Everything In Between

No Age

Over the first half of No Age's third full length, Everything In Between, band members Randy Randall (guitars, vocals) and Dean Allen Spunt (drums, vocals) remind me of - one song at a time - a number of my all-time favorite lo-fi bands. Nouns, their breakthrough second album (and first for Sub Pop Records), saw the duo really going for it, attempting to be not just a great pedal-heavy indie noise-pop band, but ready to be the next big thing. I remember thinking, no matter how cliche it felt, that Nouns could make No Age the "Next Nirvana/White Stripes," or whatever. Ridiculous, right? The "Next Dinosaur Jr." was and is probably more realistic. Here they're something else entirely.

"Glitter," the record's instant standout, comes off as a more macho version of Stephen Malkmus singing over modern-era Yo La Tengo. The song feels like a new indie classic regardless of the similarities, made perfect for cool, youthful movies like Larry Clark's 1995 alt-generation classic, Kids. "Fever Dreaming," too, has a Yo La sound, but only when Ira is doing his wannabe garage rock thing. Another instant standout, "Common Heat," owes its cutesy vocal and phrasing style to Daniel Johnston. Normally the obvious similarity would be a bummer, but since Johnston has only ever had success at the blueprint level of recording, this fully realized bit of oddball pop is more than welcomed. They pull it off.

Everything could be where No Age lose a big chunk of their hardcore fanbase and pick up some of the lo-fi leftovers who haven't already jumped aboard. Songs like "Skinned" will be just noisy and abstract enough to allow some crossover appeal for former fans who are otherwise alienated by the new hook-centered approach. But, aside from a few of the later tracks, the record is more Sonic Youth than it is Wolf Eyes. How do I feel about the move towards accessibility? Couldn't be happier. At first I was a bit distracted by how much the guys are now taking from my dream friends, but I got over that by listen No. 3. When you imitate as well as No Age do, people understand.

So here it is, the new Sub Pop-issued record that captures the glory years sound of indie rock's greatest major label better than anything in years. If the Sonic Youths and Lou Barlows of the world (the guys who once made your favorite sound-stuffed art-pop songs) can't keep you entertained these days, turn to No Age and their great new pop record. With everyone from Deerhunter's Bradford Cox and Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood talking about No Age these days, Randy Randall and Dean Allen Spunt seem destined to stand out amongst a seemingly endless sea of lo-fi music-makers. I'd name all the songs from Everything In Between that you must hear, but that'd be about 75 percent of the 13-song tracklist (but be sure to check out closer "Chem Trails" no matter what). This surprisingly consistent example of just how big and beautiful a minimalist garage band can sound when inspired is the must-hear of the fall 2010 release schedule. 9/10

Written by G. William Locke