Now that we've taken its full measure, it can safely be confirmed that Stereogum's continuing full-album cover project has been taken to a lofty new level with Enjoyed, the track-by-track reimagining of Bjork's Post. While much of the eye-popping track list lived up to theoretical goodness, it was a surprise entry that won the day. In the compilation's previously posted running order, the lovely New York City chanteuse Olga Bell capably handled the MTV mainstay "It's Oh So Quiet." While her conservatory-trained voice and laptop full of tricks are up to the task, her version is eclipsed by Cali D.I.Y. kingpins No Age, whose redundant rendition was apparently way too rad to even announce.
On paper this pairing seems like a potentially perilous gimmick. Historically, when punk-rock musicians take over less than rocking tracks, the obvious move is to overwhelm the original arrangement with sheer power. No Age do predictably insert ragged riffs where the big-band breakouts original were, but they never lose sight of the song's diametrical gentility or its sweetly love-sick sense of humor. Upon repeat listens, it's surprising how suited the duo is for this particular assignment. Odd lines, like "This guy is gorge and I got hit," sound like they could have sprung from the current So-Cal skate-punk lingo book. The original's floating music-box tune seems made for a winding guitar reverb. But what's most striking is how at home the duo is with straightforward melodic pining. I've given their upcoming full-length, Nouns, a few spins, and believe me, "romance" isn't one of the main places or things in question.
No Age

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