Since their first performance at LA’s The Smell in April 2006, the band have continued Wives’ tradition of incendiary live shows, playing as frequently as possible, expounding a visceral energy on an equal footing with their recorded output, via guitar, drums, vocals and a minimal amount of effects. No Age’s music is deceptively simple in its construction, yet thoroughly compelling. Raw, considered and skilfully arranged, these eleven tracks are overflowing with ideas, ambition and intent. Both Randy and Dean are also involved at The Smell in a curatorial, social, and artistic sense. The Smell is an all ages space dedicated to underground music and art. Citing The Smell as seminal and inspirational to many, and at least partially responsible for the existence of both their bands to date, it’s a mutually supportive grass roots space reflecting No Age’s DIY ethic. It is this building that features on the front cover of their debut album for FatCat, ‘Weirdo Rippers’. The band also make video, performance and visual art under the name No Age and by themselves, and curated the ‘Get Hurt’ exhibition in LA, featuring works by Devendra Banhart, Rich Jacobs, Ron Rege Jr., Matthew Thurber, Susan CianCiolo, and Ashley Macomber to name a few.
They have released three albums to date, 2007's "Weirdo Rippers" (a compilation of early material). The band released five limited vinyl-only releases on a variety of DIY indie labels across the globe on the same day. Weirdo Rippers is a collection of highlights for these releases. Despite its multiple sources, the tracklisting for Weirdo Rippers follows a narrative of its own, cohering effectively as an album. In mid-2008, the band released the single "Eraser", which has since become the band's best known song. This was followed by "Nouns" their second release in 2008 titled Nouns, on Sub Pop. The album was rated 9.2 (out of 10) by Pitchfork Media. In 2009 they put out their second Sub Pop release, an EP of loop and sample-based songs called Losing Feeling, a continuation of their punk-filtered pop songs with a few straightforward songs and a few more abstract compositions that harken back to their early EPs. The third release was 2010's "Everything In Between".
Brain Burner
No Age Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looks like the cop was wrong I'm not the only one
Do it every day for school see the damage done
I couldn't make him mad he's useless and alone
They make you look ugly and party for a home
Are you confused why this is not his zone?
He had a son but his son died fell apart he's cold
I couldn't make it cold so that's what I become
Looks like the cop was wrong I'm not the only one
Do it every day for school see the damage done
He had a son but his son died fell apart he's cold
Please decide for me and I could make it warm
There's bottles everywhere and soft spots in my son
They took me out and took me young the damage has been done.
It's not a cop it's not a dad but look what I've become
The lyrics to No Age's "Brain Burner" convey a sense of confusion, loneliness, and detachment. The first line, "I couldn't make it cold so that's what I become," suggests an inability to feel emotions and a potential coping mechanism of detachment. The line "Looks like the cop was wrong I'm not the only one" hints at a sense of betrayal and mistrust, perhaps from authority figures or society as a whole.
The subsequent lines shift focus to the consequences of this detachment, especially in terms of relationships. The phrase "Do it every day for school see the damage done" suggests a monotonous cycle, potentially related to addiction or self-destructive behavior. The line "They make you look ugly and party for a home" paints a picture of someone who has lost their sense of identity and instead turns to superficial pleasures in an attempt to fill a void. The following line reinforces this sense of disorientation – "Are you confused why this is not his zone?"
The final lines bring the song to a powerful conclusion, with the revelation that the subject has lost a child: "He had a son but his son died fell apart he's cold." This line highlights the devastating effects of emotional detachment and self-destructive behavior, as well as the potential correlating factors that can lead to such behavior. The repeated phrase "I couldn't make it cold so that's what I become" becomes particularly poignant in light of this final revelation.
Line by Line Meaning
I couldn't make it cold so that's what I become
I wasn't able to distance myself emotionally from something that made me feel bad, so I started embodying that coldness.
Looks like the cop was wrong I'm not the only one
The authority figure misjudged me and thought I was the only one with problems, but there are others who struggle too.
Do it every day for school see the damage done
The daily routine of going to school has taken a toll on me and caused harm.
I couldn't make him mad he's useless and alone
I tried to provoke someone who I thought deserved to feel angry, but they were already feeling disconnected and helpless.
They make you look ugly and party for a home
Society values superficialities like appearance and popularity over genuine connection and belonging.
Are you confused why this is not his zone?
Do you not understand why someone is acting in a way that doesn't seem to fit their character? There may be underlying factors at play.
He had a son but his son died fell apart he's cold
He experienced great loss when his son passed away, which caused him to shut down emotionally and become distant.
Please decide for me and I could make it warm
I don't have a clear understanding of what's right or wrong, so I need someone else to tell me how to feel and react.
There's bottles everywhere and soft spots in my son
I'm surrounded by evidence of my own mistakes and shortcomings, and my child is vulnerable and needs protection despite my flaws.
They took me out and took me young the damage has been done.
I was exposed to negative influences that affected me at a young age, and the harm has already been done.
It's not a cop it's not a dad but look what I've become
It wasn't just one person or one experience that altered me, but rather a culmination of factors that have shaped me into who I am today.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Dean Allen Spunt, Randy Randall
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind