Album Review: No Use For A Name - 'All The Best Songs'

The minute I was given this CD

I felt like I was 16 years old again. For those of you that grew up without hearing “No Use For A Name” I feel genuinely sorry for

you. As one of Fat Wreck Chords flagship bands, NUFAN have spent 20

years (yep, you read correctly, 20 years) playing fast, melodic and

most importantly FUN punk rock. 

“All The Best Songs” is effectively

a greatest hits collection, and although a lot of bands release a “best

of” these days, NUFAN are one of the few acts I can think of who’ve

actually earnt the right to do so! 

If I was to go through every track

on this record I’d still be typing this review a month from now…

so it’s not going to happen! However, the two last songs on the record

are previously unreleased and should tide you over until the next batch

of NUFAN tunes. “History Defeats” is classic No Use… but it’s

“Stunt Double” which proves to be the biggest surprise. Kicking

off with an acoustic intro, the song is slow and driving with a chorus

that would get the most jaded punk fan nodding in approval.  

With material spanning the band’s

entire career you’ve pretty much got the ultimate mix tape on your

hands. Fan favourites such as “Justified Black Eye”, “Soulmate”

and “On The Outside” all make an appearance but it’s the inclusion

of faster tracks like “Permanent Rust” that reminded me of why I

loved NUFAN so much in the first place. 

There’s no way one review could

sufficiently cover just how great this band is so I’ll leave you with

this… Whether you’re a life long fan or you’ve only recently discovered

“No Use For A Name” it doesn’t matter… this is a must have release

for any punk fan!

1. "International

   You Day"

2. "Justified

   Black Eye"

3. "Coming Too

   Close"

4. "Invincible"
5. "Dumb Reminders"
6. "Fatal Flu"
7. "Life Size

   Mirror"