NOFX "Wolves in Wolves' Clothing" (Fat Wreck Chords)
By Nathan Blaney
Friday. May 19, 11:44 AM
Just as good – if not better – than the band's best work.

(read a rare interview with bassist/vocalist Fat Mike and guitarist/backup vocalist Eric Melvin here)

Reviewing this album has been one of the biggest challenges I’ve had in a while. Not being a diehard NOFX fan, I lacked a lot of the background and trivia knowledge that makes it easier to note interesting and relevant observations about their music. Sure, I’m familiar with them – I’ve even seen them live a bunch of times (they kick ass, by the way) – but they somehow always were the band whose albums I never listened to all the way through (even though I owned a few). More often, I’d listen to them one song at a time on a mix or compilation. Why? No good reason, really…

Anyhow, Wolves in Wolves’ Clothing is the first NOFX album I’ve wanted to listen to over and over again from beginning to end. I’ve already listened to it so much that my wife now refuses to allow the disc in the car… so clearly, there’s something different going on here. The thing was, however, I wasn’t 100% sure what it was. And so I did something I don’t usually do in preparing to write an album review: I read a bunch of other people’s opinions.

And it didn’t help a bit. I did, however, learn something. Apparently, there’s a formula to writing reviews of this album! Surprised? I was. And hey, if you’d like to write your own review, I’ve put together this crash course:

NOFX 101: How to Review Wolves in Wolves’ Clothing

• Open with broad, rambling observations coupled with statements about your respect for any band that can be as long running as NOFX.

• Discuss several previous albums and how profound they are. Point out that, although this album is good musically, it’s just not what you hoped for from a NOFX album.

• Pick out the one or two songs that you do feel meet your high standards and discuss them, but be sure to point out that they’re lost among the 19 others on the album.

• Briefly discuss NOFX’s left leaning / Bush bashing politics, but don’t give it too much weight because, after all, if you wanted to discuss politics you’d listen to Bad Religion or Dead Kennedys.

• Observe that, instrumentally, the album is well written and performed, but it’s lost much of the “edge” that you liked about the band’s previous recordings. Completely ignore the fact that this album features some of the best bass playing on a punk album in years. After all, who listens to the bass anyway, right?

• Conclude with a smartass remark about how this album won’t win any new fans, but isn’t a disaster either. Give it a B- / five out of 10 stars / one out of three thumbs up, etc.

• Pat yourself on the back for another review well done!

Needless to say, this is all a bunch of crap. And I’ll spare the websites I visited the embarrassment of being named publicly: they know who they are. While the above formula borders on having some value, it zigs where it should zag. How anyone can find this album substandard is beyond me. Now, keep in mind, nobody’s saying “this is crap…” but there seems to be very little solid praise for it and I just don’t understand why. It really makes me wonder whether, as reviewers, we rely too heavily on comparisons with an artist’s previous work. How would this album be received if it were a debut release?

So here it goes: Wolves in Wolves’ Clothing in a nutshell:

All the elements fall nicely into place on this album: sophisticated, creative songwriting by talented musicians complemented by excellent recording and production. The album really “works” – all the songs are parts of a whole – great on their own, even better as a collection. Song subject matters touch on familiar themes – drunkenness, sex, politics, and a general “fuck you” attitude – just what I want and expect. A lot has been made of the political themes on this album. Although I tend to agree pretty closely with many of the band’s opinions, I can’t possibly see why it matters: you know what to expect from NOFX, and that’s what you’re gonna get here. No pretense, just talented, creative punk packed onto a five-inch disc.
www.nofxofficialwebsite.com
www.fatwreck.com

Listen to a song from this album in our Radio section!

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Nathan Blaney

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