•
Rating:
If you are a fan—not necessarily an avid one—of '90s American melodic punk (or Skate Punk as most refer to it), when asked "Do you know NOFX?" I'm sure most of you wouldn't respond and, offended, would walk away casting glances that would make even Marlon Brando pale. Indeed, albums like "Punk In Drublic" and "...So Long And Thanks For All The Shoes" have made history in the genre and still remain etched in the memory of those willing to engage with these sounds.
However, at this point, I would like to delve into the early steps of this magnificent band by discussing "Liberal Animation": their very raw and energetic debut. Released in 1988 when Dave Casillas was still in the lineup (El Hefe, as you know, would only come after Ribbed), "Liberal Animation" reveals how a group of kids raised in California on bread and Minor Threat could make music: sonic violence like few others and strong social commitment; the album, in fact, can be considered a kind of concept on vegetarianism and generally on the whole Straight Edge attitude that was so popular on the West Coast at the time.
The energy unleashed by the album in the opening beats is incredible, thanks to SHUT UP ALREADY (chosen as a single) which concludes by picking up the famous Led Zeppelin riff from Black Dog, and FREEDUMB, a short song of 45 seconds with a truly hilarious politicized lyric. HERE COMES THE NEIGHBORHOOD starts acoustic but then erupts in continuous stop and go, followed by YOU PUT YOUR CHOCOLATE IN MY PEANUT BUTTER which mimics its style, placing it a notch below the first three tracks. SLOPPY ENGLISH features distinctive guitar work, a really well-executed chorus, and represents, for me, along with BEER BONG, the pinnacle of the platter. The pace remains high between vegan manifestos (PIECE, VEGETARIAN MUMBO JUMBO), Hardcore outbursts (NO PROBLEMS, ON THE RAG, A200), and less inspired tracks that feel like filler (I LIVE IN A CAKE, MR JONES) and slightly lower the general level.
Special mention goes to the concluding track, TRACK STOP BLUES, so different from the rest that it makes me think Fat Mike and company wanted to pay tribute to someone I've never managed to discern.
If you're curious and want to know the ancestors of songs like Linoleum, Bob, Stickin' In My Eyes, etc., all you have to do is grab "Liberal Animation," hit the play button, and enjoy the first cry of a band without compromises that has made musical and ethical consistency an essential cornerstone of its career and that, about twenty years ago, was producing LPs (also give some thought to its overwhelming successor) of good old American Hardcore Punk...
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
04 A200 Club (01:57)
Why do I keep scratching,
Scratching my balls?
I don't like this feeling,
I don't like it at all.
Cause I got crabs,
I got crabs,
I got crabs,
I got those little fuckers biting and sucking my blood.
There's crab eggs in my bed,
They're in the carpet too,
I'll go to the store,
Buy A200 shampoo.
I got R.I.D. of them,
I got all of them,
They won't be back,
Wait a second,
What is this itching in my crack?
Cause I got crabs,
I got crabs,
I got crabs,
I got those little fuckers biting and sucking my blood.
05 Sloppy English (01:22)
I play pool cause I'm no fool I play pool cause I'm cool I play pool
after school I play pool all the time Cue in my left hand, beer in
right I shout and drink all through the night that sloppy english does
me just right I use that sloppy english all the time I hold my stick
like I hold my dick hustling beers from wetto that's the trick I use
that sloppy english all the time
06 You Put Your Chocolate in My Peanut Butter (02:33)
Hey you, you have too much hair and we don't like what you wear
and you have really bad breath so were gonna beat you to death
because there is plenty of us and only one of you we've got plenty
of reasons and here's just a few you put your chocolate in my
peanut butter I was walking and you were in my way you looked
at me without my permission you never even apologized you put
your chocolate in my peanut butter that's good enough reason for
me to bash you put your chocolate in my peanut butter that's good
enough reason for me to smash no justice / there's just us / so trust us
you put your chocolate in my peanut butter you put your chocolate in
my peanut butter you put your chocolate in my peanut butter you put
your chocolate in my peanut butter
07 Mr. Jones (03:20)
My name is Mister Jones,
I get inside your bones,
I know how to make you tweek,
You soon will be my freak.
Because I know what you need,
I control your mind,
I roll up your sleeves,
I make ties that bind,
I've got you!
You'll soon be begging on your knees,
You've got the disease,
All your money belongs to me,
You've got the disease.
I can't seem to live without you,
Without you whats the point,
I wasn't born with a silver burnt spoon,
Do I still have any choice? (NO!)
Because I know what you need,
I control your mind,
I roll up your sleeves,
I make ties that bind.
09 Beer Bong (02:34)
If I want some beer,
I don't want to hear,
How I missed the show,
Because I drink to slow,
So pass me the beer bong,
It won't take very long,
For me to put down,
Torpedo to the ground.
Because drinking beer's to slow,
Beer bong's the way to go,
To go,
To go,
Don't drink, too slow
Beer Bong, Beer Bong, Beer Bong, Beer Bong
If I want some beer,
I don't want to hear,
How I missed the show,
Because I drink to slow,
So pass me the beer bong,
It won't take very long,
For me to put down,
Torpedo to the ground.
Because drinking beer's to slow,
Beer bong's the way to go,
To go,
To go,
Don't drink, too slow
Beer Bong, Beer Bong, Drink it down now.
10 Piece (01:37)
You fight for peace, but where's the war what the fuck are doing this for
you say disarmament thats the key well thats not the way it looks to me
you wear you leather jacket but you won't eat meat piece punk, get drunk,
sake you hair go out, hang out do you really care? There's no easy answers
complaining won't do shit if you want some changes, don't be a hypocrite
fuck the system thats what they say but they live by it everyday food stamps
and welfare checks would you rather starve to death you wear your leather
jacket but you won't eat meat piece punk, get drunk, sake your hair go out,
hang out, do you really care don't you feel ridiculous now! half your
wardrobe comes from a cow do you believe in anarchy? Who are you
really trying to be?
12 No Problems (01:22)
Sitting by yourself again so friends are near you got a needle in
one hand and in the other one a beer you can't cope with life
you can't even get up who's gonna help you? You've got to
pick yourself up but I've got no problems I've got no problems
your minds so fuckin clouded you can't see through the haze
13 On the Rag (01:44)
It's that time of the month again, your bitching stop yelling at
me I know you've got to plug yourself up but why take it out on
me just leave me alone stop yelling at me leave me alone when
its your time to bleed
Loading comments slowly
