Album Review: No Use For A Name - 'The Feel Good Record Of The Year'

The last couple of years has seen

something of resurgence from the FatWreck Chords crew. Bands like Strung Out have released records that have reaffirmed their position of popularity

within a scene that can all too easily forget its roots, and with The Feel Good Record Of The Year, No Use For A Name are here to remind everyone that they’ve got a little something left

in the tank as well. 

Fast paced opener “Biggest Lie”

recalls the break neck speeds of the band’s earlier work, but don’t

think for a minute that there’s something nostalgic or outdated about

this approach. If anything the catchy melodies and shredding guitars

sound just as relevant today as they did ten years ago. “I Want To

Be Wrong” settles into the mid-tempo groove that No Use utilize

so well, the chorus being one of the best things the band has written

in recent memory. 

“Yours To Destroy” is a perfect

example of what a good pop punk song should sound like, as the harmonies

are spot on and the guitars work well together… perfect! Picking up

the pace of the album’s first tune is “Under The Garden”, a song

that switches from aggressive to introspective more than a few times

within its three minute allocation. The first real surprise of The Feel

Good Record Of The Year is “Sleeping Between Trucks”, an acoustic

ballad that isn’t the worst thing I’ve ever heard, however it well

and truly kills the momentum that the band had successfully built to

this point. 

The bouncing “Domino” is a

solid tune that leads into the album’s title track nicely, both tracks

showing the diversity in No Use For A Name’s songwriting, while

the rock n roll influenced “The Trumpet Player” goes to show just

how much this band has matured over the years. “Night Of The Living

Living” is bound to be the soundtrack to many a circle pit but once

again another uninspired acoustic number offsets the pace. I’m all

for bands trying something different but the inclusion of these slower

numbers does not do the record any favours. 

The Feel Good Record Of The

Year is a fantastic album, however it would be far better if the

trio of ballads were omitted. Apart from that, No Use For A Name

has once again shown why they are still at the forefront of the modern

punk scene. 

1. Biggest Lie
2. I Want To Be Wrong
3. Yours To Destroy
4. Under The Garden
5. Sleeping Between Trucks
6. Domino
7. The Feel Good Song

   Of The Year

8. The Trumpet Playe