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Tapes 'n Tapes
A horrible name, oblique and nonsensical lyrics, just really stupid stage names, and an amalgation of rock influences are enough to turn me off of any band at first sight. Could it be hate on first sight, or merely an allergic reaction? Compound that with playing five or six New York shows in a row (their first time in the city, no less), and every show with music bloggers packed in like so many sardines, swooning and swelling, and it's nearly a recipe for disaster, over-Internet-exposure, and a hype-explosion. Garnering a Pitchfork Best New Music for a months-old album is just icing on the cake, then.
And yet The Loon by Tapes 'n Tapes survived being neglected, tossed to the side by me in a moment of annoyance. Their blender of Pixies meets Beach Boys meets Wire meets Pavement appears banal and nondescription upon first listen. Oh no, I say, not another band aping the same influences, stealing the same chug-chug-chug chord progressions, imitating the same vocal mannerisms. Enough with this herky-jerky nonsense, pretty harmonies, earworm-inducing choruses! But The Loon gets under your skin and stays there, with a little proto-punk, and a little post-punk, holding on with spiny teeth from the surf-inspired licks of the tense, frentic, driving "Insistor." The bombast of "10 Gallon Ascots" is balanced perfectly by the gentle jingling of bells and the plaintive Frank Black-esque vocals. Not to mention that the band's musicianship is bolstered by a multi-talented keyboardist/horn player and an obviously talented drummer stolen from music school.
The band is young and still finding their bearings, and grappling with the onslaught of rabid fandom. And yet, the live show spins, rocks, and sparkles at times, yielding the epithet of "moments of awesome!" from my showgoing friend. The Minneapolis-born Tapes 'n Tapes successfully ride the same indie rock train as other bands by adding in unexpected frills and accompaniments that only float to the top after repeated listens: a little garage-rock here, a Television impression there. So go, I implore you, catch them while they're still young and bright-eyed and energetic and amazed at the crowd response; the potential is staggering. It's not the second coming, but it's a fine time nonetheless.
Tapes 'n Tapes - Insistor
Tapes 'n Tapes - 10 Gallon Ascots
Tapes 'n Tapes - Buckle
Official web site for Tapes 'n Tapes. Buy The Loon from their web site. They play Friday, March 17 at 1:00 a.m. at Latitude 30.
Shadows tags:tapesntapes.
Posted by Queen of the Front Row at 03.08.06 at 12:19 AM
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