The Decline

Some of the best albums ever still available and the user submitted a single track 18 minute EP? Brave for sure. It’s pretty good. I’d probably give an album of NOFX a 4, but I always take away 1 star for people that submit EPs as this is an ALBUM list. In fact, I’m subtracting 2 stars since it’s only 1 track, even if 18 min. I really like NOFX too. No disrespect meant. I looked through the submitters history and I agree with a lot of their opinions. But come on! Submit an album!

Reading the vast majority of the reviews left for this NOFX EP was so frustrating. It's February 2026, a fascist takeover is well underway in the US and elsewhere, and you all-too-complacent, dead-eyed cows won't even address the topical contents of *The Decline*. Or if you do so, it's in terms that are so vague and unconcerned I instantly want to hop on my soapbox and go: "WAKE UP, you GODDAMN SHEEP, don't you realize FASCIST MONSTERS are EVERYWHERE now? They LIE and BRAINWASH ENTIRE POPULATIONS, and THEY WILL KEEP ON FUCKING GOOD PEOPLE UP while HELPING TOXIC BILLIONAIRES LINE UP THEIR POCKETS EVEN MORE if you don't TAKE ACTION! WAKE. THE. FUCK. UP.!!!" So, do I have your attention now? Right towards the beginning of the 18-minute skate-punk opera that *The Decline* is -- exactly one minute after vocalist and bass player Fat Mike starts strumming the root notes of the main theme he wrote for his delirious composition (a theme only fully developed later on, mind you) -- the NOFX frontman notably crafts a pun that's still 100% apt and potent to describe our current, very troubled times: "greediocracy". This play-on-words does not merely foretell the term "idiocracy", which seems to be the keyword to describe our late capitalist hellhole as promoted by increasingly mind-numbing media. It's also a pun on the word "IDEOcracy", describing how masses blindly follow "dear leaders" or party lines, sometimes to the point of willingly subscribing to what George Orwell called "doublethink". Let's just quote good ol' Uncle George here, to understand what "doublethink" really is: "To know and not to know, to be conscious of complete truthfulness while telling carefully constructed lies, to hold simultaneously two opinions which cancelled out, knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them, to use logic against logic, to repudiate morality while laying claim to it, to believe that democracy was impossible and that the Party was the guardian of democracy, to forget whatever it was necessary to forget, then to draw it back into memory again at the moment when it was needed, and then promptly to forget it again, and above all, to apply the same process to the process itself—that was the ultimate subtlety: consciously to induce unconsciousness, and then, once again, to become unconscious of the act of hypnosis you had just performed. Even to understand the word—doublethink—involved the use of doublethink." Many political ideologies are following this putrid agenda today. There's "Maga", of course -- an "ideology" which consists in blindly supporting whatever delusion or fascistic hoax-of-the-day Donald Trump puts forward to gain or keep his power. The examples of Ingsoc slogans in *1984* -- "WAR IS PEACE", "FREEDOM IS SLAVERY" -- are barely more overt in their absurdity than maga slogans, dumb catchphrases and other "talking points"... Yet "doublethink" had also crossed the political divide long before the Trump era -- to the point where all mainstream parties in the world have at least dabbled in it at some point. The goal is always the same: preserve the harmful illusions implemented by institutions that have always been "imperial" at their core, whether in the US or in former colonial empires elsewhere. And when said empires are crumbling, matters get worse -- something that Orwell didn't really envision when he wrote *1984*, by the way. What's painfully obvious to many people today is that the denial of reality to preserve "greediocracy" gets even more pivotal when empires are falling compared to when they were at the peak of their power. And "doublethink" plays a pivotal part worsening the situation for everyday people here. It's worth noting that Fat Mike not-so-incidentally points at this concept of "doublethink" towards the end of *The Decline*, during a final hardcore-punk cavalcade leading to the full-blown, trombone-laden main theme in the composition: "And so we go, on with our lives We know the truth, but prefer lies Lies are simple, simple is bliss Why go against tradition when we can Admit defeat, live in decline Be the victim of our own design The status quo, built on suspect Why would anyone stick out their neck? Fellow members of Club "We've Got Ours" I'd like to introduce you to our host He's got his, and I've got mine Meet the decline." Once Fat Mike "introduces" the "decline", all hell breaks loose. The build-up used as a musical backdrop for this scathing criticism of political complacency thus leads to an even more striking conclusion -- with its ironic trombone harmonizing with typical melodic hardcore-punk guitar octave riffs. And this final section is surely the most sardonic moment NOFX have ever put to tape in a career already filled to the brim with them. It is so intense, so desperate, and even so *heartbreaking*, you can only pump your first into the air to express the despair as to how American masses have been fed lies for so long without ever rebelling on a mass scale. That particular melody -- first displayed in the middle of the long track for one short single iteration, and then fully taking flight for its "cinematic" climax -- is, for all intents and purposes, a sonic spoof of a patriotic parade in the nation's capital, whose obvious fascistic overtones are not only conveyed through the sounds of marchers goose-stepping in the streets, but also by the desperation implied in the theme's root minor chords -- here covered by the mock-epic trombone theme. It's hard to know if the 18-minute song's conclusion is grotesque or sublime, or if you should snarl or cry -- it's probably all of this at the same time, a "doublethink" response itself, illustrating how one can never fully escape the toxic cognitive dissonance triggered by such propaganda, even when you are aware of its nature. One thing's for sure, though: the topical resonance of *The Decline*'s conclusion feels all the more urgent today than it ever was. In other words, the music is great, but it's also great because of the scene it helps describing -- a scene that should speak to the soul of every quote-unquote "anti-fascist" out there. Sarcasm doesn't necessarily mean