Offspring: Why Don't You Get A Job

       What I like most about the band Offspring is their realistic and somewhat cynical view of the world.  Much of their music exposes the flaws in peoples personalities and the, sometimes, self destructive ways we behave.  Songs like Low Self Esteem expose the emotional scars by unwrapping the bandages to expose the wounds below.  Unlike Everclear, who's music is knowingly autobiographical, Offspring observes the mistakes of others and shrugs their shoulders.
       Another side to this band is the anger they show towards the general unfairness of the world.  The Kids Aren't Alright takes a look around at contemporary society and see's how kids are growing up and failing.  While they don't offer any concrete reasons or solutions, they do indirectly hold the mismanagement of our government and economy accountable for allowing it to occur.  They long for the days when middle class life was within reach of everyone and are genuinely angry that that possibility is a shattered dream and out of reach for to many people.

They also have a more overt political side. Those songs cut into the raw nerves of anger and despair that seem to tighten daily, like a rope, around society's neck.  Baghdad calls out former President George W. Bush for plunging us into a war with Iraq.  They strikingly draw a sad comparison to Viet Nam and then spit directly into the barrel of the cannon.  Unlike many of their hippie predecessors, they understand that the soldier may be responsible for his actions but he is not responsible for the bad decisions of elected leaders.
       Today's feature, Why Don't You Get A Job, dials back some of the anger and loathing contained in so much of their music and goes back to the shoulder shrugging at the poor decisions of common people.  It's a fun song based around the same chord pattern used by Sam Cooke in his 1963 single Another Saturday Night with obvious Beatles influence (Obladi Oblada).  In the mix the band includes steel drums, and lots of percussion.  While it doesn't abandon their punk and grunge roots it is distinctly aimed at a pop oriented audience and more radio friendly than much of their harder edged stuff.  Unlike the biting sarcasm typical in so much of their music this song is more satirical in nature.  It laces together their observations of human folly with a wry wit wrapped in a high spirited package.  I really like this song and I hope you will to.
           Why Don't You Get a Job