Customer Reviews

Pump Up the Valuum

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

After The Offspring and Blink 182 sold out, and Green Day turned to writing acoustic ballads, who could we turn to for real punk music? Who would continue churning out the immature lyrics that define punk rock? Try NOFX. 'Pump Up The Valuum' continues the punk tradition without turning as hardcore as the latest Rancid effort. If you're new to the band, and are offended in any way by frequent (and I do mean frequent) references to lesbians, vaginas and drug abuse, go listen to Britney Spears. If you (like me) think this is hilariously funny, get the damn record now. As an antidote to the formulaic chord sequences provided by most other bands, NOFX provide us with constantly changing riffs, and the songs as a whole are fantastic. The band's sense of humour is alive and kicking, as seen in the frantic and funny 'Clams Have Feelings Too (Actually They Don't)' - "Clams have the right to smile/Come to think about it they don't have a face." The album closer 'Theme From A NOFX Album', (possibly inspired by the Sex Pistols' 'Friggin' In The Rigging') also gives us some classic lines, while 'What's The Matter With Parents These Days?' puts a new twist on the generation gap. My only gripe with the album is its length - 30 minutes seems like a rip-off. But despite that, 'Pump Up The Valuum' is still crude, warped, degenerate, and absolutely brilliant.

While NOFX certainly dont like the media and as far as I can see have tried to steer away from being a hugely successful band, which if they wanted to they could. Their latest full-length (not literally!) album Pump Up The Valuum see them getting ever more popular than they were before. Actually I would say that NOFX hate the media, with comments likes this you can see why:

So a lot of people wonder why we dont ever do interviews. Here are a few of our reasons, we mainly stopped because were tired of being exploited

What they are basically saying is that they dont want to be used in order to boost the sales of someones c****y magazine, they also dont want to appear on teen magazines (I can sympathise!). NOFX are very happy with how successful they have become without the media and are quite happy to stay out of the mainstream.

~~A Little about NOFX ~~
They are a small punk band from someplace in America, who cares it is a very big place, they have had numerous albums, EPs out so many that it is hard to remember them all. Their bass player, Fat Mike, set up his own record company, Fat Wreck Chords, which has many other successful (well not commercially, but successful) punk bands such as Lagwagon, Less Than Jake, No Use For A Name and many more. Im sorry about that I appear to know less than I thought! The band consists of the following people, Melvin, Fat Mike, Smelly and El Hefe.

** By the way, never take NOFX seriously, their songs are jokes and so are the covers and inlays to their records! **

~~Pump Up The Valuum~~
Released in 2000 this is NOFXs most recent release, although if I have not updated this before the next record please ignore. The front cover is unforgettable, it is a doll nurse, with a blue tint to her skin necking a bottle of pills. Anyway forget about that, lets talks about songs

* And Now For Something Completely Similar *
This is the first track the grace this gem on an album and is a stupid little song taking the ... out of TV channels and how they repeat a lot of the shows that they play.

* Take Two Placebos And Call Me Laim *
This is the second song on the album and is a song about how it is c**p that people get used. The people being used should run away and hide somewhere so they cant be used.

* Whats The Matter With Parents Today? *
This is the third track on the CD and is ... take out of whats the matter with kids today. In this song the roles are reversed and it is the kids getting stoned, drunk and hanging out where the kids should be.

* Dinosaurs Will Die *
This is the fourth track on the CD and is an attack at corporate record companies. The Dinosaurs are these record companies and the only ones who will survive are those who write music for the love of it not for the money.

* Thank God Its Monday *
Here we are at the fith track and yet again another reversal of a popular say, Thank God Its Friday. This song is about someone who only works on the weekend, so Mondays is his or her calling.

* Clams Have Feeling Too (Actually They Dont *
At the sixth track on the CD you must be thinking these people are weird and twisted, youd probably be correct. This song is about comparing animals to different groups in society then singing about how bored clams must be with no feelings, which makes it okay to eat them.

* Louise *
The seventh track on this CD is a lovely, clean, radio friendly song about a bloke named Louise! Actually scrub that, it is probably the last song that would be played on the radio. It is a song about a girl called Louise, who is a sex addict!

* Stranger Than Fishin *
Welcome to the review of the eighth track on this CD, this is a song about strange things like how some musicians can make it, as they are so bad, or something like that?

* Pharmacists Daughter *
On the ninth track on the CD the song is about how cool it would be to be in love with a pharmacists daughter! Lots of free drugs in return for his love!

* Bottles To The Ground *
This is the tenth song on the CD, this song is about getting drunk. More specifically it is about how many rounds until you pass out or something along those lines? You make up your own mind if you decide to purchase this CD.

