Tapes 'N Tapes
The Loon

Here they are, Tapes'n Tapes.

These three (four) guys come from Minnesota without making much noise, yet they still manage to draw attention.

They are the umpteenth indie rock band where there's talent, drive, ideas, but little originality, very little indeed. No doubt about it, the Tapes make a good impression with their debut album; "The Loon" is quite catchy, managing to combine past and more recent sounds, it doesn't bore, and it also has a nice cover.

Of course, some tracks stand out more than others: Insistor is very well done, a rockabilly that's not bad at all, with a tune that sticks in your mind, and an intro that feels like an old saloon. Then there's Cowbell, a name that says it all: it’s a decent cow-punk (what a name), lasting only a couple of minutes but making itself heard in the refrain. And if what counts is the approach, there's Just Drums, which opens the album: it sounds like an out-of-shape Jack White, but one appreciates the effort and keeps listening (which is the point).

Ignoring a couple of tracks that don't engage, we're left with The Iliad, with its exotic and lively rhythms, to finish in style. In Jakov's Suite, there are indeed messed-up riffs, variations, melody, and catchiness. Then another thing: "The Loon" has few ambitions, and it’s noticeable right away. It's not an attempt to break through, it's simply a sound experiment. The Tapes, at least for now, enjoy playing. Even if it’s with Sonic Boom Records.

In short, they have what it takes, they just need some luck. And then the album also has a nice cover.