Certainly Days Go By is not the ultimate masterpiece of The Offspring. But it is in my opinion, contrary to many other voices (s. Reviews 1-2 stars), quite with Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace began (2008) move away from "flat Weichspülpop" how to Conspiracy of One and Splinter continues , Yes, there are a few questionable title plan ("Cruising California" and "OC Guns", to a much lesser extent, "I Wanna Secret Family" and the quieter "All I Have Left Is You"). But the rest is a successful return to the angry roots, in the current context: The band can not really deny their age (one of the reasons why the party pieces "California Cruising" and "OC Guns" some misplaced act) the world has changed a lot since the band but has appeared on the scene. "The Future Is Now" focuses on the increasing trend towards 1984 "Secrets from the Underground" is an expression of dissatisfaction of the "common man", "Days Go By" calls for finally get over 9/11, "Hurting AS One "speaks against racism on the one hand and the war policy of the United States - as measured in mind that the band members probably swimming in money and really have no reason to be angry with the system, these issues are quite punky. The rest of the title is less political, but still so energetic, that brings back memories of the old days. Especially "Slim Pickens Does the Right Thing and Rides the Bomb to Hell" is reminiscent not least because the associated booklet illustration of the style of Americana. Not to forget the new, somewhat rockier version of "Dirty Magic" (one of my favorite pieces of tape), which is perhaps not absolutely necessary, but certainly welcome indeed.
So overall I forgive 4 stars because despite the hanger through the middle of the album, the majority of the pieces is just awesome. Those who the punk era of The Offspring returns might want to keep in mind that real punk a certain level of aggression required to act credibly. That these most likely lack the band members, they have here in this respect quite a good job. Purists should just hold on to the past - "Days Go By", things change. In the case of The Offspring this change (after Splinter) not in my view negatively.
