album, he claims that The Offspring had "crossed over", because of the success of its single "Come Out and Play", which "stopped and started just like Nirvana."[16] Sputnikmusic reviewer Mike Stagno called it "a fun album to listen to."[7]

Chart performance and sales

Despite obtaining early support from the Los Angeles modern rock radio station KROQ, Smash initially received little attention from radio and television stations. On October 29, 1994, it peaked at number four on the Billboard 200, and since then, was in various places on the chart for 101 weeks.[19] It also peaked at number one on the Heatseeker's Chart.[20] On June 19, 1999, Smash peaked at number 12 on the Catalog Albums chart for one week.[19]

Smash made history becoming the first album released on Epitaph Records to obtain gold and platinum status, and has been certified multi-platinum in three countries, including the US,[21] Australia,[22] and Canada.[23] Additionally, it has achieved platinum status in Sweden[24] and Switzerland[25], and gold status in Austria[26] and Norway.[27] Smash had sold over 11 million copies worldwide, with 6.3 million sales in the US according to Nielsen SoundScan and reported by Billboard in 2012. In France, it is the best selling album on an independent label, with 650,000 sales and 2x Platinum certification.[28]

On July 30, 1994, "Come Out and Play", the album's first single, topped the Modern Rock Tracks, and stayed on the chart for 26 weeks.[29] The song also charted at number 39 on the Pop Songs chart,[29] while it reached number ten on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. "Self Esteem" reached number four on Modern Rock Tracks and would remain on that chart for 26 weeks,[29] while it hit number seven on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. "Gotta Get Away", the album's third and last single, peaked at number six on the Modern Rock Tracks chart on January 14, 1995, where it would maintain some lower position on the chart for 20 weeks.[29] Although never technically released as a single, "Bad Habit" gained some minor popularity when the influential L.A. radio station KROQ began playing the song in early 1995. There was confusion over whether or not it would be released as the band's next single following the success of "Self Esteem". Unlike the first three singles, a video for "Bad Habit" was never released and it failed to chart.

Accolades

Publication Country Accolade Year Rank
Exposure Canada 50 Greatest Albums not to make the Greatest Albums lists 2005 35
Robert Dimery United States 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[30] 2005 *
Kerrang! United Kingdom The Kerrang! 100 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[31] 1998 54
Kerrang! United Kingdom The Kerrang! 200 Albums For The Year 2000 (Essential '90s)[32] 1998 8
Kerrang! United Kingdom The Kerrang! 50 Greatest Punk Albums Ever[33] 1998 5
Mojo United Kingdom The Mojo Collection, Third Edition 2004 *
RAW United Kingdom 90 Essential Albums of the 90s[34] 1995 *
Visions Germany The Best Albums 1991-96[35] 1996 *
Visions Germany The Most Important Albums of the 90s[36] 1999 100

* denotes an unordered list

Legacy

Smash is regarded by critics[who?] as one of the most influential punk rock albums of all time, and has inspired a number of musicians. During Trivium's early days, guitarist Matt Heafy performed a cover version of "Self Esteem" at his middle school talent show at Lake Brantley High School, while the British synthpop group Cuban Boys also covered that song on their only full-length Eastwood. The album's other hit, "Come Out and Play", was covered by Richard Cheese on his 2000 album, Lounge Against the Machine and again released on the 2006 album, The Sunny Side of the Moon. Brett Gurewitz, the guitarist of Bad Religion and president of Epitaph, had also mentioned that he liked Smash and described it as "a very good record".[37] New York melodic hardcore punk band After the Fall mentioned Smash in their song "1994",[38] which appears on their 2009 album Fort Orange.[39]

Along with Green Day's Dookie, Smash was among the most commercially successful punk rock albums released in 1994, a year when the genre reached arguably its greatest popularity. By the end of the year, Dookie and Smash had both sold millions of copies.[40] The commercial success of these two albums attracted major label interest in punk rock, with bands such as Rancid, NOFX and Pennywise, who had all been labelmates with The Offspring at the time, being offered lucrative contracts to leave their independent record labels, though this offer was rejected.

