Ignition is The Offspring's second full length studio release and their first released on a compact disc (Debut released on vinyl then reissued in 1995). It was released in 1992, two years before the release of the massively successful and breakthrough album
Smash. This is also the Offspring's first album on Epitaph.
Ignition was produced by Thom Wilson, who has done work with The Vandals and the Dead Kennedys.
Ignition shows The Offspring in their most punk form (along with self titled) to attract fans of punk, but still has that catchiness and pop appeal to attract fans of pop punk, and some for both. The production of this album is not as good as their later albums obviously, but is still well done.
Ignition does not contain any of the Offspring's most well known or popular songs (well at least not commercially), but nevertheless is a solid album all the way through right from the opening track
Session to the album finale
Forever and a Day.
Ignition shows what the Offspring are capable of: creating fast catchy punk rock songs.
After Dexter yells out a couple F-words,
Session kicks in, and immediately sets the tone of the album, with its fast drumming and fast guitar riffs along with Dexter singing. Session is a fast punk song with a very catchy chorus. Just a great way to open up the album. The pace takes a tone down just a bit, with this next track
We Are One. This song has somewhat slower verses but then picks it up in the chorus. A pretty standard Offspring song, not too great but not bad. It flows well with the album. Track number three is not only one of my favorite songs on the album, but on of my favorite Offspring songs in general.
Kick Him When He's Down starts off with a nice drumbeat until the guitar comes in. Dexter sings the chorus well and somewhat upbeat. A definite highlight of the album. Next is
Take It Like A Man, highlited bya distorted intro to the signature chorus with the 'Whoaaas' in the background over top of Dexter's voice.
Get It Right is next and is a pretty average Offspring song. It is again, very catchy and fast. Not a standout but not a bad track by any means.
Right in the middle of the album is another one of the best the album. Track number six is
Dirty Magic, and is a more mellow song as compared to the rest of the record and is also the longest song on the album clocking in just under four minutes. You may recognize this riff as they reused on
Vultures (on 2000's Conspiracy of One). Anyway, after the dreary opening guitar riff, the song is in its prime. Dexter's voice sounds especially good on this song for some reason. This is definitely one of the better on the record. The next two tracks,
Hypodermic and
Burn It Up are two pretty standard Offspring tracks, nothing that stands out as oppose to the rest of the record. However, neither are let downs. But out of the two, I'd say Hypodermic is the better one, just catchier, although Burn It Up does have some funny lyrics such as
"I'm gonna light up everything in sight, I'll drive on by your yard, And throw a Molotov cocktail at your car, Then another in the local bar" which seemt o reflect the labum title. After those two songs, is one of the best songs on the album.
No Hero again displays a classic Offspring song by a catchy clean guitar riff to open up. The verse is calm, but like
We Are One, has a very loud chorus.
Now we get to probably one of, if not the best on the album.
L.A.P.D. is an excellent punk rock track right from opening bassline from Greg, to the climatic chorus when Dexter yells LAPD! This song also has some better lyrics on the album about the Los Angeles riots and how the police were making unnecessary arrests and beatings. This song really brings the album up to speed after it trails off a bit in the last couple songs. The last two songs on
Ignition are both very well done.
Nothing From Something is not as heavy as the previous song, but still is a very quick catchy, song, like most Offspring songs.
Forever and a Day closes off the album is a good way. It begins with a quick drum roll with the guitar echoing in the background a few times until the verse begins. Dexter's voice is not monotone as it was on other songs, as it explores different ranges and heights. This song even has a little solo as provided by Noodles. Again, the chorus features some 'Whoaas' in the chorus but still sounds great. A very fitting ending to a great album.
Overall
Ignition is a very solid release from a band that most say have gone downhill. I wouldn't say they went totally downhill from here, just different. After the release of
Ignition, The Offspring added a more poppy sound to their music and became more mainstream, so this album provides a good look at The Offspring before they did all that. New fans that look into this record will probably find this very different from later Offspring material as it doesn't have the humor that they have been known to put in some songs (which can be good because lyrics are more serious and political than later albums but still has the comical charm on some) and it doesn't not have any experimentation; as every song is basic punk rock. Which leads to the downside of this album is that it can get a little repetitive after a while as many songs do sound similar at first or even after a while. Either way I recommend this album to any fan of punk rock in general as it is good from start to finish.
Standout Tracks:
L.A.P.D
Dirty Magic
Kick Him When He's Down
Forever and a Day
Session
No Hero
