Finally the highly anticipated NOFX boxset featuring many classic reissues of long sold out 7"s was released on april 24 this year. Available in two versions, each containing 18 different 7"s by the sultans of slander. One edition, which was dubbed 'The Standard Edition' contains all 18 disc on gold vinyl color. While the other edition, being 'The Special Edition' comes on 18 different vinylcolors. A separate color for each disc making this version also a piece of eyecandy when spinning on your recordplayer.
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| 18 X 7" equals 126 inches of NOFX |
All of this vinylmania has been contaged in one cardboard box that holds only the necessary info on the front. And on the back there's on overview off all the goodies trapped inside this box of pandora.
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| The history of NOFX through 7"s |
When the lid goes up the first to greet us is the NOFX 7" slipmat. A 7" slipmat to play all these gems on when enjoying a NOFX singles marathon. Now i can play all my 12" records on one recordplayer and the 7"s on the second record player. Let's just hope they don't come out with a 10" slipmat anytime soon, cause i'm all out of recordplayers now.
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| A 7" slipmat, to bad they don't make 7" record platters so this would fit |
So what else is their to say about this special release of some of NOFX's history spread along 18 pieces of wax for our auditive pleasure. Well, it's all classic material that most already own, know or have heard of.
Let's start our exploring of this little treasure chest :
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| SK8rock |
Starting of with one of NOFX's first releases Thalimodide Child, dating back to 1984.
8 tracks divided on both sides showing the earlier years of NOFX, loud, obnoxious and fast, just the way '80's hardcore punkrock was meant to be.
Next up is a 1985 classic that was originally released on MYSTIC RECORDS, but due to the bad experience which the latter label, the name has been changed to MISTAKE RECORDS on this one.
NO F-X features once again a round of hardcore punkrock featuring tracks such as Six Pack Girls and Hold It Back.
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| Mistake records |
Performed as a three piece with Mike and Eric on their regular spot and with former drummer Scott.
Rough and honest this early sound shows the links to the influences of NOFX that will get honoured years later by the release of the Hardcore EP.
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| NO F-X |
So What If We're On Mystic is the next in the line of '80's releases. Released on SUPER SEVEN RECORDS originally, but confusing due to the title. This came out in 1986 and already shows the path that
NOFX is heading for. The overall production seems a bit more experienced here.
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| This time presented by Fat Wreck Chords |
Included are songs as Moms Rules, Lager In The Dark and Bob Turkee, fastpaced punkrock that doesn't come close to the later melodic NOFX.
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| Back in the days when Fat Mike was just Mike! |
To end the series of '80's releases we finish with the classic The PRMC Can Suck On This EP.
The coverart speaks for itself and contains some of '80's punkrock favorite topics. DIY coverart depicting
famous evangelists in compromising poses. An additional guitarist is added to the roster by Dave Casillas playing 'Lidgiter' according to the backcover.
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| a profound love for S&M |
This EP has been reissued before in 1990 by Fat Wreck Chords, it features amidst other the anti vegetarian song Shut Up Already. A lyric that Fat Mike probably regrets writing nowadays hence him being a 'vegetarian' now. Also a coversong is included by sonically raping Johny B. Goode, but all in good fun.
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| Suck on this PRMC |
So all four discussed EP's are the '80's period of NOFX, both in look, sound and overall approach to these releases you can see that it was the mid '80's that influenced this band of brothers to do their own thing.
As i don't won't you all to fall asleep yet with all this boring nonsense i'm scribling out here, some more pictures to keep the crowd entertained. This time of the amazing colorways this special edition appeared on.
Start drooling, .... now
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| Two tone colors, each record in 2 different colors, endless amount of variants |
I just love the blue blob caught inside the clear vinyl on The PRMC Can Suck On This.
The Thalidomide Child has some clear green mixed in with black, but only a small amount.
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| Blue blob look like some stale fried egg long overdue |
Now on to the 'golden age' of the nineties, the era where i laid ears on punkrock and got introduced to four californians playing some racket named NOFX.
