OK, I admit, it’s been a while since I listened to a record start-to-finish. I’m guilty of plucking songs from good albums for my Top 100 playlist – we’ve all done it. But the latest effort from Tapes n’ Tapes gives as good an excuse as any to kick the habit. The Minneapolis band trod a path well worn with their sophomore effort Walk It Off, giving us Neoclassic Rock/Psychedelia that we’ve heard on many an indie album lately. It’s that thoughtful low-fi sound that goes way (way, way) back to the early 90’s with Pavement or The Pixies, who they’re often compared to. But Tapes n’ Tapes do it as good as any, and if they’re not groundbreaking, they are fresh and full of ideas - they carry the tradition well.

On their first album they became known for the variety of styles they use in their music. That fearless experimental spirit shows itself throughout Walk It Off. Every song is confidently different in style from the next, and they’re not afraid to take big turns mid-song. Yet good songwriting, melody, and a pleasant soundscape always take precedence. The album blasts in with the chunky “Le Ruse” which, like the name, aims straight for the hipster trendy crowd. The first single from the album, the tense and repetitive “Hang Them All”, keeps you waiting for the gratifying payoff till the very end with hard, fast drums and a thwangy funk riff. The band shows its more thoughtful side on “Time Of Songs”, a mumbly, meandering sonic journey. There isn’t a bad track on this record, but they keep one of the best for last. The album closes urgently with the dark, messy “The Dirty Dirty”, singer Josh Grier growling “where did all the money go?”. Well…. it went to an expensive recording studio and a flashy producer, obviously. This time around with a big budget they recruited a producer known for his work with The Flaming Lips and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. But with another string of club dates through North America and Europe and some high-profile TV gigs, they’re sure to make it all that big money back.

Walk It Off is a confident album from a band that’s coming around full-tilt into round two. For a group that doesn’t take itself too seriously (each of their members is named after a word in the band name, but since there are four members and only two words, they share….), they deliver a serious record well worth the hundred megabytes or so of space on your iPod. It’s notable to mention that Tapes ‘n Tapes were one of the first so-called “blog bands”, given a hand up to fame by the likes of yours truly. Needless to say, they’ve got a ride on the hype wagon, and they’re paying their fare with this latest effort. You can go see for yourself on April 15th at Cabaret Juste Pour Rire. Get tickets here.

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