The title of
NOFX's
White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean is a pretty fair indicator of what's going on in the grooves -- specifically, tongue-in-cheek, politically incorrect forays into America's pancultural society. A SoCal punk band that recalls both the eclecticism and attitude of
Camper Van Beethoven,
NOFX rips through much more than standard-issue thrash; they transform
Minor Threat's "Straight Edge" into a blues song with fake
B.B. King vocals, go ska for the wry character study "Bob," and examine lesbian lifestyles with surprising maturity on "Liza and Louise." Not quite so understanding is "Johnny Appleseed," which pokes fun at the very concept of cultural diversity and is sung in a Hispanic accent by guitarist El Hefe. ~ Jason Ankeny