With a cd title like this, who could really argue? NOFX have always provided value for money whenever they’ve released anything, and are so prolifically great that they’ve only released one dud record, that being their last full length release ‘Pump Up The Valuum’. This, a collection of b-sides and rarities, shows that Fat Mike’s So-Cal crew have made a welcomed return to form.
Sure there’s the odd duffer here, but most of this double cd there is quality punk rock in abundance. For 15 years the band have consistenly been doing this, whether it’s on compilations, 7″ vinyl, split EP’s or their own records. So, for all those completists out there, the band decided to put out a double album of odds and sods, made up of the likes of the Surfer 7″, a brand new track and even a dub remix!
The first thing you notice about this release is quite simply how amazing the booklet is. If there’s a better inlay sleeve around anywhere, I’m yet to see it. Bright and colourful, complete with song lyrics and liner notes from Fat Mike himself, this just oozes class. Want to know extra bits about the songs? Want to see the band dressed up in women’s clothing? It’s all here…
So, with a big thumbs up for the decoration, let’s get to the important part – the songs. And in true NOFX style, most of the stuff here most certainly does not disappoint. The only new song here ‘Pimps and Hookers’ kicks CD 1 off and it’s what you have come to expect from the boys. However, there are far, far better tracks here. Take the cover of ‘All Of Me’ as one example and the rare ‘Drugs Are Good’ is perhaps one of the greatest NOFX songs ever. Throw in the likes of ‘We Threw Gasoline In the Fire…’ from Punkorama III, ‘See Her Pee’ from the excellent ‘Short Music..’ and ‘San Francisco Fat’ and you have a selection of the bands finest work. And let’s not forget ‘The Plan’, ‘We Ain’t Shit’ and ‘Vincent’, three personal favourites. Even a dub remix of ‘Eat The Meek’ is great, if a little strange.
There are a few weak tracks on the first cd though, although none that would make you want to press the stop button. The cover of The Germs song ‘Forming’ is awful, ‘Last Caress’ a bit average and ‘Timmy The Turtle’ is, well, a bit dull really. The rest however, are pretty darn great.
And so on we move to cd 2, a collection of tracks that featured on the Fuck The Kids 7″ and the Surfer 7″. Due to the number of requests from fans to stick the songs on CD, the band duly obliged…minus a few for punk rock’s sake. Anyway, once again any NOFX fan has to own this just to complete the set. The songs in themselves aren’t always that great, but it’s the punk rock ethic within them that really shines through. Only a few make it past the one minute mark, and there’s even early versions of NOFX classics such as ‘Stranger Than Fishin’ and ‘Murder The Government’.
The likes of ‘Juice Head’, ‘Party Enema’ and ‘Can’t Get The Stink Out’ are truly dumb and fun-packed, and ‘Fuck The Kids (revisited)’, ‘Fuck The Kids’ and ‘Fuck The Kids II’ are tracks that Blink 182 would be proud of. Then of course there’s ‘I Gotta Pee’ and ‘Puke On Cops.’
The later songs are much better, with the brilliantly raw ‘I’m Telling Tim’ and fast and furious ‘Reagan Sucks’. ‘Murder The Government’ is an absolute classic, as is ‘Stranger Than Fishin’ which later found its way onto the ‘Pump Up The Valuum’ record. Of course it’s not all sweetness and light, with ‘Poseur’ and ‘My Name’s Bud’ a bit shitty. Still, we can’t expect everything they touch to turn to gold – that would be just greedy.
What you get when you buy this record is 46 songs by one of the best punk bands around. And whilst some of this certainly wouldn’t grace the likes of ‘Punk In Drublic’, there’s enough on here to get your teeth into. Add the amusing inlay booklet into the mix and you’ll get more than your money’s worth.
Paul Savage