Review: NOFX

NOFX
“45 or 46 Songs That Weren’t Good Enough to Go on Our Other Records”
(Fat Wreck Chords)

This is the NOFX album to own. Not only is it 46 ‘new’ songs over two CD’s, but also included is a 32 page insert book that goes over the history of almost each song included, some fan letters and a bit of NOFX insight. The first CD includes 20 tracks that didn’’t make it on various albums or only appeared on seven inch’s or special compilations, and is just totally fucking killer. The 21st track is a ‘dub mix’ of “Eat the Meek”, NOFX style, and also included is an unlisted 21st track, “Thalidomide Child.” The second disc is 25 blistering, sloppy punk songs that clocks in at a total of 22 minutes. According to the insert, Mike wanted to sound like the scratchy, out of tune bad instrument old school punk seven inches we all have, so he wrote 26 songs, giving himself only 10 minutes to create each song, went back to the studio the following day with the band, and taught them the music on someone else’s gear with the record button on As soon as they could complete a song, they moved onto the next one. The result is a NOFX that’s about as sloppy as you can get, and while it won’t win any awards for best lyrics (see “I gotta pee”), it’s a unique concept. I’d get into more detail, but I wouldn’’t want to ruin this album for you. It took me a half hour just to read and examine the CD insert; I’m still playing the both disc’s, which is weird, because I haven’t listened to NOFX since “Punk in Drublic.” This is a mandatory purchase.