Conspiracy of One
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Conspiracy of One
| type = studio
| artist = the Offspring
| cover = The_Offspring-Conspiracy_of_One.jpg
| alt =
| released = November 14, 2000
| recorded = June–August 2000
| venue =
| studio = * NRG Recording Studios
- D-13 Studio, Huntington Beach
- North Hollywood
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| length = 37:44
| label = Columbia
| producer = Brendan O'Brien
| prev_title = Americana
| prev_year = 1998
| next_title = Splinter
| next_year = 2003
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Conspiracy of One
| type = studio
| single1 = Original Prankster
| single1date = October 25, 2000
| single2 = Want You Bad
| single2date = March 12, 2001{{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/song/The-Offspring/Want-You-Bad-4637|title=Offspring singles}}
| single3 = Million Miles Away
| single3date = June 25, 2001{{cite magazine |title=New Singles|magazine=Music Week |date=June 23, 2001 |page=23}}
}}
}}
Conspiracy of One is the sixth studio album by American rock band the Offspring, released on November 14, 2000, by Columbia Records. By the time of its release, the band had come out in support of peer-to-peer file sharing, claiming it would not hurt sales. Conspiracy of One was originally planned to be released directly on their website before retail, until Columbia Records threatened to sue and the album ended up as a physical release. The album was the last to feature drummer Ron Welty, who was fired from the band in 2003https://twitter.com/gregkriesel/status/1179622520384679936 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}{{cite web | url=https://www.docketbird.com/court-documents/Ron-Welty-vs-Offspring-Inc-et-al/Complaint/d-lasu-2020-cv-20STCV34993-2020-09-10-1791561755 | title=Ron Welty vs Offspring, Inc.,, et al.: Complaint | access-date=2024-02-29 | archive-date=2023-07-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713012341/https://www.docketbird.com/court-documents/Ron-Welty-vs-Offspring-Inc-et-al/Complaint/d-lasu-2020-cv-20STCV34993-2020-09-10-1791561755 | url-status=dead }} and went on to form his own band Steady Ground.
Conspiracy of One debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200, selling over 125,000 copies in its first week of sales,{{cite web|author=Joe D'Angelo |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1482928/20031217/studdard_ruben.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040325215837/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1482928/20031217/studdard_ruben.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 25, 2004 |title=Ruben Debuts At #1 But Can't Match Clay's First-Week Sales - Music, Celebrity, Artist News |publisher=MTV |date=2003-12-17 |access-date=2010-12-19}} and spawned the singles "Original Prankster", "Want You Bad", and "Million Miles Away". Although not as successful as their previous album Americana (1998), it was later certified platinum by the RIAA in the United States.
Background and recording
The Offspring spent much of 1999 on tour promoting the Americana album. They also appeared at the infamous Woodstock 1999, where their performance was broadcast live on pay-per-view television. After some time off, the members reconvened in early 2000 to begin work on new material, nine songs of which were in the demo phase at the time. Frontman Dexter Holland told Rolling Stone in May 2000 that, "we came home last Christmas and we kind of took a month just trying to recoup and we started thinking, 'Well, do we want to get started on another record right away?'. "We're all pretty excited about the way things have gone so I spent a couple of months trying to come up with some new material and then [started] jamming out these demos."{{cite news |date=May 1, 2000 |url=http://www.euro.real.com/music/artist/The_Offspring/articles/367507/-related-articles-page-4/ |title=Offspring Prep for Next Album |author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |publisher=Euro.Real.com |access-date=2010-08-19 }}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Offspring entered the studio to begin recording sessions for Conspiracy of One in June 2000. For the recording of the album, the band tapped Brendan O'Brien as its producer and recorded the album at NRG studios in North Hollywood, California over a two-month period.
Reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}
| rev2 = Alternative Press
| rev2score = 6/10{{cite journal |title=The Offspring: Conspiracy of One |date=January 2001 |journal= Alternative Press |page=81 }}
| rev3 = Drowned in Sound
| rev3score = 2/10{{cite web |url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/2444/reviews/188- |title=The Offspring: Conspiracy of One |date=13 November 2000 |access-date=10 December 2017 |work=Drowned in Sound |last=Kimmitt |first=James |archive-date=10 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210232315/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/2444/reviews/188- |url-status=dead }}
| rev4 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev4Score = B{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2000/11/13/conspiracy-one/|title=Conspiracy of One|last=Browne|first=David|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=2000-11-17|access-date=2022-06-26}}
| rev5 = NME
| rev5score = 1/10{{cite journal|last=Dempster |first=Sarah |title='Spring Bored |date=11 November 2000 |journal=NME |page=35}}
| rev6 = Q
| rev7 = Rolling Stone
| rev7Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theoffspring/albums/album/227119/review/6209777/conspiracy_of_one|title=The Offspring: Conspiracy of One : Music Reviews|last=Kemp|first=Rob|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=2000-11-23|access-date=2012-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001030422/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theoffspring/albums/album/227119/review/6209777/conspiracy_of_one|archive-date=2007-10-01|url-status=dead}}
| rev8 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide
| rev8Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite book |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |year=2004 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |isbn=0-7432-0169-8}}
| rev9 = Select
| rev9score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite journal |title=The Offspring: Conspiracy of One |date=Jan 2001 |journal=Select |page=106 }}
| rev10 = Spin
| rev10Score = 7/10{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k9KJt3F7IdUC&q=offspring&pg=PA113 |title=The Offspring: Conspiracy of One (Sony) |date=January 2001 |access-date=10 December 2017 |journal=Spin |page=113 |last=Sinagra |first=Laura }}
}}
Conspiracy of One was released on November 14, 2000, and peaked at number 9 on the US Billboard 200 album chart.{{cite magazine|title=Conspiracy of One's entry at Billboard.com|magazine=Billboard.com|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the offspring|chart=all}}|access-date=2007-12-20|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929121030/{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=jewel|chart=all}}|archive-date=September 29, 2007}} Five weeks after its release, the album was certified gold and platinum.{{cite web|title=RIAA Certification (type in "Offspring" in the artist box)|publisher=RIAA|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH|access-date=2007-12-20|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626050454/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH|archive-date=2007-06-26}} The album was also successful in Canada, selling 25,231 copies in its first week and debuting at #4 on the Canadian Albums Chart.{{cite web|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/B/Beatles/2004/12/01/781154.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709074135/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/B/Beatles/2004/12/01/781154.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=2012-07-09|title='Beatles 1' debuts at #1 in Canada|publisher=Jam!|access-date=2011-04-03}} The album was certified 2× Platinum by the CRIA in February 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.cria.ca/gold/0207_g.php|title=Gold & Platinum Certification - February 2007|publisher=Canadian Recording Industry Association|access-date=2011-04-03|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208025415/http://www.cria.ca/gold/0207_g.php|archive-date=2012-02-08}}
Liana Jonas of AllMusic described Conspiracy of One as the Offspring's "most musically mature collection to date". Jonas praised the music as "tight arrangements, vocal interplay and refined guitar work" and claims the band injected "elements of hip hop, rap metal, and Nirvana-like grunge into a few songs". The album received a rating of three and a half out of five stars, while producing three singles, "Original Prankster", "Want You Bad" and "Million Miles Away", that earned the Offspring its commercial success.{{cite web|title=Conspiracy of One| website=AllMusic|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r505619|pure_url=yes}}|access-date=2007-12-20}} The album holds a score of 60 out of 100 from Metacritic based on "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/conspiracy-of-one/the-offspring/critic-reviews|title=Critic reviews for Conspiracy Of One|website=Metacritic|access-date=2012-10-23}} The album was included at number 13 on Rock Sound{{'}}s "The 51 Most Essential Pop Punk Albums of All Time" list.Bird, ed. 2014, p. 73
