SNFU - FYULABA (1996)

On this their third full-length release for Epitaph Records, SNFU dish out some of the fastest punk attempted by the band in years, however, vocalist Mr. Chi Pig's goofy lyrics prevent Fyulaba from being a triumphant return to form. The coverage of stale headlines ("Bobbitt," "You Make Me Thick"), an even more stale Pearl Jam backlash ("Better than Eddie Vedder"), and pointless celebrity dream sequences ("Michelle Pfeifer's Diaper," "Dean Martin") cheapen SNFU's more than respectable hardcore into a sad novelty that makes Weird Al Yankovic look downright inventive. Weak performances are not the problem; Pig's David Byrne-like wail is in fine form just as the Welke brothers guitars and the rhythm section of Rob Johnson (bass) and David Rees (drums) somehow manage to make the band's 12-year-old skate punk sound fresh and exciting. Listeners willing to ignore the bad lyrics should get a charge out of the music, but this rather imposing condition should keep Fyulaba off any must-have punk lists.