Let the Bad Times Roll | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 16, 2021 | |||
Recorded | January 2013 – June 2020 | |||
Studio |
| |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 33:21 | |||
Label | Concord | |||
Producer | Bob Rock | |||
The Offspring chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Let the Bad Times Roll | ||||
|
Let the Bad Times Roll is the tenth studio album by American rock band the Offspring, released on April 16, 2021. [3] Produced by Bob Rock, it is the band's first release on Concord Records, and their first studio album in nine years since Days Go By (2012), marking the longest gap between two Offspring studio albums. Let the Bad Times Roll also marks the band's first album without bassist and co-founding member Greg K., who was fired from the Offspring in 2018. Even though new bassist Todd Morse had already joined the band and appeared in the video for the album’s title track and "This Is Not Utopia", bass guitar accompaniment was provided by guitarist and vocalist Dexter Holland. It is the second and last album to feature drummer Pete Parada, who was fired from the band in July 2021 for refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccination, due to suffering from Guillain–Barré syndrome. [4] [5]
The band's tour schedules, lineup changes, legal issues and the search for a new label after their split with Columbia Records, who released the Offspring's previous six albums, contributed to a years-long delay behind Let the Bad Times Roll. The band started recording new material for the album with Rock as early as the summer of 2013, [6] and after re-recording it at various studios and at various periods between 2013 and 2020, it had been completed by 2020 and was ready for release later that year. However, due to the aforementioned issues, other inner disputes and the COVID-19 pandemic, the album's release was pushed back to 2021. [3]
Plans for a tenth studio album were first mentioned about six months after the release of Days Go By by Offspring guitarist Noodles, who stated that they would "sit down and take a look at a new record" after the completion of the Days Go By tour. [7] Noodles had then hoped that the band would enter the studio in 2014 to begin recording their album. [8] Vocalist Dexter Holland stated in a May 2013 interview that he had written a "punk" song about "the government keeping you down." [9]
The Offspring entered the studio in August 2013 to begin tracking new material, with producer Bob Rock at the helm. [6] Within the next few years, the album's progress was slowed down by grueling tour schedules and the end of their contract with Columbia Records, the label that the Offspring had been on since 1996. [8] The band released their first song in over two years, "Coming for You", on January 30, 2015; [10] [11] [12] at the time of its release, it was unclear if "Coming for You" would be released as a one-off single or would appear on the band's upcoming tenth studio album, but a tweet from frontman Dexter Holland heavily implied it was in an unfinished state. [13] [14] [15] [16] Noodles had stated, however, that "Coming for You" would appear on the album. [16]
By September 2015, the Offspring were still in the studio and had finished 2-3 tracks. [17] [18] A month later, Noodles posted a picture of himself, Holland, Parada and Bob Rock in the studio on his Instagram page, which indicated that they were recording their tenth studio album. [19] [20] In a November 2015 interview Noodles said that he hoped the album would be released in 2016. [21] [22] However, in an August 2016 interview with EMP LIVE TV, Noodles said they had five or six songs done and they would release one or two songs soon. In the same interview, Noodles hoped the album would be finished by the end of 2016. [23] In an October 2016 interview with Alaska Dispatch News , Noodles stated that the band was "planning on getting in the studio soon" to record the album, planned for release in 2017. [24] On January 3, 2017, Noodles posted a picture of the band (except Greg K.) in studio on his Twitter page, "Here's a selfless selfie that I just took. Working!", implying that the band had finished or was still recording the album. [25] In a May 2017 interview, Holland stated, "I actually plan to spend a lot more time in the studio. We didn't put it on hold but we've been less active on the recording side for the last few years so I would like to put out another record. The band is number one for me and what I am most passionate about." [26]
