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Oct 7, 2016First Ditch Effort isn't a radical step forward for NOFX--they're still a punk band who smirk more than they shout--but it does successfully take them into a more thoughtful direction, and shows they can mature just a bit and still be themselves.
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Alternative PressOct 10, 2016Really, punk doesn't get much better than this. [Nov 2016, p.90]
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Oct 13, 2016First Ditch Effort doesn't match NOFX's '90s peak, but it rights the ship somewhat, and goes a long way to re-establishing the group as worthy and relevant elder statesmen.
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Kerrang!Oct 7, 2016This is NOFX at their leanest, and it absolutely rips. [8 Oct 2016, p.52]
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Nov 1, 2016Clearly this is something the band, and Mike in particular, feel passionate about, but “I’m so Sorry Tony” would’ve been a much better finish to the album. Still, there’s enough interesting and flat out good songwriting going on here to make First Ditch Effort worth a recommendation.
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Oct 7, 2016This album shows that newfound purpose, and more importantly, it shows that NOFX is still NOFX no matter if they embrace the ‘76 or ’16 punk mentality and that they are that much better because of it.
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Oct 7, 2016While some of these songs may not be up to the standard of their world-beating best, it’s clear they’re still having a lot of fun.
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Oct 10, 2016The band simply sounds recharged on First Ditch Effort, a sometimes hilarious and often consistent return to the sound that worked so well for them well over a decade ago.
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Oct 7, 2016Musically, the band is still in frenetic first gear, proudly sticking to its well-tested formula of power chords, metal-infused riffs, and biting humor. That sameness dulls some of First Ditch Effort’s luster, but it’s still a spirited late-career entry for the veteran punks.
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Oct 14, 2016The result is a record much darker in tone than previous outings, yet still harbours the sardonic wit that endeared us to them all those years ago