NOFX
The War on Errorism
Epitaph
Musically, The War on Errorism is classic NOFX: driving drums, tickling bass, creative strumming. It’s solid, trucking with a purpose, like an old steam train. Every once in a while it strays from the track just slightly to make things interesting (an organ interlude on “The Irrationality of Rationality,” for example). But with The War on Errorism it appears that NOFX are stepping into new territory, lyrically at least.
The first tune, “The Separation of Church and Skate,” makes NOFX’s current politically bent anthem known: “I want conflict I want dissent, I want the scene to represent / our hatred of authority, our fight against complacency… Stop singing songs about girls and love…” This take-back-the-scene attitude prevails throughout the album, and Fat Mike, principal lyricist, is at least honest.
On “Franco Un-American” he sings, “I never thought about the universe, it made me feel small…then I read some Howard Zinn / Now I’m always depressed / And now I can’t sleep from years of apathy, all because I read a little Noam Chomsky.”
For those straining for the ol’ NOFX, they slide in “She’s Nubs,” a humorous Abbott & Costello meets Adam Sandler comedy routine about a woman without arms, legs, etc. “We Got Two Jealous Agains” is an unlikely love song about lovers integrating their albums. I wish every love story could begin with, “I thought you were the one when I heard ‘Holiday In The Sun’ come from your bedroom.”
They even mix it up some, with a ska beat backing ’60s doowop and an ambling sax on “Anarchy Camp.”
NOFX returns to the politics on “Re-gaining Unconsciousness” and hops over to the strange with “Whoops, I OD’d.”
The War on Errorism, which includes music videos and a trailer for Unprecedented, a movie about the 2000 Presidential election, adds to NOFX’s repertoire with equal parts politics and humor.
NOFX: http://www.nofx.org/ • Epitaph Records: http://www.epitaph.com/
