No Age - "An Object"

Los Angeles punk dudes Randy Randall and Dean Sprunt return to the music world with their fourth album as No Age. But “An Object” is quite different from the abrasive, raw punk of their previous efforts. The duo is content to let their songs develop a bit more on “An Object,” rather than dive right in with a powerful, driving drum beat. Album opener “No Ground” doesn’t even use drums. But by the time “C’mon, Stimmung” comes around, No Age’s punk roots are clear. The song features a fast punk drum beat and a jangly, angular guitar riff at the center.

But for the most part, “An Object” is an exercise in minimalism. “An Impression” features guitar riffs that are right out of the xx’s book. Closer “Commerce, Comment, Commence” is the most striking track on the album. It’s dreamy and ethereal, swelling and building with an ease that would make Beach House swoon. The song spends at least 75 percent of its four-minute running time swelling and building to its noisy climax.  

Even though it’s far from a true punk record, “An Object” remains raw and gives the listener a musical realism of sorts. Some of the songs sound as if they might be played at a house show in Bloomington. No Age has carefully crafted a sound that has some raw elements but is also polished and professional.

“An Object” is different, brief and a little less consistent than its predecessor, 2010’s “Everything In Between.” But it’s a welcome experiment for a band that has been around for a while. I’m sure No Age will offer up a “return to form” at some point in the future, but for now, “An Object” is a fitting piece of its discography.