Wolves in Wolves’ Clothing- 2006
NOFX’s latest offering is anything but their best. Like other bands that have lasted past the twenty-year mark and still continue to produce music, their brilliant writing days are long behind them. Contains the usual clever lyrics, but new fans would do better with a classic like Ribbed or White Trash.
The War on Errorism- 2003
The first track “The Separation of Church and Skate” opens Errorism with a blistering guitar riff that the rest of the songs never quite live up to. The social commentary gets cranked up from previous albums, with a number of songs taking direct pot-shots at President Bush, the 2000 election and even the punk scene itself. Another thing they cranked up: audio FX. Ironic, no?
The Decline- 1999
Now we’re talking. This 18-minute punk rock opera manages to cover most of the reasons behind the decline of western civilization–and everything else wrong with the American Dream–all in one song, accompanied by the most technically proficient music NOFX has ever recorded. Fast, diverse and to-date unmatched by anything else they’ve done.
Heavy Petting Zoo- 1996
By far the most experimental NOFX album. Fat Mike tackles serious issues like homophobia, feminist incursions on porn, homelessness and why he likes fat chicks with equal wit. You wouldn’t think to find xylophone bits, slow parts and vocal harmonies on a NOFX album–at least in 1996–but they’re all here, and they all work.
Punk in Drublic- 1994
This is NOFX at the top of their game. Songs like “Linoleum,” “The Brews,” “Don’t Call Me White,” and “Perfect Government” ensured the album went Gold without the aid of music video or radio airplay.
White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean- 1992
Originally calledWhite Trash, Two Kikes and a Spic, the title is a reference to the bandmembers’ ethnic backgrounds, and the album features some of the best stuff they’ve done. The songs are fast, intelligent and often funny. Restrain yourself if you get compelled to listen to anything NOFX recorded in the new millenium and listen to this instead.
Ribbed- 1991
Ribbed marked a departure for the band. Put delicately, it was the first album where they didn’t totally suck. Some of the songs are a bit forgettable, but there are gems here like “Where’s my Slice?”, that hint at what was to come.