After Hours - Dexter Gordon

Advantages: All of The Offspring's best tracks, plus and excellent bonus DVD
Disadvantages: None

...The Offspring are undoubtedly one of the best punk/rock bands that the world has ever known. Throughout the nineties and noughties, they have provided the world with outstanding singles and albums. So what better way to culminate their musical careers than by releasing a superb Greatest Hits album. This version of the album includes a bonus DVD full of exclusive content that you will not find anywhere else. Included on the DVD are the stories behind the songs as told by Dexter and Noodles, and an acoustic performance of Dirty Magic, as well as much much more. Even though it is a Greatest Hits album, there are a few orginal tracks. The first track on the album, Can't Repeat, is a completely original track written by Dexter Holland, There is also a remix of The Kids Aren't Alright performed by The Wiseguys, and a hidden track after... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Wonderful Avante-Garde music/film
Disadvantages: Not to the liking of everyone

...Decasia by Michael Gordon might not be everybody's cup of tea. It is, after all, what might be described as a quintessential piece of avant-garde music. Decasia is a piece of highly original music that was especially composed to provide backing for an avant-garde movie by film maker Bill Morrison. Indeed, without seeing the supporting movie, I fear that the listener to Decasia would miss out. On the DVD release there is a special interview with both Michael Gordon and Bill Morrison. The interview is fascinating as it is clear that Gordon had really enjoyed himself when he was writing the music and when it is performed! The film is made up from old nitrate film stock that is slowly decaying as the chemicals used to fix it degrades. Decasia debuted in Basle, Switzerland in 2002 with a 50 piece orchestra made up of members... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: a great album for its time
Disadvantages: not enough tracks!

...Smash, one of The Offspring’s or Offspring as they were known back in '94, earlier releases on the infamous Epitaph record label. The American punk rock giants manage to deliver 14 great tracks with the utmost quality and unique style you would expect from The Offspring. The album has its flaws such as the lack of a good opening track; instead we are given a somewhat "cheesy" voice over about relaxing and listening to music. After this, to put it fairly bluntly, somewhat lack luster opening track titled "Time to relax" the CD bursts into the fast paced drum intro of the second track "Nitro (Youth Energy)" a catchy song about whilst being young living for the moment with lyrics such as "So live like there's no tomorrow \ ain't gonna waste this life" We then come to hear Dexter Holland's vocal prowess in the slow starting more punk... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful