NoFX
Wolves In Wolves' Clothing

THE REVIEW

NOFX arrives at their tenth studio album, preceded by the EP "Never Trust A Hippie". And basically, this CD doesn't add much new. To clarify, if you appreciated their '90s productions and are old fans, you might lend an ear to this decent work. However, if you've never liked their sound, which has characterized them for years, I'd advise you to skip this album.

The weak point of the four Californians, unfortunately accentuated here, is the constant choice to stuff the album with fillers sandwiched between the best songs. If in the past one could occasionally turn a blind eye since they would churn out songs like "Stickin in my eyes" and "Dying degree", to understand each other, in this CD the only thing that comes out is that the songs, although anchored in the usual medio-core, are inferior to the past, with a few lucky exceptions. I would dare to say that the songs (several of which do not reach 2 minutes) are more digestible than in the past.

It must be said that there is plenty of fodder to throw on the fire: primarily the lack of surprise from the new tracks, given that 6 come from various 7" of the Month Club previously released before the album came out, and two other songs ("Seeing double at the triple rock", "The marxist brothers") were already contained in the previous EP. And unfortunately, this reeks of a commercial operation that NOFX could absolutely have avoided.

Going back to the seven notes, unlike albums such as "White Trash Two Heebs And A Bean" and Punk In Drublic," where ska splashes and El Hefe's trumpet parts were present, here you notice the almost total absence. This isn't a flaw, the real issue is how our guys have decided to fill the space usually dedicated to ska-reggae sorties, which now sees useless pseudo-pop little acoustic ballad-style songs or semi-acoustic ones that represent a slip in style ("One celled creature", "Cantando en espanol").

You might ask, isn't there anything good? Calm down, there is definitely something tasty in the pot; after all, they are still a group with more than twenty years of experience.

What are the best moments of the album that raise it a bit? Let's go in order.

"60%" opens the work and then gets overwhelmed in the lyrics and music and also closes by serving as an outro. But the best tracks come later, starting from the most successful episode of the platter "Usa holes." Hardcore as God commands with a catchy melody, aggressive guitars, and very fast rhythm. Personally, that's how I wish every NOFX song was.

One of the elements that I have always enjoyed seeing proposed by the combo are the different solos present in the various compositions. "Seeing double at the triple rock" is an example, being a song with a sound that is very much punk 'n' roll. Among the best is also the country punk outfit of the short "The man I killed" with its riff in the verse that winks at folk tradition. Also worth mentioning is the well-crafted leitmotif of "Leaving jesusland."

The others remain on the sidelines compared to those already mentioned, even if it isn't so bad to listen to the acoustic piece "Doornails." But the forte of the four has always been the lyrics, which deal with social problems and their ironic political invectives. Fat Mike's humor remains good when dealing with delicate issues like the death penalty in "The man I killed", while criticism of the Bush administration is present in "Usa holes", whereas "Doornails" is more sober, being a tribute to recently deceased punk musicians like Derrick Plourde, drummer for Bad Astronaut and former Lagwagon who committed suicide.

In conclusion, "Wolves In Wolves In Clothing" doesn't convince overall, even after several listens, although it has a noteworthy variety of moods. Neither disgrace nor praise.