It's been a wearily traveled road for San Jose, CA's No Use For a Name. The band has not only made quality pop-punk records since their beginning in 1987, but helped to define its own vibrant genre -- one emulated by countless bands on many a label. More Betterness continues in the band's patented vein of stereo-cranking, vocally charged songs that emphasize harmonies, driving guitar lines and the infamous speedy kick drum of Rory Koff. With crisp production from Fat Mike and Ryan Greene, tracks like "Life Size Mirror" and "Not Your Savior" are examples of NUFAN at its best: stream of consciousness lyrics that melt into some sort of bizarre, melodic sing-a-long that's viciously infectious while still maintaining a sense of seriousness through weighty lyrical content. And just in time for the Holiday season, the band tosses in a festive, jocular cover of the X-Mas classic "Fairytale of New York," with Tilt's Cinder Block ad-libbing some choice vocals that you'll never hear on any other version! NUFAN can still be a bit overwhelming for me when listened to in lengthy doses, but there's little argument that the band can't out-play, out-write and out-punk the majority of bands out there today.