No Use For A Name
The Feel Good Record of the Year

Here we are. Certainly, a band like No Use for a Name needs no introduction, as they have been around for twenty years. Here's a brief summary of previous episodes:

No Use have been ranked for years as one of the best Melodic Hardcore \ Punk Rock bands in the world; they gained fame with the successful "Leche con Carne" (1995) and the worthy and powerful successor "Making Friends" (1997). Then the shift. A sharp turn, a change that, when I think about it, well... Anyway, in '99 with "More Betterness", after a lineup change, the band leaned towards purely pop punk sounds with a pronounced "melodic vein" (as many disdainful reviewers say). The situation "worsened" with the subsequent "Hard Rock Bottom" and culminated in the ridiculous with "Keep Them Confused" (2005). Enough, No Use!

However, it must be said that you can't just throw mud at a band like this simply because they no longer celebrate benders or stand as heroes for skaters. There's more to it. By doing what they felt artistically Tony Sly and company reached notable musical maturity, which is precisely why today they are not just one of the many copies of Fat Wreck Chords bands.

And here comes April 2008, which is tinged with No Use for a Name: "The Feel Good Record of the Year."

Already from the title, we are off to a good start... yet...

"Biggest Lie" opens the dance, a powerful Hardcore riff followed by a fast melody... interesting, then "I Wanna Be Wrong" in Hard Rock Bottom style... mmmh... then... "Yours To Destroy"! No, no, come on. They've fallen for it again. From the fourth track onwards comes a sugary flow that would scare even the most moderate punker.

These were my impressions upon first approaching the album. Then everything changed.

Yes, because you can't always look for what you want even where it's not possible. What do I mean? I mean that you shouldn't necessarily expect a rehashed skatecore stew from these blessed guys. The Melodic Punk they offer is very interesting, and in "The Feel Good Record Of The Year" the melodies truly stand out.

Noteworthy are "Under The Garden," "Domino," and the acoustic ballad "Sleeping Between Trucks."

Mixed feelings, folks. Recommended for those who want angry music but with sweetness, a lot of sweetness.