Tapes 'n Tapes

No band lives up to its hype when said hype has reached fever-pitch, blog-to-blog pinball proportions, but it should be noted that a number of Pitchfork-endorsed outfits do make the art-rock grade. Tapes 'n Tapes, a Minneapolis foursome that self-released The Loon last year and recently signed with XL, is clearly basking in the afterglow of Pavement's weirdo 1994-1995 smartypants indie even as the group forges a more durable, omnivorous sound. The xylophone-dappled carousel ride that opens "In Houston" peels back to reveal whining, writhing carnival synths and bass drum whoomps. And the loungy, shaggy strum of "10 Gallon Ascots" corkscrews into a whinnying torrent of ruptured, tremoring guitar that damn near pops your eardrums.