#16
NOFX - First Ditch Effort
Time for some punk rock all up in this mother...
So NOFX are probably my favourite punk rock band of all time, I'm stating that for all to hear. They have this great blend of catchiness, talented/barely adequate band members, songs about weird shit and a punk rock attitude that has not faultered in 35 years
So yea, they started in '82 and to be honest they really sucked until the early 90's. By that point they had hired El Hefe (who plays lead guitar, trumpet and is a master of impressions) and he was far and away the only really talented musician in the band at that point. Since then they have had the same line up and have honestly gone from strength to strength. They have released 11 studio albums since Hefe joined (this one being #11) and although they have had some misses during those years they have also comeback and released really strong albums late in their career. This is certainly one of them. In 2006 they released Wolves in Wolves Clothing, which is my fave album of theirs by quite a long way, but the two albums that followed weren't that great (but still good enough). I've always had faith in them though because they have always managed to stay relevant in the the American punk rock scene. This album was a heroic return and reminded me why they are my favourite punk band.
NOFX have a knack for writing songs that aren't really about anything, like an anecdote that isn't even really worth telling, but it still works. Most people would probably find these songs quite stupid but I honestly love it. Lead singer Fat Mike has also quit drinking and drugs in recent years and there are quite a few songs about how that has effected him, in a refreshingly frank way. Another thing he likes to be open and honest about is his love for BDSM and cross dressing
again, it will not be most people's cup of tea but I love them for it. Other than Cramx3 I would be surprised to find many fans of this album in these parts.
First Ditch Effort is kind of exactly what I wanted and needed from NOFX at this point in their career. It feels just like a NOFX record yet still feels fresh. It has songs about how fucked the political climate is, quitting drugs, social commentaries, odes to dead friends and stories about fictional down and outs. I don't know what it is about NOFX songs but I just love to sing along to them. Lets be clear, NOFX are a punk band who aren't concerned with a record sounding perfect. This is rough around the edges and sounds like it was all recorded in one take (which was how they recorded one of their albums in the past
) which translates to how their live shows are.
Here's to you NOFX, never change or grow up, I love you how you are.
Favourite songs:
Six Years On Dope,
I'm A Transvest-lite,
I'm So Sorry Tony