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| Dykes with bikes |
In 1992 NOFX released a fine album named White Thrash, Two Heebs and a Bean, following this release a two song EP was released. One side for the great track Liza and Louise, a tale of a woman who's had enough of men and turns to ... lesbian Liza. And on the other side there's a version of The Longest Line,
the fastest version ever and vocals are done by El Hefe on this one.
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| Lesbian pink |
This was originally released through Epitaph records as did the forementioned album.
Soon after this NOFX decided it was time to take it up into their own hands.
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| a black dog |
Now this time we're taking a leap to 1994, the year that punk broke, also the year when Punk In Drublic was released. Don't Call Me White was probably the best known NOFX song in those days when bands like THE OFFSPRING and GREEN DAY swept away the masses. NOFX alongside others such as RANCID, NUFAN and LAGWAGON experienced that path to fame also. Some of them became the stadium rockers as known today while others such as NOFX refused to give up certain ideals and kept to their own path. In those days Fat Mike decided to start his own label, now adored by many as Fat Wreck Chords in accordance to the DIY spirit and previous troubles concering former labels.
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| They're even more punk than me |
Another song from the Punk In Drublic album was Punk Guy and also features the latest addition to the bandroster Aaron 'El Hefe' Abeyta, who also lends some of his impersenation skills to the album next to his amusing skills on the trumpet. The influence of El Hefe pushes the band towards new horizonts.
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| Fuck The Kids |
Fuck The Kids is from 1996 and features some of the more 'humorous' side of NOFX that will keep on developing in the future. Short songs, played aloud at a steady pace. Titles as Stupid Canadians and Always Hate Hippies give away the content of the discussed matter.
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| Cut and paste |
13 tracks crammed into one 7", talk about extended play on this one.
NOFX could have gone major back in the days when MTV offered them airtime, since Mike put down their offer they started by making a threat that they would pull the NUFAN clip of the air if NOFX didn't coöperate. Guess what happened? I never saw NUFAN on MTV back in those days so that goes to show how Mike leads his little label out there.
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| All Of Me |
The next single was released in 1997 and hosts two tracks, All Of Me showing the typical acclaimed NOFX sound and The Desperation's Gone, another great NOFX track from the infamous '90's.
The Desperation's Gone has that nice slow intro accompanied by bass and features some of Mel's trademark yells. A great classic song by those washed up californians.
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| White and fluorescent yellow |
Time for a little color reviewing again, with a yellow fluorescent Don't Call Me White blended with some white vinyl. Better get out your sunshades spinning this one. Also a very nice touch on the green/pink of the All Of Me.
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| Three shades of pink on the Liza and Louise |
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| Timmy!!! |
Timmy The Turtle is next in line and originates from 1999. A nice OI feel this song and a great sing along.
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| Breakdance Timmy |
The Plan is the track on the B side and another example of late nineties NOFX.
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| Great way of transportation |
Next up is Louise And Liza here, two songs, two names. A hint to the previous release dubbed Liza & Louise and detailing the story of both ladies on each side of the record. The imagery is once again that of the dominatrix, a theme much favored by Fat Mike.
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| Spank you very much |
And this marks the end of a millenium for NOFX, up to the next decades of punkrock.
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| Repeat after me .... |
The new millenium came and NOFX fiercely tred along side. In 2000 Pods And Gods was released.
Two songs, one that would appear on the full album Pump Up The Valuum named What's The Matter With Parents Today. The other track being Pods And Gods of course.
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| Aint they just perfect! |
Pods And Gods has that eerie guitarlick that always reminds me of certain scenes in the Backstage Passport DVD. It always appears when the shit goes down during the documentary.
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| A Fat Club special |
The following 7" was released as a Fat Club special release, 1300 originally made, now included in one handy boxset. It has 2 tracks that later will appear on 45 or 46 Songs That ... , Zyclone B Bath House and Spaghetti Motel. Both tracks also are featured on the Wrecktrospective compilation CD.
The Lyrics too Zyclone B Bath House are quit a humorous look at a difficult topic for a band holding two heebs. But it's NOFX and nothing is holy with this bunch of blasphemists.
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| Green and Purple for Timmy |
The Louise And Liza vinyl is my favorite one with it's three colors swirled in. Also a nice mix of green and yellow on the Fat Club release.
