LP Record review:
NOFX - The Longest Line

NOFX - The Longest Line

Band: NOFX Title: The Longest Line Rating: Release Date: 24 March, 1994 Media: LP Record Tracks: 1: Death of John Smith 2: Longest Line 3: Stranded 4: Remnants 5: Kill All the White Man

Customer Reviews the illustrious El Hefe Hefe added great talent to the band with great chops on lead guitar, lead vocals, backing harmonies, and trumpet solos. The Longest Line introduced NOFX's newest member El Hefe. This EP contains two songs that could easily fit in any NOFX fan's top ten list: The Death of John Smith and The Longest Line. This EP is a must for any true NOFX fan or anyone in search for a good punk recording. The cover art alone is worth the price. Furthermore, this EP is the turning point in NOFX's career it is where they developed their characteristic sound that can be found on later full length releases. Cheers. Enjoy. Excelent EP It is phenominal, lyrically and musically. Yeah, everyone is like "oh man the longest line is the greatest song ever!" however, i personally think that The Death of John Smith is the best song on the record. And the other songs are great, too. If you do not own this record, and are a punk rock fan, then you NEED to buy it. At the end of the longest line Having played in a few other bands, and also appearing in the movie "The Bad News Bears" as a child, El Hefe came to NOFX with a big rep. Short and sweet, `The Longest Line' was recorded as an excuse for NOFX to show off their new guitar player El Hefe. NOFX meanwhile had been trying in vain to drop any Metal inferences and influences from their sound, and a trumpet playing guitarist seemed the obvious way to finish off the misleading Metal references. The difference in sound between this and previous album `Ribbed' is not immediately apparent. On first impression, "The Death Of John Smith" could easily have been lifted from that album, but then a melodic passage, which wouldn't have fit earlier material pops up, providing a contrast to NOFX's straight forward So-Cal Punk sound. Fat Mike's vocals were far less melodic than on later albums. His slightly nasal, slightly off key voice can grate at times. His lyrics though were beginning to take on an insightfulness not previously shown, exploring the hopelessness of a nine-to-five existence with an edge of cynicism and sarcasm. El Hefe finally steps up on closing track "Kill All The White Man", suddenly adding a trumpet and a Reggae sound never heard before from the band. The seemingly happy, almost funky little melody led by Fat Mike's bass, ironically underscores a slave's lament as to his hopeless plight. Hefe sings too, with a more mellow voice than Fat Mike, and punctuates his verses with trumpet bursts. The band kick out the jams for a traditional Punk finale to the EP. Recorded as an experiment, with a couple of throwaway tracks, `The Longest Line' pointed where NOFX were heading, as the band's song writing improved and diversified. It was a blueprint for a winning formula. . You can see a complete list of all NOFX discography, or go back to the NOFX tabs