Track listing
{{track listing
| all_writing = Dexter Holland except where noted
| title1 = Intro
| note1 = fragment of Mike Love during a 1963 concert of the Beach Boys
| length1 = 0:06
| title2 = Come Out Swinging
| length2 = 2:47
| title3 = Original Prankster
| length3 = 3:42
| note3 = featuring Redman; contains a sample of "Low Rider" by War
| title4 = Want You Bad
| length4 = 3:23
| title5 = Million Miles Away
| length5 = 3:40
| title6 = Dammit, I Changed Again
| length6 = 2:49
| title7 = Living in Chaos
| length7 = 3:28
| title8 = Special Delivery
| note8 = contains a sample of "Hooked on a Feeling" by Blue Swede
| length8 = 3:00
| title9 = One Fine Day
| length9 = 2:45
| title10 = All Along
| length10 = 1:39
| title11 = Denial, Revisited
| length11 = 4:33
| title12 = Vultures
| length12 = 3:35
| title13 = Conspiracy of One
| length13 = 2:17
| total_length = 37:44
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Vinyl edition bonus track
| total_length = 40:22
| title14 = Huck It
| length14 = 2:38
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Japanese edition bonus tracks{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2093427-The-Offspring-Conspiracy-Of-One|title = The Offspring – Conspiracy Of One (Japanese edition)|website = Discogs| date=November 8, 2000 }}
| total_length =
| title14 = Huck It
| length14 = 2:38
| title15 = The Kids Aren't Alright
| note15 = Live
| length15 = 3:03
}}
Chart performance
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
scope="col"|Chart (2000–01)
!scope="col"|Peak |
---|
{{album chart|Australia|4|artist=The Offspring|album=Conspiracy Of One|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 9, 2020}} |
{{album chart|Austria|5|artist=The Offspring|album=Conspiracy Of One|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 9, 2020}} |
{{album chart|Flanders|35|artist=The Offspring|album=Conspiracy Of One|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 9, 2020}} |
{{album chart|Wallonia|18|artist=The Offspring|album=Conspiracy Of One|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 9, 2020}} |
{{album chart|BillboardCanada|4|artist=The Offspring|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 9, 2020}} |
scope="row"|Czech Albums (IFPI){{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2001/MM-2001-01-13.pdf |title=Top National Sellers|publisher=IFPI CR|language=cs |date=January 13, 2001 |access-date=February 6, 2021}}
|11 |
{{album chart|Netherlands|32|artist=The Offspring|album=Conspiracy Of One|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 9, 2020}} |
scope="row"|Europe (European Top 100 Albums){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2000/MM-2000-12-02.pdf|title=Eurochart Top 100 Albums - December 02, 2000|magazine=Music & Media|volume=20|issue=17|page=49|date=December 2, 2000|access-date=November 17, 2021}}
| 6 |
{{album chart|Finland|4|artist=The Offspring|album=Conspiracy Of One|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 9, 2020}} |
{{album chart|France|3|artist=The Offspring|album=Conspiracy Of One|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 9, 2020}} |
{{album chart|Germany4|8|id=3511|artist=The Offspring|album=Conspiracy Of One|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 9, 2020}} |
scope="row"|Greece (IFPI Greece){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2001/MM-2001-01-20.pdf|title= Top National Sellers - January 20, 2001|magazine=Music & Media|volume=16|issue=49|page=14|date=January 20, 2001|access-date=December 8, 2021}}
|3 |
{{album chart|Hungary|31|year=2000|week=50|rowheader=true|access-date=November 26, 2021}} |
{{album chart|Ireland2|14|artist=The Offspring|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 9, 2020}} |
{{album chart|Italy|12|artist=The Offspring|album=Conspiracy Of One|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 9, 2020}} |
scope="row"|Japanese Albums (Oricon)[https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/51898/products/106502/1/ コンスピラシー・オヴ・ワン - オフスプリング] Oricon.
|5 |
{{album chart|New Zealand|11|artist=The Offspring|album=Conspiracy Of One|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 9, 2020}} |
{{album chart|Norway|11|artist=The Offspring|album=Conspiracy Of One|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 9, 2020}} |
scope="row"|Polish Albums (ZPAV)[http://olis.onyx.pl/listy/archiwum.asp?lang=en "Polish Charts Database - Search for The Offspring - Conspiracy of One"] Polish Albums Chart.
