No Use for a Name is no doubt a band that you have come across throughout the years, one that you likely recognize as a band that helped shape the melodic punk sound of the ‘90s, and whose songs you have heard and probably appreciated at one time or another. For many in the punk community No Use for a Name remains a solid favorite, and some have felt this way for many years. So it was with very heavy hearts that we received the news of front man Tony Sly’s passing in 2012. And since No Use for a Name decided to retire the band without Tony, there understandably hasn't been much news about them.
I know I’m not alone in saying that I still listen to the old No Use for a Name albums, like ‘¡Leche Con Carne!,’ ‘Making Friends,’ ‘More Betterness!,’ and ‘Hard Rock Bottom,’ to name a few. I even dig out Tony Sly’s acoustic solo albums on occasion, especially the split releases he did with Joey Cape of Lagwagon.
Recently, Fat Wreck Chords, No Use for a Name’s longtime home label, went through the band’s archive of recorded material, of which there is apparently quite a lot. Fat Wreck selected a handful of songs No Use for a Name recorded throughout their career and released them as ‘Rarities Vol I: The Covers.’ As you have undoubtedly already guessed by the title, this one consists solely of cover songs No Use for a Name did over the years.
Among the covers that No Use for a Name put their musical stamp on are some truly good ones: “Turning Japanese” (originally by The Vapors), “Hybrid Moments” (originally by The Misfits), “I’ve Heard” (originally by Dag Nasty), “Enjoy the Silence” (originally by Depeche Mode), “1945” (originally by Social Distortion), and Fairytale of New York” (originally by The Pogues).
As its title suggests, there are bound to be more albums with songs pulled from the No Use for a Name archives coming in the future. Until then I know I’m not alone in saying that I will still listen to the old No Use for a Name albums, like ‘¡Leche Con Carne!,’ ‘Making Friends,’ ‘More Betterness!,’ and ‘Hard Rock Bottom,’ to name a few. I even dig out Tony Sly’s acoustic solo albums on occasion, especially the split releases he did with Joey Cape of Lagwagon.
‘Rarities Vol. I: The Covers’ was released by Fat Wreck Chords on August 11, 2017 on CD, LP and digital formats.
