An instrumental name during Skate Punk’s flirt with mainstream culture during the ‘90s, NOFX kept their ties with the Hardcore culture throughout the decades.
From their humble beginnings as a Bad Religion to ‘90s stardom and their later politically-fuelled years, we count down the Top 10 NOFX songs:
10. Five Feet Under – S & M Airlines
There’s typically little love for NOFX’s 1989 album “S&M Airlines”. Shunned for its proximity to heavy metal, the album holds nonetheless its fair share of charm. “Five Feet Under”, with its galloping riff and blistering solo, it’s a great example of early NOFX that shouldn’t be forgotten.
9. Soul Doubt – White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean
The true magic of NOFX began in 1992 after El Hefe joined the band on guitar. The opener of the band’s breakthrough album, “Soul Doubt” saw Fat Mike’s tongue-in-cheek lyricism refined to the point of evocative storytelling, Erik Sandin’s drums at their loudest, and El Hefe’s jazzy guitar riffs as the missing ingredient for success.
8. Don’t Call Me White – Punk in Drublic
Lifted off the band’s massive (for Punk standards) hit record “Punk in Drublic”, “Don’t Call Me White” sees Fat Mike coping with social issues in his lyrics. The NOFX frontman shouts his disdain for being labeled “White” as a derogatory term when he claims to be just an “average Joe” in a furiously satisfying tune.
7. Dinosaurs Will Die – Pump Up the Valuum
The first album that NOFX released in the new millennium, “Pump Up the Valuum” cracked the charts while sharply criticizing the music industry. “Dinosaurs Will Die” is a vicious attack on record labels and their predatory ways that should die like the dinosaurs.
6. The Idiots Are Taking Over – The War on Errorism
Even though they were always a socially conscious band, NOFX were never so openly political as on their 2003 album. Triggered by his dissatisfaction with the Bush administration, Fat Mike employs a straightforward lyrical attack on the government in “The Idiots Are Taking Over”.
5. USA-holes – Wolves in Wolves’ Clothing
Another heavily political song, “USA-holes” shines not only because of its imagery-rich lyricism but also due to an insane instrumental performance. Fat Mike’s bass cuts right through the mix, and El Hefe delivers arguably his best solo ever in this tune.
4. Six Years on Dope – First Ditch Effort
2016 single “Six Years on Dope” sees the band tackle the dark underbelly of addiction in the Punk community, and guitarist Eric Melvin’s raspy vocals provide just the right amount of pain as he yells “I spent twenty years, six years on dope”.
3. The Separation of Church and Skate – The War on Errorism
A vocal critic of Hardcore culture throughout the years, this explosive song sees Fat Mike ponder upon the gentrification of Punk, once a safe harbor for misfits of the underground and now a proud gem of the hipster realm. Over one of El Hefe’s finest riffs ever put to tape, we all feel like singing along to “When did punk rock become so safe?”
2. Linoleum – Punk in Drublic
If one would ever call any of NOFX’s songs a hit, this one would be it. From its iconic opening riff to the sardonic lyrics about living close to homelessness, “Linoleum” came out just at the right time to make NOFX stars of the ‘90s Punk trend, and once the dust settled, it remained as a damn fine tune.
1. The Decline – The Decline
Known for their short songs under two minutes, NOFX decided to subvert everyone’s expectations with an 18-minute epic in 1999. A look at the fall of America’s society, “The Decline” is a dynamic wild ride that is punchy, heartfelt, and energetic, all at once. Listen to the orchestral version for full effect.