No Age – Everything in Between

And Nothing Left Out

If you like The Ramones, you’re definitely going to take a liking to No Age. The Los Angeles duo of Dean Spunt and Randy Randall are the epitome of what art-punk strives to produce. Mixing clever melodies with lacerating and at times ethereal sounds (see the song “Katerpillar”), this band has tapped into something that’s been missing from the punk music scene for years: rawness. Their album Everything In Between is an exploration of that sound. It pays homage to the garage heroes of the late 70’s in its approach, but not so much that it loses its originality.

The album starts off strong with “Life Prowler,” a catchy tune that harmonically resembles New Order and sets the tone for the entire album. The lonely, pounding bass drum sparks your interest and suddenly bursts into a cacophony of sonic pleasure. Second track “Glitter” has a similar sound, matching its predecessor with a catchy drum beat and a rhythm that will draw comparisons to New Order’s “Age of Consent.” But if the first two songs are a little too ‘clean’ for your tastes, fear not: “Fever Dreaming” is sure to deliver that Ramones sound everyone loves so dearly. It doesn’t even call for explanation, just listen to the damn thing.

Spunt and Randall are making moves, and fast. Their music has been heard permeating the rooms of the MoMA and interpreted as a soundtrack to the 1988 Jean Jacques Annaud film “The Bear.” And get pumped because they’re also going on tour. If you’re in Los Angeles September 30th, they’ll be playing at the Hollywood Bowl with Sonic Youth. After a European tour from October through mid-November, they’ll be back in the states. Go check them out! For all you true music lovers out there, No Age is clearly a band that strives to create. They’ve got that fearless edge that rejects the mainstream and embraces those who appreciate music as an art-form rather than a business driven, interminable popcorn machine.