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Like a baseball prospect stuck in Triple A, Minnesota quartet Tapes ‘n Tapes have loads of potential, consistently offering tight performances and effortlessly catchy tunes. But with fairly obvious influences (Pixies) and musical equivalents (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah), TNT’s fundamental challenge becomes finding its own niche. Their second offering, “Walk it Off,” takes steps toward shedding the typical indie-rock affair through more morose, less country songwriting and grittier, maxed-out production that can receive no more appropriate adjective than just plain “loud” (no doubt the doings of longtime Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann). Look no further to see TNT’s evolution than the buzzin’ first single, “Hang Them All,” in which lead singer Josh Fried manages to make a pretty decent hook out of the lyrics, “They need you, bleed for something.” (Andy Seifert)
Friday, April 11 at Metro
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