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| First rule about Fat Club... |
The following round of 7"s kicks of with the 2001 release Surfer, a tribute to the mighty Bad Religion and their historical album Suffer. Another disc chockfull of short funny punksongs.
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| Bad Religion all over again |
This is a EP full of short tracks with titles as New Happy Birthday Song or Whoa On The Whoas,...
Most of the tracks on this EP appear on later releases be it in compilations or other.
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| Zombie nation |
Regaining Unconsciousness is the EP that holds some songs to the 2003 full album release of The War On Errorism. The Idiots are taking over and Franco Un-American are the featured songs on this EP.
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| The idiots have always been in control |
Hardcore 84 is a track that doesn't appear on later albums and it goes the way it's titled. Hardcore indeed.
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| Man bites dog |
And then came 13 Stitches in 2003, 2 tracks again of which one track named 13 Stitches is also on the full album The War On Errorism. An attempt at an acoustic song. Not bad, specially the El Hefe trumpet piece.
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| Influences allover |
Glass War is the second song and is a typical NOFX song, so one side acoustic and one electric.
Pick your side.
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| Cliché |
A blank cover for two previously unreleased songs. I've Become A Cliché, a heavy guitartrack with Mike mumbling on about his current status of fame and fortune. The other track is a demo version of The Quitter that will appear in its final version on Coaster in 2009. Always nice to hear a rough version of a well known track.
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| All two tone colors except the I've Become A Cliché |
Surfer comes in a nice shade of red and orange blending nicely together.
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| Black label on white vinyl, mysterious isn't it??? |
Another series of mostly two toned colored vinyl, mostly adapted to some reference color in the artwork.
Maybe that's why the I've Become A Cliché is white with black due to the lack of artwork and the blank sleeve?
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| Cokie The Clown |
2009 was also the year that Fat Mike released his alter ego Cokie The Clown onto the world.
The vinyl version of the release of Cokie The Clown is split up into 2 singles, while the CD version holds all 5 songs disc on one shiny coaster.
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| Clowns for life = NOFX |
Next to titletrack Cokie The Clown the B side serves us two slices of circusmadness, Codependence Day and the anthem Straight Outta Massachusetts.
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| Mike and his 'loving' father |
To finish our tour of 18 NOFX 7"s we are treated with a special one to close off to. The next to song that also appeared on the Cokie The Clown CD release.
Two tracks for two sides. Starting of with the acoustic tearjerker Orphan Year. A song where Mike opens up his childhood memories and a very intimate song indeed.
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| The masses yell revolution |
The other side hosts Fermented And Flailing, An uptempo song to lighten up the spirit after listening to Orphan Year.
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| Clear red and blue vinyl on the Cokie The Clown EP |
Allright, last round of 7"s is gone and here's a close look at some of that precious vinyl. A blend of clear blue and red vinyl create a special color for the Cokie The Clown 7".
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| An almost blue Orphan Year, yeah!!! |
Orphan Year get's the fluorescent treatment again with greenish/yellow and babyblue getting twirled in together. My version has an almost blue B side to it.
So that's it for this box of NOFX nostalgia. 18 magnificent records all crammed into one small box.
It's almost like a discography of NOFX throughout the years of their existence. It doesn't hold all the songs of all the different phases but it does contain some of the most crucial tracks to NOFX history.
This version of the special edition is limited to 1207 pieces. While the all gold version was pressed on 1792 pieces. Plus they added a 7" slipmat, pretty useless otherwise but it makes a great potholder for those warm dishes. Only downpart to this release is that the only thing to improve it was getting some 7" sleeves for those little discs. I know it are only 7"s and that's the way they come but it's always nicer to know that your beauties are protected inside from all that nasty dust and grease all up in the atmposphere and stuff.
A great idea of Fat Wreck to make a sort of collectors boxset after the Lagwagon release in November.
Now time to sucker us back into buying more expensive nostalgia and start creating that NUFAN boxset.
Or Good Riddance, Snuff, Strung Out, ... they got us for years to come!!! Better start selling my second kidney soon...
Ezekiel02:24:81
