NOFX – Coaster

Having been around since 1983, NOFX have become a staple in the punk rock community and, like their Epitaph brethren in Bad Religion, NOFX have found a sound and have stuck with it for the past twenty-six years. Their eleventh studio album, Coaster (or Frisbee if you get it on vinyl) is no different and features the classic NOFX sound once again but that’s far from being a bad thing; and yes, it’s better and much more cohesive than Wolves in Wolves Clothing was.

Leaving behind the politically fuelled War On Errorism, Coaster sees NOFX turning their snide little comments towards religious jealous zealots (Best God In Show, Blasphemy (The Victimless Crime)). However, like their politically charged anthems of WOE, these ones are filled with sarcastic little comments that come off both intelligently and comical as if Jon Stewart was unafraid to truly attack something. But religion isn’t the only thing on Fat Mike’s mind these days and that is most definitely a good thing as it enables NOFX to return to their comfort zone of drugs (The Quitter), drinking (First Call, I Am An Alcoholic) and lesbians (the absolutely hilarious and pop-culture rich Creeping Out Sara). These songs see the band’s lyrics really shine because despite the slightly immature content, they’re able to fill each song up with so many name drops and pop culture references that it makes your head spin. No other band could pull off telling the story of Iron Maiden stuck in love triangle dilemma like Fat Mike does. Still, they’re able to show some maturity in the oddly-personal and sincere My Orphan Year, a track who`s lyrical content comes out of the blue like Whoops I`Od.

Musically their the same as ever, keeping their signature punk rock style and sound intact while adding enough of a flare to sound some growth and show off just a tad. Eddie, Bruce and Paul let`s El Hefe and Eric Melvin rip on the guitar like Strung Out (or, I guess, Iron Maiden). Suits And Ladders and The Quitter ramp up the tempo in a clear throw back to some of the band`s earlier material but this time they`re a bit more technically adapt. The Agony of Victory could quickly become an anthem for the underachievers of the world and throws is a blistering solo right smack in the middle. They pull out the reggae vibe in Best God In Show, a track that features the best beat on the album mixed alongside upstrokes and an organ. El Hefe pulls out the trombone for I Am An Alcoholic which also uses a nice female vocal harmony for the verses.

Twenty-six years later, NOFX are still going strong and releasing a CD that is both nostalgic and relevant at the same time, not to mention the fact that it is insanely good.