Rapidly approaching their 30 year anniversary (Yes, they have been together for almost 30 years! I'm just surprised they're all still alive), what do I really expect from NOFX's 12th full length? Surely it's all been done before. True, it has, but after 30 years experience blazing ahead of the pack in the world of punk rock, they know a thing or two about writing insanely catchy riffs and both hilarious and thought-provoking political lyrics that still manage to keep all us punk fans hooked. Though after the release of their last album Coaster, a disappointingly mediocre album with few memorable songs, even their most avid fans were wondering whether NOFX are still the potent force in angry socially conscious punk rock that they used to be.
As soon you press play, one of those statement NOFX guitar led intros sets off in 72 Hookers that immediately lets us know that NOFX have still got the ability to tie you up on their leash within the first few seconds of a song. 72 hookers may be one of their most 'politically incorrect' and 'risque' songs to date while Fat Mike claims blow jobs, sex and and hookers will stop war and violence. Then, like a blast in the face, the rapid energetic 1 and a half minute long religious commentary I Believe in Goddess whips through you with its recurrent yet catchy riff alternating between guitar and bass. These two songs are NOFX at their most controversial and creative.
Though unfortunately this brilliant spell fails to last throughout the whole album. After a while their staple fast-paced punk becomes slightly repetitive and dull and doesn't quite manage to break away as a stand out punk album. She Didn't Lose Her Baby followed mostly the same drum sequence and chord pattern for most of the song with the exception of an admittedly impressive yet brief guitar solo. Even the lyrics were slightly un-inventive, which is rare for NOFX, and even a little too serious. Secret Society largely resembled an intro and I spent most of the song waiting for it to build up into something more.
It's not until Cell Out do I feel that NOFX make an impression again with their distinctive riff that's slightly reminiscent of retro gaming. Regrettably, even within the song, NOFX dip in and out of excellence and simply sheer mediocrity. Down With the Ship could easily be mistaken for one of the other fast paced songs in this album, it just fails to stand out.
Though the album does pick up again with My Sycophant Others does manage to break out of the repetitiveness of the album with a punchy verse and mid-song spoken section. The follow up to We've Got Two Jealous Agains, I've Got One Jealous Again, Again demonstrates a side of NOFX which we see very rarely. It's a much slower, sentimental and sorrowful song but the album really should have ended here. Xmas has been X'ed broke up and destroyed the natural calm of the preceding track, even though it is one of the better tracks on the album.
All in all, this album still clearly follows that signature chaotic, controversial NOFX formula that we all love, but it fails to do anything different or produce any tracks that you will go back to and press repeat for over and over again. NOFX certainly haven't lost their lyrical prowess but they may have lost a bit of that originality that excited punk fans all over in Wolves in Wolves' Clothing and The War on Errorism. Self-Entitled haven't ruined NOFX's reputation as a must-listen-to band for any punk fan, but this album can regrettably be largely ignored.
Overall Rating: 6/10
As soon you press play, one of those statement NOFX guitar led intros sets off in 72 Hookers that immediately lets us know that NOFX have still got the ability to tie you up on their leash within the first few seconds of a song. 72 hookers may be one of their most 'politically incorrect' and 'risque' songs to date while Fat Mike claims blow jobs, sex and and hookers will stop war and violence. Then, like a blast in the face, the rapid energetic 1 and a half minute long religious commentary I Believe in Goddess whips through you with its recurrent yet catchy riff alternating between guitar and bass. These two songs are NOFX at their most controversial and creative.
Though unfortunately this brilliant spell fails to last throughout the whole album. After a while their staple fast-paced punk becomes slightly repetitive and dull and doesn't quite manage to break away as a stand out punk album. She Didn't Lose Her Baby followed mostly the same drum sequence and chord pattern for most of the song with the exception of an admittedly impressive yet brief guitar solo. Even the lyrics were slightly un-inventive, which is rare for NOFX, and even a little too serious. Secret Society largely resembled an intro and I spent most of the song waiting for it to build up into something more.
It's not until Cell Out do I feel that NOFX make an impression again with their distinctive riff that's slightly reminiscent of retro gaming. Regrettably, even within the song, NOFX dip in and out of excellence and simply sheer mediocrity. Down With the Ship could easily be mistaken for one of the other fast paced songs in this album, it just fails to stand out.
Though the album does pick up again with My Sycophant Others does manage to break out of the repetitiveness of the album with a punchy verse and mid-song spoken section. The follow up to We've Got Two Jealous Agains, I've Got One Jealous Again, Again demonstrates a side of NOFX which we see very rarely. It's a much slower, sentimental and sorrowful song but the album really should have ended here. Xmas has been X'ed broke up and destroyed the natural calm of the preceding track, even though it is one of the better tracks on the album.
All in all, this album still clearly follows that signature chaotic, controversial NOFX formula that we all love, but it fails to do anything different or produce any tracks that you will go back to and press repeat for over and over again. NOFX certainly haven't lost their lyrical prowess but they may have lost a bit of that originality that excited punk fans all over in Wolves in Wolves' Clothing and The War on Errorism. Self-Entitled haven't ruined NOFX's reputation as a must-listen-to band for any punk fan, but this album can regrettably be largely ignored.
Overall Rating: 6/10
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