Somewhat surprisingly, Southern California's metal pop-punk
the Offspring's music transfers well to the bluegrass format, shown off in
Cornbread Red's banjo-laden and fiddle-laden tribute to them. The album takes songs from six of the band's seven full-lengths (only the seldom-heard
Ignition is skipped), and includes"Self Esteem" and "Gotta Get Away," from
Smash, "The Kids Aren't Alright," from
Americana, and "Jennifer Lost the War" from
The Offspring. Maybe it's the simple but catchy hooks and lyrics, maybe it's the teenage angst that Dexter Holland captured so well, but for whatever reason,
The Bluegrass Tribute to the Offspring ends up being rather, and unexpectedly, enjoyable. ~ Marisa Brown