NoFX – White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean

NoFX’s White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean, besides having a hilarious politically incorrect title, is ’90s punk at its dangerous but lovable best. Released eleven years ago by the original and best version of NoFX, the title refers to band members Erik Ghint (drums), Fat Mike (bass, vocals), Eric Melvin (guitar) and El Hefe (guitar, trumpet, vocals) respectively.

Production by Donnell Cameron and the band is full, punchy and clean. The band’s amazing precision leaps out without losing power. Socially conscious without the portentousness of Bad Religion, the band’s humor shines throughout.

Standouts are the smoking “Soul Doubt” and “Stickin’ in My Eye”; a jazzy and ironic version of Minor Threat’s “Straight Edge”; a punchy and tuneful “Liza and Louise”; the Mexi-ska of “Johnny Appleseed”; and the neo-Rudy Vallee of “Buggley Eyes,” a Cameron favorite.

“We rented a Gibson jazz bass guitar and made an imitation stand up bass sound. Al’s Studio Rentals [film props] was next door to the studio, and they had this little gramophone in there, so we got that. My mom has some old 78’s. We recorded the scratchy sound of the needle on the leading grooves just before the song starts, and used that as sort of a wash. That was really fun,” Cameron told me.