NOFX
The War On Errorism (Fat Wreckords)
Reviewed by Alan Wright

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I've long enjoyed NOFX's humorous and melodic punk, even if they often seemed a little too goofy at times. Then came this new release which completely took me by surprise. While there is still plenty of humor here, and they're still mining the same pop-punk territory as before, they've taken a leap into the political punk ring. From the booklet's intro rant and explanations on why they decided to tackle more political themes, it becomes clear that NOFX are taking on a much more political stance on this CD. As they say, "Yeah, we're not really known for our politics, but maybe it's time we are." They go on to explain how disenchanted they are with the state of the nation, peoples' complacency and their seeming ignorance about history and current politics. Thus, this CD finds them commenting left and right, albeit often sarcastically, on a variety of topics in the political area. "The Separation Of Church and Skate" - now there's a song title I can't believe any other punk band has ever come up with - laments the seeming "safeness" and "correctness" that has sanitized punk, as well as the lack of confrontational political thought in punk bands' lyrics, once the mainstay of especially So. Cal hardcore. "Franco Un-American," "The Idiots Are Taking Over," "American Errorist" and "Regaining Consciousness" all comment on our current administration's attitudes towards drug reform policy, foreign policy, and preventive strike warfare and so forth. Set to inventive and catchy fast-paced punk music, it shows how smart and forward-thinking these guys really are. It's not all uber-political, though, as they also lampoon pop-punk - including themselves - in "Medio-core," sing about girls in "She's Nubs" and obsessive record collecting romances in "We Got Two Jealous Agains." I also love the ska-ish "Anarchy Camp," the ode to hardcore shows gone by, "13 Stitches," wherein Fat Mike gets jumped by a Suicidal Tendencies fan and ends up in the hospital, and the satirical "Whoops, I OD'd." This is really, really good and might be NOFX's best album ever!

© 2003 - Alan Wright