* Total Bummer *
This is the eleventh track on this CD. It is a song about someone who doesnt want to be lonely, sad and they cant take it they just want everyone to go away. It is just the though of her that keeps him going I think?

* My V***na *
This is the twelfth track on this CD and is about a guy getting a sex change and all that this entails to the smallest detail. This is a very amusing song and would probably offend a few people, great lets play this one full volume!

* Herojuana *
This is the thirteenth song on the CD and is a song about growing up and dr**s. Stating that the only real problem with dr**s is getting really good ones! And they want to know when tey get to make their own decisions.

* Theme From A NOFX Album *
This is the last, fourteenth, song on the CD and is probably the worst. It is a nice little song, which is basically all about NOFX and how they got to where they are now and how they did it. It features an accordion, Timmy the Turtle, some really cool impressions from NOFX.

~~My Thoughts~~
If you are not into this kind of music or you are easily offended dont get this, although I do say dont take NOFX seriously! Apart from those of you this is a very good album and is worth the money that you will pay for it, unless you copy it, although I dont recommend you do this, the inlay is adds to the feel of the CD, read it, it is very funny!

It's out! A new combination of classic punk with new edge from the kings of punk, NOFX. This long awaited release follows up the Decline with hard hitting, bass popping, riff filled punk rock. NOFX puts it on the block with their newest addition to the punk rock generation. This cd is filled with fast, hard, sometimes hilarious tracks to keep you moshin'. After the one song album, this cd returns to the roots of punk with a band that was there when it all began. NOFX is back!

Well, as far as I can tell, all these kids that buy what they deem "punk" from amazon.com really don't know BLAH about anything at all. Is this a vast generalization? yes, perhaps it is. Yet at the same time, I cannot believe people buy this album and then claim that Millencollin can match the melodies and tight guitar of Hefe and Melvin, or allude to "other great punk bands" like "blink 182 and Lagwagon." Um, hold on...Nofx's talent transcends all these 3-power-chord, MTV-ized, horrible, whiney bands. THis cd is not, in my opinion, Nofx's best in terms of what i would call topical genius. But, it is easy to realize the musical genius and developed talent of these guys. these other reviewers also warn the buyers of this cd "not to take nofx seriously." wait, so nofx has nothing of importance to say? Wait, have you ever listened to, like, the lyrics of, like, many of the of their other songs on, like, their other, like, 15 cds? or how about, like, all of the Decline? oh that's right, NO, you haven't! because you listen to good charlotte and call yourself punk, and then consequently go out and buy the new cd on display in the "punk" section of Tower REcords for 17.99 because it has a cool cover and sum 41 is next to it. this cd is tight and punk. but don't listen to me, go to tower records and see what they have to say about.

When I bought this CD i wasn't expecting it to top punk in drublic. however that had been wearing pretty thin in my stereo so I got this. I wasn't disappointed. the style of this CD is fast paced, 100 mph punk- without the political slant they now have. the songs range from the funny 'clams have feelings to' to just fantastically played ones such as 'dinasours will die.' I highly reccomend this CD- it epitomises NOFX for me, before they jumped on the political bandwagon. Punk in drublic also highly reccomended!

I'm listening to the CD for the second time right now and I'm haven't been disappointed. This CD has much of the same sounds/harmonies/backing vocals as in the Decline. That's a good thing, since the Decline was awesome! I'm looking forward to seeing NOFX on Warped Tour this summer. They are still in full swing and in total control of their music. Buy it and enjoy!

As a huge NOFX fan, this also happened to be one of their first albums that I listened to, and it truly is a great listen. You can definitely hear a lot of the Decline in this (which is GOOD), especially with Spike Slawson's backup screaming in there. The songs are all very upbeat and highly energetic for a NOFX album. The best song on the album is undeniably "Dinosaurs Will Die", which has amazing lyrics that attack the modern music business. Contender for second is "Take Two Placebos", with its breakneck pace, awesome wah-wah solos, great lyrics, and [catchy] riffs (quoting [an online] review there). A must-buy album.

