NOFX has been at it for 40 years now, which is frankly incredible for a punk band. They are one of the most commercially successful independent bands of all-time, has never been signed to a major label, and has stayed unwavering in their dedication to their DIY roots.
1997’s So Long & Thanks For All The Shoes is filled with irreverence, political statements, and biting humor, but it’s actually quite elevated. There’s a crassness that’s always present in everything Fat Mike says, but it’s cleverly hidden behind some relatively intellectual statements. Take for example “Kids of the K-Hole”, detailing the dire throes of ketamine addiction, which drops the lines:
Somewhere between the eden and north utopia
Somewhere beneath the astral plain
I’ve taken residence on sybaritic soil
You won’t be seeing me again
You just don’t see Greek references like that often in punk music. And that’s what I think has always made NOFX and such a long-standing fixture in the scene– underneath all those rough edges, and despite their best efforts to draw attention away from it, lies something with substance and meaning. And then they’ll hit you with the sheer f***ing joy of “Monosyllabic Girl” and “Champs Elysees”, which I challenge you to listen to and not smile. These songs are where I’ve always found NOFX to be best– just plain damn fun. Even if everyone has heard how much they suck live.
Punk can be serious, but the best punk bands never take themselves too seriously. That’s NOFX in a nutshell.
Standout Songs: “Monosyllabic Girl”, “Champs Elysees”, “It’s My Job To Keep Punk Rock Elite”
