Johnny Gink
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The first time I heard the Tapes 'n Tapes track "Insistor" I was instantly hooked. I immediately went out looking for more of their music, hoping that this wasn't, like some bands a fluke of a single brilliant track with everything else falling far short.
I picked up their album "The Loon" and gave it a thorough listen, quickly latching on to a few other tracks, such as Cowbell and Omaha. Since then I've listened to The Loon countless times, as background music at work, while driving in the car, or just playing around the house. In all the listens though, there remain a handful of tracks that I "hear" and the remainder of the album that never has fully sunken in. The great tracks are great, but the rest don't compare to those few and drift into the background.
Walk It Off is a different beast entirely. Upon first listening to it I did my usual quick scan through the tracks, giving each 30-45 seconds just to hear what the general sound was and see if anything really stood out. Nothing did. So then the first few listens, and still, nothing much stood out. There didn't seem to be an Insistor, or a Cowbell, nothing that jumped out as glaringly brilliant or catchy. Still, I kept listening, eventually familiarizing myself with the songs, and the album as a whole. It wasn't long before I would find myself with bits and pieces of various songs stuck in my head, and the desire to listen to the album, the whole album, as soon as I got the chance.
After a good many listens I've concluded that while there may not be anything that does for me what a few great songs did on the last album, that Walk It Off, as a whole, is a much more solid and thorough album. I'm not extremely fond of the opening track, Le Ruse, though it certainly isn't bad, but I thoroughly enjoy every other track on the album, whether upbeat or slow, and this album has become one of the few that I enjoy listening to all the way through.
So it was hard to choose which track to post with this review. Lately I've found that the final track of the album, "The Dirty Dirty" to be the track constantly stuck in my head. But it is a track with a very different sound from that of most of the album, so not entirely indicative of what to expect. So instead I'll leave you with this, Lines, another track late in the album that's a little swoon and a little rock.
After seeing a Pitchfork video last year chronicling some of the recording sessions and general mayhem Man Man was up to I've been impatiently awaiting the release of their next album.
Their last release, Six Demon Bag, was one of those rare albums that finds its way immediately into a heavy rotation of being played on a daily basis for a long period of time and then remaining a staple in the lengthy playlist that gets shuffled when there's nothing specific wanting to be listened to.
After catching them live in a small, unpopulated venue where they totally disregarded the lack of an audience whose size was equal to their talent and put on a show of enormous proportions, I knew Man Man had more in store for us.
Finally, with the release of their newest album, Rabbit Habits, slated for April 08; we've been blessed with an end to the wait, and also a track to spike the anticipation.
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These boys can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned.
Unlike many other bands that made me crazy when they got big (ala The Decemberists), I believe Man Man will always have that stinky, sweaty, energy not matter how big they get, which makes it a lot more palatable..
Top Drawer rules. I am so glad they decided to include it on the album as I was dying to hear after first hearing live at a small, but packed venue in the burgh about two years ago. Yippee!
I eat music. I consume it and never get full. And in this day and age where there is more and more music which is easier to find, sample, and consume, somehow there seems to be less and less that leaves me feeling satisfied, much less full.
Whether this is because there are more lackluster musicians, or that unpolished music gets out there easier than in the past, or just because the stakes are constantly being raised by the musicians that break new ground and push the art forward, I'm not sure. All I know is the need to feed my addiction, the frustration of being bored with the music I have and not being able to find something new to set my ears a buzzin', and the intense pleasure and contentedness when I happen upon something wonderful, something that I end up wanting to listen to over and over. The rare gems.
Tapes 'n Tapes is a rare gem. Their debut full-length The Loon travels to many places and brings references in mind to various great artists at times, but always stays unique. A second full length album should not be far off, and I dare to hope it will bring us more addiction worthy tunes.
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I did not watch the vid, so I have no comment on it. The music was fine. A little Beatle-ish (who isn't) with sharp edges and smart playing. I like.
"Insistor" was one of my fav tracks of last year. I thought it was ace, up-tempo, absurdistic (If anyone can give me a valid dictionary with that word in it I would be surprised), but lyrically also very good. "Kelly, Kelly, it's not your right/To be cheating, fighting and starting life/When my head and hands are tied to you so tight".
Saw them play last year in the small room of Paradiso, good concert, was all the way up front.
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Really? While I agree with you almost word-for-word about The Loon, I find that I took a quick liking to "Hang Them All" and "George Michael" as well as the ones you mentioned, "The Dirty Dirty" and "Lines" from the new album. I do agree that this album is stronger overall.
Tapes n Tapes, huh? this is something I think I could get into... never really have before.
thanks for the heads up.
great review!