cynicism. It can also be a wake-up call. Not so long before *The Decline*, Fat Mike and his gang of melodic punk ruffians had released album *Punk In Drublic*, arguably their magnum opus in terms of sarcastic societal songs packing a terrific punch in terms of catchiness and infectious melodies. NOFX would then leave some of those societal themes aside to an extent, so as to embrace more absurd forms of irony -- either on the underwhelming *Heavy Petting Zoo*, or the musically tight and excellent *So Long And Thanks For All The Shoes*. *Punk In Drublic* has remained the template of the Californian punks' artistry to this day, though. Some cuts in it had touched upon themes closely related to the vanities and delusions going with the sad state of the American Empire, and how ordinary people were routinely crushed by them ("Don't Call Me White", the cover version of Mark Curry's "Perfect Government"...). Yet as perfect and comprehensive as *Punk In Drublic* sounded for the melodic hardcore genre, it was still missing an epic tour de force that would sum up this overarching theme in one single, masterful stroke. And *The Decline* filled that void five years later, in 1999. Interestingly, Fat Mike has retrospectively expressed mixed feelings about the project -- not so much because of its actual results, but because of how the whole idea had quickly become a logistical nightmare for the band. Three different recording sessions have been used to complete *The Decline*, occurring in different studios with various state of success, which surely went against the band's initial wish to record the whole thing with as few takes as possible, in keeping with a punk DIY spirit that's the total opposite of the prog-rock overblown shenanigans usually associated with the word "rock-opera". "Don't try this at home, kids!" the EP's liner notes go -- as if NOFX was dreading the day when horrible fan cover versions of the song would see the light of day, performed by amateur bands ill-equipped to pull it off, at least decently. The reception of the EP was also pretty divisive in punk-rock audiences, which probably also left a bitter taste in Fat Mike's mouth. One of the most persuasive criticisms launched at the project was that the composition was not "seamless" -- that you could sense that it was made out of bits and pieces taken from unused songs, here pasted one after another. This may or may not have been the case -- no one will know now, and I doubt NOFX themselves know about this themselves today. Yet all those elements, here combined with each other, could indeed suggest that *The Decline* was sort of a joke that had gone on for too long -- a crazy, spontaneous "what if?" idea suddenly becoming too heavy and "costly" compared to the initial goofy intent of "let's make a punk opera". Yet assessing the state of a fallen empire crumbling at the seams now suggests the very "fragmentary" nature of *The Decline*'s narrative was the right move after all. The form mirrors the subject matter here anyway. Compare *The Decline* to Green Day's *American Idiot*, for instance, and it seems that the very earnest "Broadway-show features" of the latter round off the edges a little too much to be considered as real "punk". Worse, Green Day can't help reifying some key American "values" during the course of their lengthy libretto. And they keep on piling "acts", one after another, until their initial critical intentions become muddled beyond recognition for the sake of creating a supposedly entertaining "storyline". Green Day do brush the surface of *doublethink*, for instance, but they never fully delve into it. And this is where they lose the plot somehow. Compared to *American Idiot*, *The Decline* says everything that needs to be said in eighteen swift minutes. In between the song's introduction and its parody of a fascist parade at its end, Fat Mike only needs to explore three sub-topics to get his message across: guns, drugs and religion. For the first, hardcore-punk twists and turns illustrate the subject with all the necessary scared frenzy. For the second sub-topic, moodier, more "experimental" textures are harnessed -- with (gasp!) a couple of mock-prog-rock undertones here and there, symbolizing the stupefied state that goes with drug consumption as the only crutch against full-blown despair. And the illustration of religious fundamentalism firmly stands in between those two musical palettes. Guns, drugs and religion are here three key signifiers branding the fledgling American empire for what it truly is -- a society going through a slow "decline" indeed, down to the appalling state it is today, where all values of decency and solidarity are cynically trampled upon by the powers that be. Those signifiers circle around themselves exactly as they should, and the way they are musically handled conveys a pretty solid assessment of what's at stake. Pretty impressive for a song supposedly made out of "bits and pieces". No one knows if the civic surge witnessed today will be enough to course-correct the tragic state of affairs already denounced in *The Decline*. All we know is that four disheveled punk rockers were among those raising the alarm in their own way 25 years ago. Of course, they were not listened to as they should have been -- they only came off as eccentric goofballs ranting on their soapbox. But if you listen to the conclusion of *The Decline* today, the message was already clear as a bell. If you don't march in the streets against political complacency, those streets will be invaded by the worst ilk instead. It's never too late until it is. "Why would anyone stick out their neck?" Fat Mike snarled in 1999 to roast the sheep's status quo. Yet that status quo is long gone by now, and the reasons why we should all stand against the imperial monsters are abundantly clear today, aren't they? Those who know the truth can't prefer lies anymore. 5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums. 10/10 for more general purposes. ---- Number of albums from the original list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 465 Albums from the original list I *might* include in mine later on: 288 Albums from the original list I won't include in mine: 336 ---- Number of albums from the users list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 75 Albums from the users list I *might* select for mine later on: 91 Albums from the users list I won't select for mine: 182 (including this one -- only because *The Decline* is technically an E.P.. But *Punk In Drublic*'s in it, of course!) ---- Émile, tu trouveras ma dernière réponse sous le *Inside* de Bo Burnham

