Publisher's Synopsis
"This collection of scholarly essays analyzes how NOFX's aesthetics of punk provocation and discomfort provokes the band's listeners to confront contradictions and conflicts in society concerning politics, identity, authenticity, and decorum. NOFX's aesthetics of provocation and discomfort force us to think about the positive value and problems caused by a longstanding attitude within punk, namely the disposition towards shocking and offending mainstream society. Their music challenges notions of punk as simplistic, stripped-down rock requiring little musical skill, as the band has incorporated virtuosic guitar and bass playing, an array of chords and harmonic approaches, borrowings from various musical styles, and song structures of considerable complexity, broadening punk's expressive possibilities in the process"--.