Coaster (CD - 2009)

Audio Mixer: Jason Livermore.

Recording information: Motor Studios, San Francisco, CA.

Although they've built their long career on a foundation of jokey, melodic punk rock, California mainstay NOFX have slowly but surely allowed a surprising depth to enter their songwriting. Their 11th album, COASTER, recorded yet again for their own successful Fat Wreck Chords label, certainly has its goofy moments, such as the Tegan & Sara-baiting "Creeping Out Sara" and the Christian-skewering reggae of "Best God in Show," but their sardonic wit is now often used for larger purposes. Songs like the autobiographical "My Orphan Year," about the death of singer Fat Mike's parents, and the gritty street-punk of "We Called it America" display a sharper grasp of adult concerns than NOFX are generally given credit for. No matter how serious they get, however, the music is, as always, exhilarating, top-flight punk reminiscent of '80s SoCal giants like the Descendents and Adolescents.

After 25 years in the game, NOFX are still going and are still as bratty as ever, sneering as they tackle their favorite subjects: drinking ("The Quitter," "I Am an Alcoholic," "First Call"), anti-religion ("Best God in Show," "Blasphemy [The Victimless Crime]"), and anti-patriotism ("We Called It America," "Suits and Ladders"). Nothing new there, but along with well-trodden themes of partying, agnosticism, and clever observations about their scene, there's a big departure this time around that comes in the form of "My Orphan Year." Fat Mike is at his most confessional in a rare, sincere, Barbara Walters moment, wherein he opens up his journal to the dark days with remorseful lyrics about the death of his parents. He reveals himself as a true sad-faced clown tormented by inner demons more than a few times on Coaster, admitting, "I didn't try pot 'til I was 21 but now I'm overcompensating" and "My friends are telling me that I need to find a clinic, but I won't, cuz I'm a drug-addicted alcoholic." Life as a pill-popping punk rocker might be taking its toll with age, but when the mood is light, Mike and the group are as funny as ever. Prior to a song about the breakup of Iron Maiden ("Bruce, Eddie, and Paul"), complete with dueling guitar harmonies and a pretty bad Bruce Dickinson impersonation, there's an autobiographical account (probably) of first meeting and talking about Jennifer Tilly with either Tegan or Sara (Mike couldn't tell) of Tegan and Sara, before spooking her severely with talk of drugs and sex ("Creeping Out Sara"). As a whole, it's not one of their best records, considering the size of their discography, but it's not a bad little record. Fans will like it since the band is still shining as a tight unit and hasn't lost a step musically, but at the same time, if shoppers are also considering Backstage Pass, the NOFX tour documentary DVD released around the same time, that packs more bang for the buck in the extras alone. ~ Jason Lymangrover minimize