Americans used to laugh at the British music presss long-running, silly habit of hyping a band beyond belief whether that band deserved it or not and subsequently tearing them to shreds, usually within six months or less. And then we started doing it ourselves. A few years ago, Minneapolis quartet Tapes n Tapes were riding high thanks to the Pitchfork effect, but it wasnt long after debut album The Loon got re-released in 2006 that the blogger backlash kicked into high gear, and a number of critics both pro and amateur lined up to savage last years follow-up, Walk it Off. After the highs and lows, Tapes n Tapes is back to being just another band again a good band that more or less takes its cues from the Pixies, Pavement, and Modest Mouse in their love of guitar weirdness, craggy melodies, and skewed song structures. Theyve been accused of straight-out ripping off those bands, but though some ears will take it that way, others wont. And as frontman Josh Grier recently told me, Every band has elements that sound like another band, so fuck it. Who cares? At least were getting compared to bands we think are awesome. It could be Rush. All ages.
Tue., Jan. 20, 8 p.m., 2009
