Review Summary: No Age are certainly living in the moment, and Everything In Between has a similar retention factor.
No Age are the type of band that would probably laugh at the notion of a major overhaul stylistically. After all, the duo relies on each other for ideas, so why change out of a comfy outfit? Their first full-length debut,
Weirdo Rippers, brought an earthy luster and a glimpse inside at the potential that was yet to be developed. Additionally, out of No Age’s three full lengths to date,
Nouns is the beautifully bounded book, having a lush atmosphere with intriguing developments over the course of the album. So where does that leave
Everything In Between?
The attention to detail and layers is probably the most overlooked side of No Age. That is to say that
Everything In Between would be half the album it is without spacey, abstract tracks such as “Katerpillar” or the dowsing “Sorts.” Honestly, as excitable and joyful tracks like “Glitter” and “Depletion” are, Everything In Between would sound hollow churning out single after single. Yet, when No Age does produce a single, odds are that, even if the track sounds fuzzy, the memory of the track will be everlasting. Take “Fever Dreaming,” a frantic rush with what would initially sound like a grinding headache of noise after each verse, but in turn has a pleasant tonal accommodation that adds to No Age’s collection of memorable riffs (like that found in “Teen Creeps” and “Everybody’s Down”). And to think, getting style points for ‘sloppiness’ and once-thought unbearable ‘noise.’
The problem with
Everything In Between though, is when "Chem Trails” slowly rattles away, as the distortion fades out, I say ‘well that was pretty awesome,’ and completely forget most of the finer details, which turns out to be a double-edged sword. While listening, paying too close attention takes away from the big picture. Unlike previous releases, there is not a dire need to shuffle back a few tracks to listen repetitively, but more of a, ‘when I’m in the mood’ feeling. No Age are certainly living in the moment, and
Everything In Between has a similar retention factor.
