NOFX : "Double Album"

 

My expectation for these guys is pretty low. I have heard some great moments over from them over the years, but they are very consistent with their lowest common denominator stuff from the 90s on their most recent album that is largely comprised of songs that did not get used. In some ways it's impressive that they are able to pick up where they left off in terms of their 90s sound. They are irreverent pop punk. The first two songs are very straight forward. The do not begin experimenting until "Don't Count on Me", which veers off into a Sublime like white boy reggae. They continue on with what they started here with "Johanna Constant Teen" though it goes off into a more up-tempo punk style with the taunt guitar riffs that they are known for.

"Punk Rock Cliche" takes some time to find itself, it feels more like an idea they came up with from just jamming on and brought to together. They are still more complex than the one two, three go, style as they play off time, and work from skilled tension. "Fuck Day Six " finds them getting back to the kind of anti-political correctness that punk should embody. Lyrically, it goes into Big Mike detoxing in a celebrity rehab or sorts. Some of the vocal phrasing is awkward but the story he is trying to tell makes it worth it. The same could be said for "Is it Too Soon If Time is Relative" which makes fun of Stephen Hawking. "Alcopollack" which is about their alcoholic road manager, The strain of their aged voices is more noticed on this song. 

"Three Against Me" seemed to be about the pranks Fat Mike's brothers played on him. He goes over the hardships of growing up with the kind of bratty self-deprecation you expect from punk. The last song is pretty color by numbers punk. The is a more melodic Bad Religion feel to it, and things get even more melodic with the solo section at the end of the song. i will give this album a 9 it's efficient and works for who the band is, most of my complaints voice here is just what punk is and I am typically more of a metal guy, but regular readers can attest I have also been listening to punk since the 80s. This is not an actual double album.