No Use For a Name - Hard Rock Bottom (Cover Artwork)

No Use For a Name

Hard Rock Bottom (2002)

Fat Wreck Chords


I have to say, I've always loved NUFAN. That's why I was so eager to hear this release and share with everyone just how damn good it is. It starts off with "Feels like Home". This is a soft minute intro with wonderful lyrics and very light guitar. This opens up into track 2 "International You Day". This ironically opens up with the lyrics "I'm sorry I took so long, to write this song..." This flows ever so nicely much like songs from more betterness. "Pre-Medicated murder" opens up light with a violin sound and then guitars and vocals punch through. It's a short, fun song. "dumb Reminders" is next. This has a great beat and flow to it where at points it'll break down to just light guitar, drums, and vocals, then burst back into what it started. "Any Number Can Play". I absolutely love this song. This could also have opened the album if was so decided. It has that light vocal intro with the song never really losing that feeling. We continue with "Friends of the Enemy". This has a bob your head, move your body beat to it. You just wanna sing along with this song. It almost reminds me of "6 Degrees Of Misty", but I can't place why.

If there had to be a weak song on this album, it'd be "Angela". Something about it just doesn't make me believe in it. However, it is still a good song by far. And I wouldn't be surprised with anyone disagreeing with me. "Let Me Down" is an acoustic driven song reminding me of let it slide, except that this one lets the electrics and drums come in halfway through. "This is a Rebel Song" has a female singer in it. It turns out to be a duet and is a nice change in the flow of the record. It brings something different which upsets the chance of this album becoming boring. "Solitare" is another bob your head song. It's slower than other songs with more breaks in the guitar play. "Undefeated" opens with a distorted riff and drums until you hear a screeching slide and little bass line prevail through it all followed by the singer. Next is possibly my favorite song on the album, "Insecurity Alert". It starts with a screech, then a beat and guitar play that gets ya and stops! A tick is heard and the words "Emergency dispatch to mission control, I think something's wrong..." are sung lightly though they obviously would represent an exclamation. Then a chorus and back to this softer part with the drums taking the place of the ticking. This is a great song. It is different. And the lyrics are great! The final and 13th song on the album is "Nailed Shut". It opens with a clean guitar riff and drums. This is a great song to end the album with. Why? Because it is a great song.

I have not stopped listening to this album. The opening track I must say will speak for itself 'I like it sooo much' and the you'll see that this will be played for years to come and loved by any NUFAN fan, especially if you liked More Betterness.