No Fun at All

The Big Knockover (Burning Heart)
by Scott Hefflon

Sweden’s hottest punkpop superstars, No Fun At All, are one of those bands you can never really pinpoint why you like, you just know ya like ’em. While not every song is all-out speed-kills punk filled with cartwheeling guitar riffs and harmonies stacked like mattresses in a furniture warehouse, just enough are. Breakin’ it up with a few energetic, yet not hyperactive, radio-friendly pop tunes, No Fun At All show they have the song crafting of the big guns and the live wire vitality of the fresh-faced hopefuls. Lyrically, it’s always enjoyable (when done well, that is) when a band can write a singable song filled with “life’s tough and pretty unfair, but I’m trying my best, and I know who’s my friend and who isn’t” sentiments that aren’t naïve generalities. Very similar to early ’90s Fat Wreck Chords releases, if you’ve never cranked No Fun At All in mom’s car on the way to an all-age show, you’re depriving yourself (and your friends who never seem to be able to borrow their parent’s cars) of a real treat.