Tapes 'n Tapes:
The Loon
By Tasha Moro
Indie rock band Tapes 'n Tapes sure has worn out my iTunes this summer. Hailing from Minneapolis, the group has been determined to break into the music scene ever since their formation in 2003.
They self-released an EP in November 2004 and this past July re-released their first full length album The Loon on XL Records. Although I must admit that it was their blissfully catchy name that first caught my attention, Tapes 'n Tapes' sound is even more so, with surprising lyrics and rhythms that will make you want to hit repeat...repeatedly.
The opener, "Just Drums," is aptly named. This ode to the overlooked, underrated instrument starts off the album with a punch. The beat of seemingly offbeat drums immediately catches the listener's attention, and before you know it a musical rarity comes three-fourths into the song: a drum solo!
Additional highlights include the fast-paced "Insistor," with lyrics that don't make much sense, but are still fun to listen to: "Kelly the insistor/your brother is a blister."
Things slow down with the sentimental "Manitoba," which exposes a more emotional side to the band, along with "Omaha," the most expressive track on the album. With rolling drums, quiet vocals and subtle acoustic guitars, this song is the unexpected winner of the record.
The Loon begins to wrap up with "Buckle," a defensive song with lyrics like "Call me out/I can't sing in key" that Tapes 'n Tapes uses to verify their unique sound to all those who might doubt their unorthodox approach to music. The last track, "Jakov's Suite" ends the album with a bang at a much faster tempo similar to that of the opener. The electric guitar takes the forefront in this song, which is completely instrumental for the first two and a half minutes.
With biting lyrics and innovative sounds, Tapes 'n Tapes assure us they'll be around for quite some time, continuing to invent new and exciting ways to approach the creation of music. For now, pop in The Loon and enjoy the ride
For more information, check out,www.tapesntapes.com.
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outloud@outloud.com
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