masterpiece

14 year old me had a Pump up the Valium poster on my wall, much to my mums disgust. I’d have punk in drublic on the list, but not sure this counts as an album but it is a really outstanding 18 mins punk song, but I’ll give it a 4 because NOFX should be on the list.

Pretty good. I like punk but not a big fan of the vocals that sounded too much like Green Day's brand of "pop punk". 3 stars.

I like NOFX, and this is a good track, but I disagree with the inclusion of EPs on the list.

By punk standards I know this is the equivalent of a hour-long epic, which is impressive. However, that length does mean the lyricism is stretched paper-thin (we do indeed live in a society). I’m not expecting Pulitzer-level writing, but it did grate a little. Also feels like this was originally an EP and the songs were melded together later given how disjointed some of the sections feel. That being said, this was still a decent listen and I do enjoy some NOFX now and again. This is one of those where I wish we had half-star ratings, 2 feels harsh but it’s not a 3 for me.

The Decline is an EP from skate punk pop band NOFX. The original EP consists of one song of 18 minutes. I already get annoyed by live and best of albums on this list, so an one track EP is certainly a no go for me on this list. It opposes a lot of things the idea of this list stands for. The song itself is a messy punk collection of riffs with bits returning later one and other parts only occurring for a single time. There is not something to bind it together and making it one solid composition. I don't like it and it certainly should not be here.