In an interview during their appearance at Rock in Rio in September 2017, Noodles and Holland talked about the new Offspring album, with the former commenting, "We've got a few songs already done. We wanna do a couple more, and we definitely want to get something out soon. Our fans have waited long enough, I think, so we wanna get something in their hands that they can listen to and hold, and put in their ears." Holland added that the album would "for sure" be released in 2018. [27] In an October 2017 interview, however, Holland said, "I think I want to do like an EP. It's kind of what people are doing these days and it makes for less time in between stuff. It has been five years for us so we have a few songs together and I'm hoping to get something out by early next year." [28] In the same month, bassist Greg K. mentioned a possible 2018 release date for the new Offspring album, and revealed that one of the reasons for the album's slow progress was because they have been working on songs here and there. He also stated that the band was in no hurry to finish the album. [29] In December 2017, Noodles told Front Row Live, "We're working on it. We were in the studio all this week. We finished up for the holidays on Tuesday, Wednesday, and then we're gonna get back in the studio as soon as the new year [rolls around], in January." [30] On February 23, 2018, the band announced via Instagram that they had finished tracking down drums for the album. [31] The Offspring were asked two months later on Twitter if their new album would be released soon, and replied, "We're hoping by summer." [32]
On February 23, 2019, Noodles confirmed on his Instagram account that the new Offspring album was finished, writing "The album is done. Working on getting it to the fans now. Stay tuned!" [33] A month later, Dexter Holland confirmed that the album was "98% finished" and mentioned a tentative fall 2019 release. [34] Noodles reiterated that the album was ready for release in 2020 and they were in the process of searching for a new record label to release it. [35] [36] On April 21, 2020 the band released a rock cover of Joe Exotic's country song "Here Kitty Kitty" popularized by the 2020 Netflix documentary Tiger King . It was recorded while the band was in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. [37] In a June 2020 interview with Download TV, Holland confirmed that the new album was "basically done" but added that its release was "on hold at the moment" because of the coronavirus pandemic. [38]
On February 8, 2021, Dexter and Noodles posted a video confirming that the album was finished with an official release date and single announcement coming soon. [39]
On February 23, 2021, the Offspring announced Let the Bad Times Roll as the title of their tenth studio album, as well as its artwork, release date and track listing. The album's artwork was designed by Daveed Benito. [40] The album's title track was released as a single on the same day. [41] [3]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 56/100 [42] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Clash | 4/10 [44] |
Consequence of Sound | B− [45] |
Kerrang! | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Let the Bad Times Roll received mixed to negative reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 56 based on 7 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [42] DIY Magazine gave the album 1 and a half stars, saying "Rarely have Dexter Holland’s lyrics been so cliche, or the band as a whole revert to tropes worn thin before the group dropped their 1994 magnum opus, ‘Smash’. The faux-protest chorus of opener ‘This Is Not Utopia’ dilutes any earnest hostility with its inane repetition of “the roots” as Dexter chants “The roots of America / the roots of hysteria”." [47] In a more positive review, Consequence of Sound stated that "Let the Bad Times Roll offers hints of creative tangents that could revitalize the band next time around – if they’re willing to challenge themselves." [48]
All tracks are written by Dexter Holland, except "In the Hall of the Mountain King (by Edvard Grieg)"
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "This Is Not Utopia" | 2:38 |
2. | "Let the Bad Times Roll" | 3:18 |
3. | "Behind Your Walls" | 3:21 |
4. | "Army of One" | 3:11 |
5. | "Breaking These Bones" | 2:46 |
6. | "Coming for You" | 3:49 |
7. | "We Never Have Sex Anymore" | 3:30 |
8. | "In the Hall of the Mountain King" (instrumental) | 1:00 |
9. | "The Opioid Diaries" | 3:01 |
10. | "Hassan Chop" | 2:20 |
11. | "Gone Away [I] " | 3:16 |
12. | "Lullaby [II] " | 1:12 |
Total length: | 33:21 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
13. | "Guerre Sous Couvertures" (French version of "We Never Have Sex Anymore") | 3:30 |
14. | "The Opioid Diaries" (live at Pinkpop 2018) | 3:50 |
Total length: | 40:48 |
^ I "Gone Away" is a stripped-down piano ballad version of the group's 1997 single of the same name
^ II "Lullaby" contains a reprise of "Let the Bad Times Roll"
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
The Offspring is an American rock band from Garden Grove, California, formed in 1984. Originally formed under the name Manic Subsidal, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Bryan "Dexter" Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Todd Morse, multi-instrumentalist Jonah Nimoy and drummer Brandon Pertzborn. The Offspring is often credited for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the 1990s. During their 40-year career, the Offspring has recorded eleven studio albums and sold more than 40 million records, making them one of the best-selling punk rock bands.
