The No-No's favor a brand of charmingly ramshackle indie pop that few bands conjure anymore -- their sound is anachronistic, sure, but rightfully and deservedly so, given both their pedigree (
Tiger Trap,
the Halo Benders, and
Stephen Malkmus' Jicks) and aspirations (
Let Your Shadow Out concludes with a cover of
the Monkees' "Love Is Only Sleeping"). Raucous but sweet melodies and off-key vocals still carry a lot of weight in certain circles, and anyone pining for the glory days of Pacific Northwest indie rock will find much to savor here -- frontwoman Robin Bowser's wavering vocals occasionally suggest
Cub's Lisa Marr, and her lyrics are witty and honest. The slower songs (i.e., "Empty Bed") don't work nearly as well as the fast ones, but
Let Your Shadow Out is infectious throughout. ~ Jason Ankeny