No Use For A Name

Leche Con Carne (Fat)
by Scott Hefflon

They’re more like Bad Religion than the sneering melodicore that Fat Wreck Records is notorious for. No Use For A Name is currently on tour with Quicksand and Offspring, so that should clue you in that they’re being slotted to be “the next big thing.” Well, they have the chops and the energy, and are reputed to put on some seriously powerful live performances, so let’s see what the fickle public have to say. For my part, they have true-to-life lyrics that are inspirational and uplifting, with melody lines that stick with you. Singer Tony Sly has a voice that’s hard to dislike and the multi-harmonied choruses are sweet without losing the edge that keeps them punk. “Soulmate” is the pick single. It’s got all the elements of a party song or driving favorite. Their cover of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” is a rockin’ tribute, rather than a sneering parody. The song works well within the frantic structure, and it’s cool to see a punk song credit its sources and not just rip off any and everything. With a few mid-tempo punk/pop tracks amidst the all-out, non-stop barrage, No Use For A Name could easily follow in Offspring’s footsteps. For now, they’re opening for them.