In November 2011, Smash was ranked number two on Guitar World magazine's top ten list of guitar albums of 1994, between Bad Religion's Stranger than Fiction and Weezer's Weezer.[41] Guitar World also ranked Smash at number 31 in their "Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994" list.[42] Although The Offspring is a punk rock band, Loudwire placed Smash at No. 4 on its "10 Best Hard Rock Albums of 1994" list.[43] The album was included at number 6 on Rock Sound's "The 51 Most Essential Pop Punk Albums of All Time" list.[44] NME listed the album as one of "20 Pop Punk Albums Which Will Make You Nostalgic".[45]

Artwork

Smash, as well as the CD singles "Come Out and Play," "Self Esteem," and "Gotta Get Away" all share imagery of an X-ray style skeleton on their covers.

Smash, as well as the singles "Come Out and Play", "Self Esteem", and "Gotta Get Away" have a common artwork theme: an ominous (and highly distorted) skeleton on the cover, disc, and back of the CD case. The music videos for "Self Esteem" and "Come Out and Play" also have several scenes with a similar skeleton. This symbol is believed to represent the core motifs of the album: death, greed, suicide, violence, addiction, and abuse. The skeleton is used to represent that the continuation of these acts will inevitably lead to death (or alternatively, the end of the human race). The art direction is credited to Kevin Head and Fred Hidalgo, who also designed the artwork for the Bad Religion album Recipe for Hate.[46]

Touring and promotion

The Offspring toured for more than two years to promote Smash. They began a two-month U.S. tour in May 1994, supporting such bands as SNFU, Battery Club and Pennywise, and then that summer, the band toured North America with Guttermouth and Big Drill Car, and Europe with Desaster Area.[47] The Offspring embarked on another U.S. tour in October–November 1994, supported by Rancid, who were promoting their second album Let's Go. The band wrapped up the year with a European tour in November and a series of theater performances in December.[47]

In January 1995, The Offspring embarked on their first tour of Japan and Australia, where they co-headlined Big Day Out with Ministry, Primal Scream, Hole, and The Cult. They toured the U.S. with Quicksand and No Use for a Name in February–March 1995, and then headlined a European tour, which was followed by another U.S. tour with The Vandals and Lunachicks, and another European tour in June–July.[47] The Offspring took the rest of 1995 off before playing three shows in Southern California in December, and a one-off show in Orange, California with Rancid in April 1996.[47] In August 1996, the band played its final dates of the Smash tour in Europe.[47]

The Offspring embarked on a full-scale tour in the summer and fall of 2014 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the release of Smash. On this tour, they played the Smash album in its entirety.[48]

Reissues

Smash has been reissued at least two times. Remastered issues of Ignition and Smash were released on June 17, 2008, the same day as The Offspring's eighth studio album Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace. On April 8, 2014, the 20th anniversary of its original release, The Offspring announced that they would be releasing a special edition of Smash in mid-August on Epitaph. It was released as a special package that contained the remastered album on both CD and vinyl, restyled artwork, and a large format 24-page booklet containing never-before seen photos. The reissue was also released as a box set; it came with an art print (the first 250 of which are signed and on linen), a live photo print, tour pass replica and 20th anniversary items, including a pin, patch and guitar pick.[48] The band toured in support of the reissue.[48]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Dexter Holland, except where noted [49]. 

No. Title Length
1. "Time to Relax" (Intro) 0:25
2. "Nitro (Youth Energy)"   2:27
3. "Bad Habit"   3:43
4. "Gotta Get Away"   3:52
5. "Genocide"   3:33
6. "Something to Believe In"   3:17
7. "Come Out and Play" ("Come Out and Play (Keep 'Em Separated)" on the remastered edition) 3:17
8. "Self Esteem"   4:17
9. "It'll Be a Long Time"   2:43
10. "Killboy Powerhead" (The Didjits cover) 2:02
11. "What Happened to You?"   2:12
12. "So Alone"   1:17
13. "Not the One"   2:54
14. "Smash" (song ends at 2:52, spoken outro lasts until 3:05, outro riff lasts until 4:10, hidden track "Come Out and Play (Acoustic Reprise)" begins at 9:10) 10:42
Total length:
 46:47

Chart positions and sales

End of decade charts

Chart (1990–1999) Position
U.S. Billboard 200[68] 56

Singles

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year Single Chart Position
1994 "Come Out and Play" Modern Rock Tracks 1
Mainstream Rock Tracks 10
Top 40 Mainstream 39
"Self Esteem" Modern Rock Tracks 4
Mainstream Rock Tracks 7
"Gotta Get Away" Modern Rock Tracks 6
1995 Mainstream Rock Tracks 15