Any short album deserves at least 4 stars, but being NOFX, I'll give it a 5 to be fair with my younger self who would have enjoyed it a lot

My favourite punk band, and a song that I often say is my favourite song of all time. Just flawless. Great pick.

Inspiring rock. Awesome punk.

I've developed an amount of old man grumpus fatigue with counterculture music polemics. Like, yeah but still no solutions or leadership in specific change right? But oh well it still rocks.

Short and powerful punk EP. Enjoyed it a lot

Prog punk? Ja danke! 18 continuous minutes, with real dynamics, not just 130 BPM oi. I didn't know NOFX were this ambitious musically!

Epic!

Rating: 8/10

I first listened to The Decline at least 20 years ago so it's a favourite and solid inclusion to get NOFX in there, who part defined a generation of punk rock otherwise ignored by this list. Easy 4/5, sod the fact it's an EP or a single track, it's a great song and it's a still extremely valid political commentary.

This rox

At least it's just 18 minutes:D Not too bad actually

A fun track, but it's one track. This feels like a troll. A troll that the user spent ~3 years earning.

Cmon

An 18 minute punk song, kinda works

One song, 18 minutes long. Have I just been assigned a day off? Cool punk rock. Reminded me of "Jesus of Suburbia". Very hard to rate something like this since yeah, like everybody else has already mentioned, this is very much stretching the definition of the word "album". 3/5 I guess.

Solid skate punk. Kinda dumb that it's only 1 song, but that is also the most punk rock thing to do lol. It doesn't feel like an 18 minute song when listening to it though. The larger song is made up of several smaller songs it feels like. I would think there are better NOFX albums that could have been recommended, but all in all, pretty solid. Favorite song: take a guess....lol (The Decline) Least favorite song: none 3/5

Not sure why you’d choose an 18 minute single that’s basically 4 songs compiled into one. This band has made several albums and I feel that would’ve been a better addition than this. This isn’t that bad it’s a some typical late 90s anti establishment pop punk rock. It rages pretty hard while having lyrics that cut into the problems of the time. Overall it’s good but just an odd choice. 6.0/10

Skate punk. EP. Ni fu ni fa.

An 18 minute song is a strange thing to nominate for this list. It was decent but kind of not in the spirit of things for me.

So you finish 1089 albums decide to submit a single 18 minute long song... okay? It's not even that interesting of a song either. Seems like such a waste. The song is pretty standard pop punk affair. I got the gist of it about 5 minutes in and then it goes on for another 13 minutes. My personal rating: 1.5/5 My rating relative to the list: 1.5/5 Should this have been included on the original list? No.

A for effort and ambition – for seeing the cultural need for a skatepunk "Bohemian Rhapsody," basically, which separates them, one supposes, from the Warped Tour stalwarts (Rancid, Sublime) and makes them more than Less Than Jake. And there's no arguing with the content or the intent to do some consciousness-raising – one would say they're on the right side of history as far as consumerist cultural rot. The musical vessel – however Baroque and prog NOFX seeks to make punk's rudimentary sound palettes – makes the commentary hard to take seriously and the targets of the satire are a little obvious (to put it mildly). One can't say it's much improved by the orchestral version. One likes it better than American Idiot, maybe, if only because briefer, but it's not gonna replace Fear of a Black Planet or What's Goin On or The Times They Are a Changin' or Talking to the Taxman About Poetry or The Wall or Let England Shake or Freedom Suite or There’s No Place Like America Today or Winter in America in terms of all-time musical sociopolitical statements. Thus, can't say it belongs on list proper. And points off for inspiring Blink 182.

Love the timing of this selection and every sentiment within these lyrics. Can't believe it wasn't written in the past 5 years but hey - keep that myth rolling! Just not a fan of the music - while it is tight and adventurous and especially good for the genre, it's far too frenetic/whiny. Just not my taste. Although I do like that Steve Harris-esque bass run around 3:07... 5/10 2 stars IMO: Belonged in the book? No.

That voice....

Short is good

👎🏻

Well I absolutely hated this. A friend pointed out that it sounded like the scooby doo soundtrack but worse and I can’t disagree. I just didn’t like it at all.