polaroids of androids

In iTunes (or whatever is your music application of choice) chances are the default genre that is assigned to Tapes 'n Tapes when you add them to your computer is 'over-hyped'. It's not the Minneapolis-based band's fault that the internet masturbated to death over them a few years back and not really too much of a surprise that their sophomore album hasn't received the same 'blog juice' that their initial wave of success did.

Right from the start, with the feedback-laced opener, Le Ruse, it is clear that this isn't going to be The Loon Part 2. I wasn't going to compare this to the second release by similarly Internet-raped victim, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, but this track takes on board a very similar raw, under-produced style to the first track of Some Loud Thunder. It comes as no surprise to discover that the same producer, Dave Fridmann, has been given the tough job of being in control of both records. This dirtier sound is the obvious rebellious path to take, shifting away from the often squeaky clean sound of The Loon. This technique, apparent in varying forms across all 12 tracks, comes across as a bit of an afterthought and a last minute tactic to attempt to mildly fuck with the band's sound.

The majority of the record travels along on it's own momentum, fueled by an almost effortless rhythmic bounce and spurring along by the feeling that the band is having fun with what they are doing. There is nothing contrived or falsely manufactured here. This one of the main factors that made Tapes 'n Tapes so appealing to begin with and something that almost saves this album.

The bands destruction, or re-invention, of their sound is never more apparent or better executed than on the two tracks - Demon Apple and Blunt. They are drenched in heavier arrangements, instantly appealing 'rawk' tracks where the group's signature up-tempo sound has been given a pleasant massacring.

Walk It Off features occasional flashes of brilliance where the key elements that make up the Tapes' core sound - guitar driven, off-centre indie pop - come together nicely and wrap snugly the new rougher approach. But on too many occasions it seems as though the band are simply going through the motions. This isn't offensively bad, but the flatness and the aimless musical wandering makes it hardly worth fighting through to uncover the good bits.