I would not have believed that NOFX would come out with a great record in 2021, after almost 40 years. But Jesus, they pulled it off and made one of the most remarkable records of their storied career. Album opener “The Big Drag” is a slow burn of a track, but it works so well in the band’s advantage. Almost six minutes long, it’s the type of the song that doesn’t drag and keeps building up anticipation and excitement, the way an album opener should. All the classic NOFX tropes are still here and show the band aging gracefully. A song like “I Love You More Than I Hate Me” shows the same punk speed with a classic rock bent, which really works nicely together.
Bringing in Karina from Dance Hall Crashers on keys and backing vocals was a stroke of genius as she brings more life to the vocals and keeps things peppy on the keys, something that was a bit lacking in earlier releases. The fact that the band can take a shot at one of their most popular tracks and make “Linewleum” is just fun and so self-referential it’s just comical.
Like most latter-day NOFX albums, the album takes a somber tone on songs like “Grieve Soto,” a memorial to Steve Soto from Adolescents, and “My Bro Cancervive Cancer,” but that just helps elevate the album above the rest of the mundane punk rock that has been coming out lately. “Doors And Fours” is one of the best songs of the year and should rise quickly in the NOFX canon.
I can’t help but think that this was the type of record that Green Day should have made instead of Father Of All… but I’ll happily take the NOFX record because it’s one of the best punk releases of this year. While it may a bit early, it might find its way onto my year end list. This is definitely the sort of punk rock we need right now.
