It has been over eight years since underground punk rockers, Numbers On Napkins, has released any material, and many fans of the band had assumed that this day would never come. I’ve been a fan of the Phoenix based band since I first heard their debut album, “Waiting for Tomorrow” back in the summer of 2005. “From Buckeye To Beardsley” really does manage to show how much the band has progressed musically over the past fifteen years, and I can happily say that it managed to live up to my expectations.
In March of 2013, NON announced that the band was performing one final show, and then going on indefinite hiatus, stating that the members wanted to take time to focus on their families and personal issues. NON told their fans that they genuinely planned on returning to the scene at some point in the future, but also made no promises, as they were aware that sometimes lives can change and nobody knows what the future holds.

I assumed that NON would never get back together, and was surprised when a friend informed me that the band had announced their return from hiatus in late 2017. NON slowly recorded a new album, a process that I eagerly awaited. I was excited to hear that the band asked their former guitarist, Matt Martini, to join them in the studio to record several new songs, and after 18 months, I finally had the chance to take a listen.

I immediately feared what I was about to hear. My expectations were high, and I was pretty sure that the new CD wouldn’t be able to live up to my expectations. NON said that they wanted the new album to try and showcase the entire history of the band, and I think they really nailed it!

“From Buckeye To Beardsley” starts off strong, with the first track being the fan favorite, “Summer Daze”. The song is a strong single, and possibly the best track on the entire album. I love the lyrics to the catchy chorus.....”I spent my summer days in a Summer daze.” The band sings about a summer fling, falling in love with a girl named Summer. The song is simple, but is also very powerful, and it’s the type of song that you want to hear again, just as it ends!

The album continued to produce great songs as listened more. NON chose to include four tracks from the bands, limited edition and out of print “QuickerDrunkenLouderHarder” EP, as well as a few live tracks that I had never heard before, and ten newly recorded, previously unreleased tracks. The songs from the bands EP were all great tracks, and even the live recordings were very strong. The band included live versions of their very popular songs “True Love” and of course “Runaway”, which was the bands most successful song as it was put into full rotation on dozens of underground and national radio stations. In addition, NON performs a live cover version of the song, “Like a Rat”, originally performed by Schleprock, and managed to do the song justice!

NON also included a new punk rock version of the bands popular Irish Folk tune, “Ode to the Drink”, featuring guest vocals on one of the verses by Cris MoSkill, frontman of fellow Bad Stain Recording Artists, ATM (Ask The Man). The new version of the song is just as good as the original acoustic version, but has a more raw feel to it, and is a highly energetic in the same vein as Flogging Molly. Other notable songs include “I’m Wanting Heather Lesser More” - a catchy pop punk love song with amazing guitar riffs and harmonies..... “Burpin’ Our Way to New Mexico” - a comedic acoustic track that tells the story of life on the road in a small punk band..... “Damaged Goods” - a bitter break up song that has a somewhat metal undertone to it, and some of the more intricate guitar riffs I’ve heard from NON....and “Stop Calm” - a heavier song with melodic lead vocals, featuring guest screaming from (The One Man Gang) Adam (Otis) Senter.

NON also included their very popular and unique cover version of Sir-Mix-A-Lot’s #1 Hit, “Baby Got Back”! Anyone who has seen the band live will surely remember the song, and I’m thrilled that the band finally recorded and released the song.
The only songs I’m not sure about are “Mario Gurth Dub” and “A Modern Day Andrie Chikatilo”. “Gurth Dub” isn’t bad, although it’s plain to see that it’s just a filler song, and doesn’t have much going on. As for “Chikatilo”....I felt that the lyrics are very interesting, yet disturbing, and while I give the band praise for tackling the issues of child molestation, it was a bit too creepy for my taste, and at one point literally made me feel sick to my stomach. Although it wasn’t enough to hurt the bands overall score much, and I still give the album an “A”!