Where do I start? Maybe like this: Great album.
And then right away a Disclaimer: Like many, I discovered CODEFENDANTS because of Fat Mike. I’ve seen them live before, but I was somewhat distracted by getting a beer before I would see NOFX for the last time. I have mixed feelings about Fatty. On one hand, he is responsible for so much music that shaped me. It’s hard to overstate. At the same time, he reached his creative peak decades ago, and since then has produced fewer highlights and made NOFX more of a vehicle for the somewhat limited views of an aging, stoned punk. So I’m not entirely unbiased towards CODEFENDANTS, but I try to be fair without making myself look foolish.
If I block out my prior knowledge, then "Lifers" is a varied mix with confident songwriting. Hip Hop, Punk, Electronics, Rock, Ballads, Latin, all sorts of things are packed into the 11 songs. This makes them very diverse, and even after multiple listens, I still hadn’t registered all the little good ideas, refined dynamic shifts, and style breaks. There’s a great familiarity with the music styles used here, allowing this crossover to succeed without feeling rough. This is a kind of mix that I really liked in the late 90s and early 2000s and aimed for in my own bands – anyone who knows FAITH NO MORE, BRAN VAN 3000, or RANCID’s "Life Won’t Wait" might understand what I mean: No standard recipes, you never know what’s coming in the next song. Just a huge spectrum of influences, and I love that. Also, SUBLIME, which fits this description, makes an appearance in CODEFENDANTS. Is that Bradley’s son?
Only with the lyrics am I not always convinced. There’s a bit too much of a forced gangsta attitude for me; I’ve heard the loser melancholy too often to still buy it from these seasoned professional musicians. And when they suggest that Fat Mike is being canceled, but he continues to take risks in the name of art, it confirms my initial fears that the millionaire has become the embarrassing uncle. So it’s best to block out this fact, and the bragging somehow fits with the hip hop elements. Then you can really enjoy "Lifers"!