Conspiracy of One is the sixth studio album by American rock band the Offspring, released on November 14, 2000, by Columbia Records. By the time of its release, the band had come out in support of peer-to-peer file sharing, claiming it would not hurt sales. Conspiracy of One was originally planned to be released directly on their website before retail, until Columbia Records threatened to sue and the album ended up as a physical release. The album was the last to feature drummer Ron Welty, who was fired from the band in 2003 and went on to form his own band Steady Ground.
The Offspring is the debut studio album by American rock band the Offspring, released on June 15, 1989, by Nemesis Records. After being out of print for years, the album was re-released by Nitro and Epitaph Records in 1995 with a different album cover. Both the re-releases on the two respective labels are nearly identical. The Offspring has rarely played any songs from this album live since the Ignition tour finished in 1994.
Smash is the third studio album by American rock band the Offspring, released on April 8, 1994, through Epitaph Records. After touring in support of their previous album Ignition (1992), the band recorded their next album for nearly two months at Track Record in North Hollywood, California. Smash was the band's final studio album to be produced by Thom Wilson, who had worked with them since their 1989 debut album The Offspring. Smash was put together on the spot in the studio and there was no systematic work behind the recording of the album.
Ixnay on the Hombre is the fourth studio album by American rock band the Offspring, released on February 4, 1997, by Columbia Records, as the band's first album on the label. After the massive commercial success of their previous album, Smash (1994), the band entered the studio in the middle of 1996 to record a new album. The title combines Pig Latin and Spanish to convey the message "fuck The Man", as in "fuck authority".
Bryan Keith "Dexter" Holland is an American musician, best known as the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, main songwriter and composer, and only constant member of the punk rock band the Offspring. He co-founded with former bandmate Greg K. the record label Nitro Records, which he previously owned. He also holds a PhD in molecular biology.
Kevin John Wasserman better known as Noodles, is an American musician who serves as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the Offspring. He earned the nickname "Noodles" for his frequent noodling (improvising) on the guitar.
Supercharged is the eleventh studio album by the American punk rock band the Offspring, released on October 11, 2024 on Concord Records. Produced by Bob Rock, who had worked with the band on its previous three studio albums. It is the band's first album to feature bassist Todd Morse as an official member, although the tracks he played on are unknown, and the band's first album to feature multi-instrumentalist Jonah Nimoy and drummer Brandon Pertzborn, marking it the first album with the band as a five-piece.
Splinter is the seventh studio album by American punk rock band the Offspring, released on December 9, 2003, by Columbia Records. It was the first album the band released without long-time drummer Ron Welty, who was fired from the band three weeks before the recording sessions started.
Americana is the fifth studio album by American rock band the Offspring, released on November 17, 1998, by Columbia Records. Following a worldwide tour in support of Ixnay on the Hombre (1997), the band commenced work on a new album in July 1998.
