The Auditory

This is the video for “Navy Parade (Escape from the Black River Bluffs)” by the Portland-based band AgesandAges.  AgesandAges is a new band to appear in the indie music scene, but their sound is certainly familiar—bringing to mind 60’s rock legends such as Neil Young (and CSNY) and, of coruse, The Dead. 

AgesandAges’ debut album Alright You Restless was released with Knitting Factory Records last month.  The lead singer, Tim Perry, formed the group after the break-up of his former band, Pseudosix.  Perry was frustrated with the apathetic attitude that most people have in this world, and wished to form a band that would unite people through optimism and understanding.  Their bio on Knitting Factory’s website describes the band as being, “a powerful, life-affirming and exploratory blend of lessons learned, set ablaze with a buoyant, unbridled optimism”.

AgesandAges’ sound is full and lush—featuring harmonies on every single track on the album.  In addition to the harmonies is their instrumentation, which is often intricate, and always interesting.  Every track feels forward-moving; there is never a lull or a dull moment in their music, which is often the problem with recent indie releases.  The band accomplishes this sense of forward motion by starting each track in a small place—allowing them to grow to their full potential by the end.  In this sense, AgesandAges never comes at you too hard with their songs, nor leaves you wanting more; they seem to have found the perfect balance.

In my opinion, AgesandAges has the potential to go far—not only because of their obvious musical skill, but also for their unyielding and inspiring message.

-Leah Creary