NoMeansNo's
First No-No

It was bound to happen eventually. There aren't many bands that can put out nine great full length albums in a row. No One is NoMeansNo's ninth album and, in my view, their first true stumble. Or the closest thing to a stumble this unique power trio is likely to produce.

 

NoMeansNo can still find a great riff and beat it into submission. Their love for dischordant harmonies remains. Their songs are still interesting little stories from the seedier side of the great dark abyss. Yet somehow this album doesn't work for me.

 

The riffs just don't catch on like they used to. The stories don't seem as interesting and the vocals (particularly Mr. Wright's "scary" deep growl) wreak of been there, done that. On top of all this there is not one song on No One shorter than 6 minutes in length, aside from a slowed down 4 1/2 minute version of the Ramones' "Beat on the Brat". This is troublesome to a band that is reliant on repeated grooves and riffs. Most of the songs on No One are in need of an additional transition or two. Or a melodic bridge... something... anything to break up the monotony.

 

Let's put it this way: Next time I throw together a NoMeansNo compilation, "Beat on the Brat" will be the only track I lift from this release.

-Mattro

Other NoMeansNo stuff...
NoMeansNo Web Site
NoMeansNo Discography