|7 |
scope="row"|Portuguese Albums (AFP){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2000/MM-2000-12-09.pdf|title= Top National Sellers - December 9, 2000|magazine=Music & Media|volume=16|issue=49|page=14|date=December 9, 2000|access-date=December 8, 2021}}
|5 |
{{album chart|Scotland|10|date=20001125|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 9, 2020}} |
scope="row"|Spanish Albums (AFYVE){{cite book|last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st|date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}
|align="center"|15 |
{{album chart|Sweden|8|artist=The Offspring|album=Conspiracy Of One|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 9, 2020}} |
{{album chart|Switzerland|4|artist=The Offspring|album=Conspiracy Of One|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 9, 2020}} |
{{album chart|UK2|12|date=20001125|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 9, 2020}} |
{{album chart|Billboard200|9|artist=The Offspring|album=Conspiracy Of One|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 9, 2020}} |
{{col-2}}
= Year-end charts =
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=Conspiracy Of One|artist=The Offspring|type=album|relyear=2000|certyear=2000|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=Conspiracy Of One|artist=The Offspring|type=album|relyear=2000|region=Austria|award=Gold}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=Conspiracy Of One|artist=The Offspring|type=album|relyear=2000|certyear=2000|region=Belgium|award=Gold}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=Conspiracy Of One|artist=The Offspring|type=album|relyear=2000|region=Canada|award=Platinum|number=2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=Conspiracy Of One|artist=Offspring|type=album|relyear=2000|region=Finland|award=Gold|salesamount=29,330}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=Conspiracy Of One|artist=The Offspring|type=album|relyear=2000|certyear=2000|region=France|award=Gold|number=2|source=infodisc|access-date=29 April 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=Conspiracy Of One|artist=The Offspring|type=album|relyear=2000|certyear=2022|region=Germany|award=Gold}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=コンスピラシー・オヴ・ワン|artist=Offspring|type=album|relyear=2000|certyear=2000|certmonth=11|region=Japan |award=Platinum}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=Conspiracy Of One|artist=The Offspring|type=album|relyear=2000|id=2001-02-02|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|region=New Zealand|award=Platinum}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=Conspiracy Of One|artist=The Offspring|type=album|relyear=2000|region=Norway|award=Gold}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=The Offspring|title=Conspiracy of One|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2000|certyear=2001|certref={{cite book |last=Salaverrie |first=Fernando |url=http://www.mediafire.com/file/7q55521w7go6vh6/Spanish+Certifications+for+2000-2002.pdf |title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 |language=es |edition=1st |location=Madrid |publisher=Fundación Autor/SGAE |date=September 2005 |page=960 |isbn=84-8048-639-2 |access-date=26 August 2019}}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=Conspiracy Of One|artist=The Offspring|type=album|relyear=2000|region=Switzerland|award=Platinum}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=Conspiracy Of One|artist=The Offspring|type=album|relyear=2000|certyear=2021|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|id=1501-2164-2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=Conspiracy Of One|artist=Offspring|type=album|relyear=2000|region=United States|award=Platinum}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Europe|title=Conspiracy Of One|artist=The Offspring|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=2000|certyear=2001}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}
Personnel
=The Offspring=
- Dexter Holland – vocals, guitar
- Noodles – guitar, backing vocals
- Greg K. – bass, backing vocals
- Ron Welty – drums
=Additional personnel=
- Redman – additional vocals on "Original Prankster"
- Chris "X-13" Higgins – backing vocals
=Production=
- Brendan O'Brien – producer, mixing
- Justin Beope – design
- Billy Bowers – engineer
- Nick DiDia – engineer
- David Dominguez – assistant engineer
- Karl Egsieker – mixing
- Ryan Williams – mixing
- Sean Evans – art direction
- Alan Forbes – illustrations
- Ross Garfield – drum technician
- Sarkis Kaloustian – design
- Steve Masi – guitar technician
- Eddy Schreyer – mastering
References
=Notes=
{{Reflist|30em}}
=Sources=
- {{cite AV media notes| title = Conspiracy of One| title-link = Conspiracy of One | others = The Offspring| year = 2000| type = CD liner| publisher = Columbia Records}}
=Bibliography=
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite journal|editor1-last=Bird|editor1-first=Ryan|title=The 51 Most Essential Pop Punk Albums of All Time|journal=Rock Sound|date=September 2014|issue=191|publisher=Freeway Press Inc.|location=London|issn=1465-0185}}
{{refend}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4umc8IE6eUO_NiqisjnLD7jl7vKE7j4O Conspiracy of One] at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)
- [https://www.offspring.com/description?albumId=8 Official page for the album]
- {{Metacritic album}}
{{TheOffspring}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Conspiracy Of One}}
Category:Columbia Records albums
Category:Albums produced by Brendan O'Brien (record producer)