To start off, NOFX is an awesome band.. and its too bad they sold out with their last release (not including Greatest Hits) anyways in my opinion this is their second best cd.. right behind Punk In Drublic.
And Now for Something Completely Similar: Interesting way to start off the album.. only 59 seconds - 8/10
Take Two Placebos and Call Me Lame: Great song.. the ending surprises me everytime - 9/10
What's the Matter With Parents Today?: Hilarious song.. lyrics are really funny.. but not their greatest song musically - 8/10
Dinosaurs Will Die: Definitely one of the best on the cd.. and one of the only serious songs on the cd - 10/10
Thank God It's Monday: Great song.. makes me laugh.. and pisses me off at the same time.. also not the greatest song musically that theyve made - 8/10
Clams Have Feelings Too: Funny song.. but likely my least favourite.. his voice is annoying and slow in it and other than the one guitar solo, the music isn't superb - 7.5/10
Louise: Great song.. about a lesbian named Louise.. what else can I say.. dirtiest lyrics ive ever seen - 9/10
Stranger Than Fishin': Great music in this song.. I love the drumming because it isn't the same as most of their other songs - 8.5/10
Pharmacist's Daughter: Song about a guy who gets drugs from his girlfriend who's the pharmacist daughter.. good guitar work here.. definitely one of my favourites - 10/10
Bottles to the Ground: My favourite song.. the song which convinced me to buy this cd.. its about a guy getting really really drunk ('One more round and it's bottles to the ground') - 10/10
Total Bummer: Song about a guy who's not having the greatest of luck in anything.. good instrumentals - 9/10
My Vagina: Great song.. about a guy getting a sex change.. the lyrics are hilarious and well all I can say is everything about this song is good - 10/10
Herojuana: This song is obviously about drugs.. good song.. solid NOFX song - 8/10
Theme from a NOFX Album: Amazing song.. its got everything from their life story to an accordian solo.. and a scottish guy.. what else could you ask for - 10/10
All in all a great cd.. definitely a 5 out of 5.. theres no weak songs on this cd.

This cd really is so FREAKING awesome! I love every song on it! (Well, maybe excluding "Stranger Than Fishin'") My favorites are "Bottles to the Ground," "Dinosaurs Will Die," and "Louise." (The songs "Louise" and "Liza" can both be found on the vynal album called "Liza and Louise" which i own)
Pretty much all the songs on "Pump Up The Valuum" are very tounge-in-cheek, (just like all of their other albums)and some of them are hilariously disgusting like "Louise" and "My Vagina." DEFINATELY A MUST HAVE CD FOR THE ESSENTIAL PUNK RAWKER!

LONG LIVE NOFX!!!!!!!!

WOW!! This CD is the best CD ever since Punk in Drublic by NOFX. Pump up the Valuum is pure punk with 1 polka song. Its not very diverse like Punk in Drublic however it remains amazing.

Here we go my friends:
1.Now For Something Completely Similar -10/10- Similiar to Linoleum so you know it rocks!!! Just a (cool) intro.

2.Take 2 Placebos -10/10- Pure genius. I kewl lyric from this song is "My Oversized hat won't fit your homongus head." This song is really cool.

3.Whats the Matter with Parents Today? -9.5/10- Pretty Darn Catchy and somewhat fun to listen to.

4.Dinosaurs Will Die -10/10- One of the best NOFX songs written I love these lyrics, "Music written from devotion, not ambition, not for fame, Zero People are exploited there are no tricks up our sleeves" This song is about the breakdown of the Major Music Industries.

5.Thank God It's Monday -10/10- Extremely Catchy with a rad point. I really like this song, very true, even though I have no friends:-).

6.Clams Have Feelings Too... -10/10- A really funny song about clams I love this song "Clams have feelings too come to think about the dont have a face, they have no face, no place for ears, theres no clam eyes to cry clam tears"is a kewl lyric in this song. I guess this album has diverise lyrics too.

7.Louise -?/10- A hard song to review, kind of sick song, not recomended for children. I chose not to rate this song. But it doesnt matter because there are many other great songs on this cd. SOME of you guys may like this song its really perverted. Fat Mike(NOFX singer DUH) says he cant believe he wrote this song.

8.Stranger than Fishin' -9/10- Kinda rad song. Its not the best, its not the worse.

9.Pharmisist's Daughter -9/10- I don't care much for this song, but its still good enough for a 9.

10.Bottles to the Ground -10/10- The single off this album, Its a very cool sounding song I REALLY like the slow to fast sound.

11.Total Bummer -8.5- I don't care for this song, it's not bad but I don't like it, other people say it is really good .

12.My Vagina -10/10- Though its preverted, I love this songsong. IT CRACKS ME UP!!! This is so funny. I can't post funny lyrics (they are not appropriate)

13.Herojuana -9/10- Kewl song but its about drugs, it still has a kewl sound.

14.Theme From a NOFX Album -11/10- That 11 wasn't a mistake. One of the best NOFX songs. It is Polka but very very very good and HYSTERICALLY FUNNY. One of th funniest songs I know by NOFX(I know all their songs because I own all 14 of their CDS). NOFX makes fun of... their selves. I'M LIMO FROM SCOTLAND SO GIVE ME HAGGIS!!!!!!!!

THIS ALBUM IS GREAT... BUY IT YOU WONT REGRET IT!!!