The Offspring: Conspiracy of One [UME]

Why you'll love it

This 20th anniversary reissue brought the album back to vinyl for the first time since 2000 and adds the bonus track "Huck It." It went platinum in the US, debuted at No. 4 in Canada and was later certified double platinum here.

This edition

• 20th anniversary edition
• Bonus track "Huck It"

About the album

Every punk band needs a producer who can make three chords sound like a stadium. For their sixth album, the Offspring went back to Brendan O'Brien, set up at NRG Studios in North Hollywood for two months in the summer of 2000 and came out with a record that's as tight as anything in their catalogue.

"Original Prankster" borrows a little of War's "Low Rider" and brings in Redman for good measure, "Want You Bad" is pure sugar-rush pop punk, and "Million Miles Away" leans harder on the riffs. Dexter Holland and Noodles keep the guitars sharp on "Come Out Swinging" and "Special Delivery," while the late-album title track lets Greg K. and Ron Welty drive things home. The band were early supporters of sharing music online at the time, and the whole record has the confident, open-armed feel of a band at the top of its game.

AllMusic called it the band's most musically mature collection, and Rock Sound later put it at No. 13 on its list of the most essential pop punk albums. The intro is performed by Mike Love of the Beach Boys, which is a credit we enjoy reading out to customers who think they know this record.

Also at Kops: more The Offspring on vinyl · browse Punk

Tracklist

Listen

On Round Hill Records / UMe (cat# B0032640-01), a reissue of the 2000 album.