by Jason Ankeny
The title of NOFX's White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean is a pretty fair indicator of what's going on in the grooves -- specifically, tongue-in-cheek, politically incorrect forays into America's pancultural society. A SoCal punk band that recalls both the eclecticism and attitude of Camper Van Beethoven, NOFX rips through much more than standard-issue thrash; they transform Minor Threat's &Straight Edge& into a blues song with fake B.B. King vocals, go ska for the wry character study &Bob,& and examine lesbian lifestyles with surprising maturity on &Liza and Louise.& Not quite so understanding is &Johnny Appleseed,& which pokes fun at the very concept of cultural diversity and is sung in a Hispanic accent by guitarist El Hefe.