Tapes 'n Tapes
Tapes 'n Tapes performing at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2007
Tapes 'n Tapes performing at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2007
Background information
OriginMinneapolis, Minnesota, USA
GenresIndie rock, neo-psychedelia, experimental rock, college rock
Years active2003–2012, 2019–present
LabelsIbid Records, XL Recordings
MembersJosh Grier (Tapes 1)
Jeremy Hanson (Tapes 2)
Matt Kretzman ('n)
Erik Appelwick ('n)
Past membersShawn Neary (bass, 2003–2006)
Karl Schweitz (drums, 2003-2005)
Websitehttp://www.tapesntapes.com/

Tapes 'n Tapes is an indie rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

History

Formed in the winter of 2003 at Carleton College, the band has released four albums. First came the self-released Tapes 'n Tapes EP in 2004, followed by the full-length release, The Loon, on Ibid Records in 2005. The band signed to XL Recordings and re-released The Loon on July 25, 2006.[1] In October 2007 the band announced finishing recording of their second album, titled Walk It Off. Walk It Off was recorded by producer David Fridmann in his Tarbox Road Studio in Cassadaga, New York.[2] The album was released April 8, 2008. The band's most recent album, Outside, was released on January 11, 2011.[3]

Tapes singer Josh Grier says their first album was recorded "...in the winter time at a cabin in the Wisconsin woods with no running water or toilet paper. It was a lot fun to do it on our own and get a little crazy, but it was also frustrating since we didn't really know entirely what we were doing"

Tapes 'n Tapes performing in Columbus, Ohio on February 21, 2009

Tapes 'n Tapes gained popularity after a series of write-ups on music blogs, first on EAR FARM then on sites such as Music For Robots and Gorilla vs. Bear, leading some to cite them as the most recognizable examples of a "blog band" . However, it wasn't until The Loon received a favorable review from Pitchfork Media, including a "best new music" commendation, that the band started to find success. Tapes 'n Tapes have been compared to such alternative bands as Pixies and Pavement, or the recent alt-pop phenomenon Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. After release of their self-titled EP, the band played with more well-known acts such as The Futureheads, The Streets, Metric, Calvin Johnson, and I Am the World Trade Center. The band made its American television debut on the Late Show with David Letterman on July 25, 2006, performing the song "Insistor." In 2006 the band did a Take-Away Show video session shot by Vincent Moon. They also performed at the Siren Music Festival in July of that same year. Tapes 'n Tapes performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2007, along with bands such as Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Björk.

Tapes 'n Tapes' musical style varies in tempo and in influence, ranging from fast-paced polka renditions to the slower, more blues-influenced songs. The publication Music Week described the band's song "Insistor" as "Part country, part rock...possess[ing] an emotional urgency that rivals Arcade Fire. This is promising stuff."[4]

Performing at the Siren Music Festival in 2006

Josh Grier has written several untitled songs for the band's next album, which was originally to be recorded in June 2007 and released in the fall of 2007, Grier told Billboard.com. During their set at the 2007 Lollapalooza festival, the band played six songs titled, according to the setlist posted on the festival's website, "Demon Apple", "Blunt", "Icedbergs", "Headshock", "Le Ruse" and "Hang Them All".[5] The song "Icedbergs" was previously featured on the band's debut EP.

Tapes 'n Tapes were featured in a 2007 sketch on the MTV comedy program Human Giant. Aziz Ansari's character, a psychotic "Indie Marketing Guru" named Clell Tickle, pushes bloggers to feature MP3s of the band on their blogs. At one point he says, "I've decided that if you don't post that Tapes 'n Tapes MP3, I'm going to come back here tomorrow and give you a Colombian necktie."

Star representing the band Tapes 'n Tapes on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue

While not on the official soundtrack, the song "Insistor" by Tapes 'n Tapes is featured in a scene in the movie Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. The music video for "Insistor" was directed by Dan Knight. [6]

"Hang Them All" appears on Minnesota Public Radio station KCMP 89.3 The Current's "Live Current Volume 4". The album is available to contributors to MPR.

The band has been honored with a star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue,[7] recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue.[8] Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh.[9]

Discography

Albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[10]		 US Heat
[11]		 US Indie
[12]		 US Rock
[13]		 UK
[14]
The Loon
  • Released: October 28, 2005
  • Label(s): Ibid Records (US), XL Recordings (UK)
 ——47—115
Walk It Off
  • Released: April 2, 2008
  • Label(s): XL Recordings
 116114——
Outside
  • Released: January 11, 2011
  • Label(s): Ibid Records
 11011423—
"—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released

EPs

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
SCO
[15]		 UK
[14]		 UK
Indie
[16]
"Insistor"[17] 2006 41765 The Loon
"Cowbell"[18] ———
"Hang Them All"[19] 2008 62—[upper-alpha 1]9 Walk It Off
"Freak Out"[21] 2010 ——— Outside
"—" denotes items not released in that territory or failed to chart.

Notes

  1. ↑ "Hang Them All" did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number 79 on the UK Physical Singles Chart Top 100.[20]

Band members

The band has four members, each of whom is named after a word in the band's name; two members of the band share the same word for their name. The band members are:

  • Josh Grier (Tapes 1) – guitar, vocals
  • Jeremy Hanson (Tapes 2) – drums
  • Matt Kretzman ('n) – keyboards, multi-instruments
  • Erik Appelwick ('n) – bass guitar

In April 2006, producer Erik Appelwick replaced previous bassist Shawn Neary. Drummer Jeremy Hanson replaced original Tapes drummer Karl Schweitz in 2005 while still a senior in high school.

References

  1. ↑ Pitchfork: News – April 27, 2006
  2. ↑ Pitchfork: Tapes 'n Tapes' Grier Checks in From the Studio Archived 2008-01-09 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ The Arizona Republic: Tapes 'N Tapes: 'Outside'
  4. ↑ Paul Williams, "The Music Week playlist", Music Week, February 4, 2006, pp. 3.
  5. ↑ Lollapalooza 2007 – A Day in the Life Archived 2007-11-23 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ Knight, Dan (2006-07-24), Tapes 'n Tapes 'Insistor' (Short, Music), HSI London, retrieved 2022-04-08
  7. ↑ "The Stars". First Avenue & 7th Street Entry. Archived from the original on 2020-04-18. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  8. ↑ Bream, Jon (2019-05-03). "10 things you'll learn about First Avenue in new Minnesota History Center show". Star Tribune. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  9. ↑ Marsh, Steve (2019-05-13). "First Avenue's Star Wall". Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  10. ↑ "Tapes n Tapes - Billboard". Billboard.
  11. ↑ "Tapes n Tapes - Billboard Heatseekers". Billboard.
  12. ↑ "Tapes n Tapes - Billboard Independent". Billboard.
  13. ↑ "Tapes n Tapes - Billboard Rock Albums". Billboard.
  14. 1 2 "Chart Log UK 1994–2010 DJ T – Tzant". zobbel.de. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  15. ↑ Peaks in Scotland:
  16. ↑ Peaks on the UK Independent Singles Chart:
  17. ↑ "Insistor by Tapes 'n Tapes on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Cowbell by Tapes 'n Tapes on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Hang Them All by Tapes 'n Tapes on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 - 06 April 2008 - 12 April 2008". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Listen: Tapes 'n Tapes: "Freak Out"". Pitchfork. 26 October 2010. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
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