Freak Out by tapesntapes
2005 saw Minneapolis' Tapes 'n Tapes release their stunning and audacious debut The Loon, a scintillating record of rock tunes, all of which highlighted their Pixies-tinged sound.
Three years later, to my dismay, they returned making rather infantile music, virtually defecating on their crit-lauded debut, releasing the follow-up, entitled Walk it Off, which was just a tiny bit pants (the band had walked off all the good stuff).
But now, after a two year interlude, with the spring back in their step, TnT have returned once more, this time with full original might and tuneage. Their third album, Outside, from what I have heard so far, is a beaut; a real return to form.
In the first released song, 'Freak Out', they present us with a vibrant and explosive indie tune which brings to mind Wolf parade's marvellous hooks and the Black Keys' raw riffs (check that out @ 2.20!!). Their defining distorted sound has been somewhat muted and instead replaced with neat, catchy pop-ness, enhancing and developing the musical splendour from their debut.
Perhaps, and hopefully, Walk it Off was just a joke, a little music industry joke. It was TnT's forgettable second album, their Second Coming (it feels very odd comparing this group to The Stone Roses). The album which is now going to be erased from my memory, next year to be replaced with their third record (which is in fact going to be their second full-length release. Walk it Off never happened, I'm telling you.)
Released on 11th January on their own Ibid Records, Outside is a delightful prospect and is the first album of 2011 that I am genuinely excited about.
The track listing is as follows:
1. Badaboom
2. SWM
3. One in the World
4. Nightfall
5. Desert Plane
6. Outro
7. Freak Out
8. The Saddest of All Keys
9. Hidee Ho
10. People You Know
11. On and On
12. Mighty Long
You can download 'Freak Out' for free by clicking on that little downwards-facing arrow on the player.
