No Age

Guitarist Randy Randall and vocalist/drummer Dean Spunt have been making music as No Age for less than a year but they’ve used their time together wisely. Having already toured internationally and released five vinyl-only EPs on five different labels, they have the accomplishments of a band in their golden years. Mostly abandoning the noise rock of previous band Wives, Weirdo Rippers, a full-length built from the best of those EPs, is a fitting introduction to No Age’s hazy indie jams. "Every Artist Needs a Tragedy” opens the record with some oceanic noise that transforms into a simple, cheerful riff. "Boy Void” follows it up with some youthful punk rock, while "My Life’s Alright Without You” takes a slower, plodding approach to its catchy chorus. The biggest gem on the record is "Everybody’s Down,” a timelessly laid-back slacker anthem. An easy contender for album of the year, Weirdo Rippers sounds like your favourite indie cassette gone through the wash and improved by the messy sound.