"Outside" starts with a bang. Literally. "Badaboom," the opening track, begins with the pounding of rhythmic drums. From there, a bass line, guitars, keys and vocals are layered over it, and the song instantly becomes both catchy and complex.
For their third album, Tapes 'n Tapes left their former label, XL, and went back to Ibid Records, their own independent record label. "Outside" is self−produced by the Minneapolis−based indie band, and the difference from their last album is noticeable. The rough gems of energy that make the band so good are back after months of polishing in the studio.
Overall, "Outside" has a different tone than either of Tapes 'n Tapes' prior albums, landing somewhere in the middle of the two. For the most part, the gritty sound of their self−produced, self−released album "The Loon" (2006) has been toned down, yet the band has retained enough to keep it interesting. At the same time, Tapes 'n Tapes has learned from the underappreciated "Walk it Off" (2008), and has made the quieter songs on the album more appealing. The result is a well−rounded, cohesive album that incorporates the strengths of both preceding albums with fewer of their weaknesses.
This is due in part to the band placing more emphasis on the keyboards in "Outside" than in their previous albums. There are many examples of this on the album, but the best is the opening of "On and On." The keys create a dark, rich and catchy line that provides the rest of the song with an interesting platform for elaboration and development. The band's exploration of keyboard textures alters their sound significantly from the guitar−heavy leanings of their previous work.
In "The Saddest of All Keys" the gritty guitars make a comeback while the organ−esque keys establish a moody background. The result is a song that is emotional and intense, as guitarist and lead singer Josh Grier belts into the microphone with his trademark raspy vocals.
Tapes 'n Tapes also stretch out musically by adding new instruments and sounds to their songs. "Nightfall," for instance, introduces the use of mournful trumpets, and such little touches show that the band is moving away from the undesirable parts of "Walk it Off." Even in its treatment of the new instruments, though, the band never seems out of its depth; as Tapes 'n Tapes have matured, their musical vocabulary has consistently expanded.
One of the best parts of Tapes 'n Tapes is the skill of the drummer, Jeremy Hanson. The band knows this and plays to his strengths by allowing him to carry several tracks. Hanson is able to create fills and lines that hook the listener throughout the album. This approach is especially refreshing given the restricted attitude most indie rock bands hold toward drummers.
There are many examples of Hanson's interesting percussion throughout the record, but "One in the World" is one of the best songs on the album. The drums create a creative and catchy beat, while the guitar and Grier's singing trade off the melody. When Grier takes it away and brings the intensity up a notch in his vocals, the song scratches just the right itch.
Overall, Tapes 'n Tapes have created an album that finds a happy medium between their previous efforts. Although it has less of that true grit that won them so much acclaim on their first album, "Outside" shows that Tapes 'n Tapes is progressing musically and has many excellent tracks. For anyone who liked either of their previous albums, this is an album that is well worth the money and should be a promising sign for the band's future.
