The Decline
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| The Decline | |||||
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| EP by NOFX | |||||
| Released | November 23, 1999 | ||||
| Recorded | June 1999 | ||||
| Genre | Punk rock | ||||
| Length | 18:19 | ||||
| Label | Fat Wreck Chords | ||||
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The Decline is a punk EP by NOFX. The CD version consisted of only the 18-minute title track, but the vinyl included a different version of "Clams Have Feelings Too" (from Pump Up the Valuum) on the B-side. The Decline is largely a satire of American politics and law, with an overwhelming concern for blind behaviors of the masses, such as complacency, indifference, and conformity, as well as destruction of constitutional rights, and condemnation of the religious right. Although the lyrics are somewhat disjointed, they all refer back to the unifying theme of the "decline" of America. The outro of the song on the trombone is played by Lars Nylander of Skankin' Pickle.[1]
According to the band, the recording of The Decline was:
| “ | Nightmare! Recording this fuck was a total nightmare. Writing it was a total nightmare. I'm glad we did it but I wouldn't do it again. We went back to the studio 3 different times and added stuff and remixed and remastered 4 times. It ain't no rock opera like Song Remains the Same or nothing. We got the idea from Subhumans, not Rush. Why an 18 minute song? Just to do something different. We've done enough short songs, time for a long one. Anyway, my advice, never try this song at home.[2] | ” |
The Subhumans song Fat Mike is most likely referring to is the title track to From The Cradle To The Grave, which is over 16 minutes in length.
The first 155 copies were pressed on clear vinyl, a version which is no longer available.[3]
The cover of the album is of a boy holding a model airplane. In the Pink Floyd movie The Wall, 18 minutes into the film (which is about how long The Decline is) there is a scene in which a boy runs around with a plane, in the same fashion as the boy on the cover of The Decline. Some variations of the rumour even suggest that The Decline could be played along with The Wall in the same way as Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon supposedly could with The Wizard of Oz. Fat Mike, however, when queried on this matter, just replied: "You are insane."
The first 1 min and 20 seconds of a live version of The Decline are played as an encore after Stickin' In My Eye on They've Actually Gotten Worse Live!(2007) before being faded out.[4] The entire song is occasionally played live, often as an encore, although they played it whole several times in their 2006 south american tour, and preferred to do so in the smaller venues, as a gift for fans that were aware of them playing in such small venues.
[edit] References
- ^ The insert on the CD version of the Decline lists Lars Nylander
- ^ NOFX Albums: The Decline at nofxofficialwebsite.com.
- ^ The Decline at the Records section of Fat Wreck Chords.
- ^ NOFX Q&A, October 31, 2001, nofxofficialwebsite.com.
[edit] See also
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