|
NOFX - The War on Errorism
|
 Luke Harlow [Decapolis Reviews Staff]; Age: 22; Top 5 bands: The Clash, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Bad Religion, Ben Folds. Musical preferences: I like whatever I think is catchy and brings me back for repeated listening sessions. I am open to any style, but I tend to stick to punk rock that has a good rock and roll edge.
 NOFX has been around in one form or another since 1983. Frontman Fat Mike founded Fat Wreck Chords and along with the likes of bands like Bad Religion and Pennywise, NOFX is largely credited for defining the melodic/new school sound often associated with Fat releases. In 2002, NOFX released a two-disc compilation that included several b-sides and unreleased material as well as a split with Rancid where each band covered some of the other's "classic" songs. "The War on Errorism" is their first studio album since 2001 and was released on Fat.
NOFX has a reputation for the controversial and the "War on Errorism" will ensure they carry that banner for a long time coming. From the album's outer cover (which features a clown-like rendering of George W. Bush) to the first artwork you see when you open the jewel case (the same clown picture of the president with the saying "Somewhere in Texas a village has lost its idiot"), to the enhanced video of their song "Idiot Son of an ***hole," NOFX lets its listeners know exactly what they think of George W. Bush and many of his party's major platforms.
This is, to be sure, NOFX's best, most relevant album since their classic "Punk in Drublic" (1994). They touch on many of the same themes as in their 18-minute song/ep "The Decline" (1999) and it has been a long time since NOFX amassed this amount of poignancy and force throughout one album. Representative lyrics include these from "Re-gaining Unconciousness," which has been released as an ep/single:
Looks like witches are in season,
you better fly your flag and be aware
of anyone who might fit the description,
diversity is now our biggest fear.
Now with our conversations tapped
and our differences exposed,
how ya supposed to love your neighbor
with our minds and curtains closed?
We used to worry ībout big brother,
now we got a big father and an even bigger mother.
And still you believe
this aristocracy gives a **** about you.
They put the mock in demockracy
and you swallowed every hook.
Unfortunately, the over-the-top generalizations both in lyrics and in artwork will convince few that do not already agree with the band's position to join their "War on Errorism." They certainly do not bring the sort of intellectual acumen to politics and culture that a band like Bad Religion does and this is to their detriment. Nevertheless, NOFX is one of the few bands that has offered any sort of interpretation of world affairs over the last year, and for that they should be applauded.
Politics are not their only bag on "WOE." They also attack watered-down punk rock (in "The Separation of Church and Skate" and "Medio-core"), revisit themes of songs from past records ("Mattersville," about getting old as a punk, covers the same ground as "Theme From A NOFX Album" from 2000's "Pump up the Valuum"), and throw in the obligatory sophomoric track, "Nubs," a song about a girl with no arms and no legs that can still rock out.
To be sure, "The War on Errorism" is a charged record; it is an album that, frankly, NOFX fans have been waiting to hear for almost a decade. It probably is not the best introduction to the band for the new listener ("Punk in Drublic" is still the gold standard), but not a bad place to start. Those uncomfortable with strong profanity and graphic imagery ought to steer clear of this album (and any other NOFX offering), but those that want old fashioned punk rock dissent will likely enjoy what NOFX gives the listener in "WOE." This may not be their best album, but it is certainly one of the best punk records this year has seen.
Grade: A- |
|
|
© 1999-2003 Decapolis - All Rights Reserved
|
|
|
