NO USE FOR A NAME

Sometimes, you're introduced to new people, and end up spending hours with them, talking about everything under the sun. You're having a great time, and have made a mental note to yourself, deeming this person a real fun cat. Then they say that one thing that catches you off-guard. But you look past it. It was "off-brand" in a manner of speaking. So you amend that mental note to this: this person is a really fun cat at least 80% of the time. That's what I think of every No Use For A Name album. They have an uncanny ability to entertain me for at least 80% of the time. Then that one song comes on that seems totally out of character. Let's take their newest disc, Hard Rock Bottom, for example. It's great. As great as More Betterness was. But like More Betterness, there are times where I find myself incredibly compelled to skip certain tracks. The album starts off with a weird series of tunes ("Feels Like Home", "International You Day", Pre-Medicated Murder") typical for NUFAN subject matter. The really cool thing is that it's a quiet string-plucking at first, then the rock kicks in. It's so on. I'm entertained. There's even this weird break between songs where a violin and cello get their string on. I'm still entertained. Hell, when they strum the old unplugged a bit ("Let Me Down"), I'm cool. But certain songs ("Angela" and "Solitaire") just lack the punch of the rest of the album. I'd still buy it if I were you. NUFAN have a charming longevity behind them for a reason: they write decent songs. And shit-- any band that can rock out a Sinead O' Connor tune ("This is a Rebel Song") is okay by me.
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