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NOFX

Double Album

Written by: PP on 03/01/2023 10:58:26

What's the natural follow-up to "Single Album"? Why, "Double Album" of course, with identical artwork except the vinyl player has two levels. It is the fifteenth studio album by punk rock legends NOFX and could very well be their last one as the band is about to embark on their final tour this year. It's also a return to their 90s sound - it is like listening to "Heavy Petting Zoo" meets "Pump Up The Valuum". Admittedly, "First Ditch Effort" attempted the same six years ago, but it still had loads of post-"Wolves In Wolves Clothing" influence, whereas "Double Album" takes a more laid back approach to the guitars rather than a distinctly skate punk one.

That being said, the album is equally full of technical flair as earlier. Fat Mike's bass licks are frequently borderline virtuoso examples of the instrument's capability. Just listen to the crazy line on "My Favorite Enemy" - it's a complex, aggressive line that's simultaneously played in a ridiculously fast tempo. Lyrically, the song is brilliant as well. It's an honest self-critique about Fat Mike's own addiction ("I can see I'm no longer my friend / what kind of friend would let me do the things I do? A true friend would not enable [...] I can lead myself to water, and I can always make me drink"), and it's catchy as hell in the process.

Continuing on the recovery/addiction theme, "Fuck Day Six" is a song about what happens when you enter a recovery program and the downswing hits you on the sixth day. It's lyrically fantastic even though the song isn't among the best on the record.

Likewise, "Punk Rock Cliché" is a funny song about their career as a band. It's an example of NOFX's stubbornly great self-awareness of their own weaknesses. Few other bands are able to capture their own band's spirit and view from the outside looking in the same way as they are.

My personal favorite on the record is "Alcopollack", an amazing story about their European booker David Pollack (of Destiny Tourbooking) featuring hilarious anecdotes about how he left them six times on a petrol station while someone was on the toilet, continuing on with how he pissed off members of Bad Religion and The Offspring and thus never got to book those bands again. As usual, the song is ridiculously catchy in the process.

"Darby Crashing Your Party" features a donner party reference and is one of the best tracks on the record overall. It's instantly memorable and feels like a true 90s NOFX song. "Don't Count On Me" is the song where Eric Melvin gets his shouty moments before it morphs into "Eat The Meek" style reggae finish. Only that the song doesn't finish, as Fat Mike supposedly winds El Hefe up with a finale of "I'm gonna wind you up / I'm gonna cheer you down / 'Cause this is what I consider fun / Making you think the song was already done" that leads directly into the next verse of the song recorded as "Johanna Constant Teen". This is classic NOFX humour right here, so you'll either love it or hate it.

Overall, "Double Album" is a great retrospective of how the band used to sound like before they incorporated technical skate punk into their soundscape. It's looser, more laid-back, and flavoured with their signature style absurdity throughout. It's also incredibly consistent - just like the band has been throughout their entire career save for maybe "Coaster".

Fat Mike still can't sing but channels his inner and outer demons into a fascinating combination of comedy and brilliant self-critique. For decades now, he's been able to capture snotty, off-tune punk rock vocals into instantly catchy anthems that capture the whole scene's imagination. "Double Album" is a worthy finale for a band that has come to define an entire scene over the years through vibrant live shows that double as stand-up comedy shows, and tight, technically advanced punk rock coupled with a unique lyrical universe.

It might not be quite on the level of "Single Album", because let's be honest, that was the darkest and most dramatically different NOFX album we've heard save for Fat Mike's own "Cokie The Clown" material, but the material here is great overall.

Download: My Favorite Enemy, Darby Crashing Your Party, Punk Rock Cliché, Alcopollack
For the fans of: Cokie The Clown, Bad Religion, Descendents, Lagwagon
Listen: Facebook

Release date 02.12.2022
Fat Wreck Chords