Through the Head

As long as there are young people with excess energy to burn, there will be powerful, often tuneful, punk groups to exploit the simple but effective ways of punk-pop music. Easier said than done, though, and Philadelphia’s Nona make it seem too easy thanks to the attention-getting vocals of guitarist Mimi Gallagher and the tight, unassuming rhythm section of drummer Pat Ware and bassist Nick Harris. This rerelease of their debut album, Through the Head, features a remix and remaster by Jay Maas (Title Fight, Transit). It also lets the album be heard by listeners outside the Philly music scene, which in recent years has been fertile ground. Throw Nona to the top of the list, since their 12 songs in 37 minutes ensure that nothing overstays its welcome. Even the nearly five-minute “Second Step” is worth the time, showcasing Gallagher’s empathetic, melodic guitar work. “Now & Then,” “Give,” “Dead to You,” and “Words I Said” enforce the band’s primal power, which has its roots in ‘70s and ‘80s punk and comes out in the year 2014 with a fresh Nona stamp on it.