Personnel

The Offspring

Additional personnel

  • Jason "Blackball" McLean – additional vocals on "Come Out and Play (Keep 'Em Separated)" (uncredited, but mentioned on Greatest Hits)
  • Lisa Johnson – Photography
  • Ken Paulakovich – Engineer
  • Eddy Schreyer – Mastering
  • Thom Wilson – Producer, engineer
  • Fred Hidalgo – Art direction
  • Mike Ainsworth – Assistant engineer
  • Ulysses Noriega – Assistant engineer
  • Christopher C. Murphy – Assistant engineer/Runner

Release history

Year Type Edition Label Catalog Ref
1994 CD — Epitaph 86432 [69]
1994 LP — Epitaph
1994 CS — Epitaph
1994 CD Australian version Shock Records [70]
1994 CD Brazilian version Epitaph/Paradoxx Music OXX 1127 [71]
1996 CS Russian version (Unofficial Release) Global Music  ? [72]
2008 CD Remastered version Epitaph 86868 [69]
2008 LP Remastered version (translucent orange vinyl); came with a coupon for a free MP3 download
"—" denotes that it was a standard release.

See also

References

General references
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Notes
  1. ↑ The Offspring Still Fly as 'Days Go By' Rises on Rock Charts Billboard
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 THE OFFSPRING CELEBRATE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF SMASH. Epitaph Records. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Offspring Were 'Flying By the Seat of Their Pants' As They Rocketed to Stardom. Yahoo Music. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 THE OFFSPRING HISTORY offspring.com/thehistory. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Epitaph Announces Re-issues of Smash and Ignition by Offspring. Alarm. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  6. ↑ Bad Religion, the Offspring (performing ‘Smash’ in full), Pennywise announce summer tour Alternative Press. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 The Offspring - Smash, April 28, 2007. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ The Offspring's 'Smash': The Little Punk LP That Defeated the Majors RollingStone on Facebook Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Offspring Biography
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Smash at AllMusic. Retrieved 29 April 2004.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Posted February 2, 1998.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Smash - The Offspring. Billboard. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
  20. ↑ Chart information at AllMusic
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "United_StatesOffspringSmashalbumCertRef" defined multiple times with different content
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "AustraliaThe_OffspringSmashalbumCertRef" defined multiple times with different content
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "SwedenThe_OffspringSmashalbumCertRef" defined multiple times with different content
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "SwitzerlandThe_OffspringSmashalbumCertRef" defined multiple times with different content
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter The Offspring in the field Interpret. Enter Smash in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "AustriaThe_OffspringSmashalbumCertRef" defined multiple times with different content
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "NorwayThe_OffspringSmashalbumCertRef" defined multiple times with different content
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 The Offspring Album & Song Chart History. Billboard. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ AFTER THE FALL LYRICS - 1994
  39. ↑ After The Fall (2) - Fort Orange at Discogs
  40. ↑ Bestseller lists and Diamond Certification available at the RIAA website: http://www.riaa.com/gp/bestsellers/diamond.asp
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Bird, ed. 2014, p. 73
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ "Smash" Linear Notes
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 47.3 47.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ BMI Entry
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 50.3 50.4 50.5 50.6 50.7 50.8 50.9 "Smash - Chart Positions" HitParade.ch.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ "Media Control Charts - The Offspring" Media Control Charts.
  53. ↑ "Chart Log UK (1994–2006) The O – Ozric Tentacles" Zobbel.
  54. ↑ "The Offspring - Charts & Awards - Billboard Albums" AllMusic.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Click on næste to go to page if certification from official website
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "FinlandOffspringSmashalbumCertRef" defined multiple times with different content
  58. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  59. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  60. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  61. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Select Album e Compilation in the field Sezione. Enter The Offspring in the field Filtra. The certification will load automatically
  62. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  63. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  64. ↑ THE FIELD id (chart number) MUST BE PROVIDED for NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATION.
  65. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Smash in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  66. ↑ The Offspring Still Fly as 'Days Go By' Rises on Rock Charts. Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  67. ↑ NO certyear WAS PROVIDED for GCC CERTIFICATION.
  68. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  69. ↑ 69.0 69.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  70. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  71. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  72. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Bibliography
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

  • Smash (remastered) at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)
Preceded by Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album
February 5–25, 1995		 Succeeded by
Hi Fi Way by You Am I
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