Greatest Hits is a 2005 compilation album by the American punk rock band The Offspring, compiling hit singles from five of their first seven studio albums along with the previously unreleased songs "Can't Repeat" and "Next to You", the latter a cover version of The Police song included as a hidden track at the end of the album. Greatest Hits peaked at no. 8 on the Billboard 200, with 70,000 copies sold in its first week of release, and has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
"Gone Away" is a song by American rock band the Offspring. Written by the band's singer, Dexter Holland, it is the seventh track on the band's fourth studio album, Ixnay on the Hombre (1997), and was released as its second single. It also appears as the sixth track on Greatest Hits (2005). A piano version of the song features as the eleventh track on the group's tenth studio album Let the Bad Times Roll (2021).
Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace is the eighth studio album by American punk rock band the Offspring, released on June 11, 2008, by Columbia Records. It was the band's first album of new material in five years, following 2003's Splinter, marking their longest gap between studio albums at the time. The Offspring had been working on new material since the fall of 2004, but showed no further signs of progress until November 2006, when they announced on their official website that they had begun recording with producer Bob Rock. The writing and recording process, spanning four years and three recording studios, was finally finished in April 2008.
The Offspring, a Southern California-based punk rock band, has released 11 studio albums, three extended plays (EP), four compilation albums, five demos, three video albums, and over 30 singles.
"Million Miles Away" is a song by the American punk rock band The Offspring. It is the fifth track on the band's sixth studio album, Conspiracy of One (2000), and was released as its third single. The song was not included on the band's Greatest Hits (2005) or Complete Music Video Collection (2005), although the song was featured on the trailer for the film Orange County.
Sonic Boom is the nineteenth studio album, and the first in 11 years, by the rock band Kiss, released on October 6, 2009. The album was recorded at Conway Recording Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA and produced by Paul Stanley and co-produced by Greg Collins. This is the first album to feature new lead guitarist Tommy Thayer. It also features the return of drummer Eric Singer following his return to the band in 2004. Thayer and Singer also have lead vocal performances on the album. Stanley stated, "the purpose of this album isn't to let people know that we're still around – it's to let people know we can still knock out anybody who's out there!".
Days Go By is the ninth studio album by American rock band the Offspring, released on June 26, 2012, by Columbia Records as the band's final album on the label. Produced by Bob Rock, it was the band's first album to feature drummer Pete Parada, who played on four songs and joined a year prior to the release of their previous album Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace (2008), and their last album to feature bassist Greg K. before he was fired from the band in 2018. The band commenced work on Days Go By in 2009, with plans to release it in 2010. However, its release was pushed back several times while The Offspring continued touring and writing new material. The writing and recording process spanned three years and six recording studios and was finished in March 2012. The Offspring re-recorded "Dirty Magic", from their 1992 album, Ignition, where it serves as Days Go By's ninth track.
"Days Go By" is a pop punk song by the American punk rock band the Offspring. It is featured as the third track on the band's ninth studio album of the same name and was released as its first single. The song was premiered on the Los Angeles, California rock station KROQ on April 27, 2012. "Days Go By" was released to radio on May 1, 2012; the song was written by frontman/lyricist Dexter Holland. It peaked at No. 2 on the US Mainstream Rock chart.
"Coming for You" is a song by the American punk rock band the Offspring. It was premiered on Radio Contraband on January 30, 2015, and posted on YouTube and made available for digital download the same day. "Coming for You" was the Offspring's second official new release since Days Go By (2012), and a modified version of the song appeared six years later on the band's tenth studio album, Let the Bad Times Roll (2021), with minor changes to the lyrics. The single climbed on various Billboard rock charts, reaching No. 1 on Mainstream Rock, top 20 on Alternative Songs, and top 25 on overall Hot Rock Songs.
"Let the Bad Times Roll" is a song by American punk rock band the Offspring. It is the title track from their tenth studio album of the same name and was released as the album's second single on February 23, 2021. The single topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, making it the band's third song to do so following "Gone Away" (1997) and "Coming for You" (2015). It also reached the top 10 on Alternative Airplay and peaked at No. 29 on the Hot Rock Songs chart. On the album, the song is reprised as a modified version on the closing track "Lullaby".