Formed in the winter of 2003 at Carleton College, 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."
Anvil
Tapes 'n Tapes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Anvil come
I need your
I need your Fire
Sparks and stone
Sparks and stone
As you fall
While ships Seek signs of life
They'll have Our heads on sight
It comes
Bronze will bash
Bronze will bash
To the hills
To the survivors
Clear the plains
Clear the blame
When you run
When you run I run
Storm the shores for fame
As time the footprints fades
It comes
Now you sit
Now you sit
In your house
In your abandon
Evil bound
Evil bound
When you came
When you came I went
Banned and boarded life
The hive all shifts when time
Has come
It has come x8
The song "Anvil" by Tapes 'n Tapes seems to be about a looming threat or danger that the singer needs protection from. The repeated refrain of "Anvil come, I need your fire" suggests that the singer is calling for some kind of powerful force to help them overcome this danger. The imagery of "sparks and stone" falling and the mention of bronze bashing and clearing the plains convey a sense of violence and destruction that is impending. The lines "while ships seek signs of life, they'll have our heads on sight" add to the sense of urgency and danger.
As the song progresses, there seems to be a shift in tone. The singer mentions that "now you sit in your house in your abandon" and "evil bound when you came I went," suggesting that perhaps the threat has passed or that the singer has found a way to break free from it. The final lines of the song, "banned and boarded life, the hive all shifts when time has come," suggest that there may have been some kind of societal or political oppression that has also been overcome.
Overall, the lyrics of "Anvil" are somewhat cryptic, but convey a sense of impending danger and eventual liberation. The repeated refrain of "Anvil come, I need your fire" adds to the urgency of the song and the sense that the singer is calling out for help in the face of an overwhelming threat.
Line by Line Meaning
Anvil come
I need something strong and sturdy to rely on
Anvil come
I need that strength to come to me now
I need your
I am in need of help
I need your Fire
I need the passion and energy that you possess
Sparks and stone
The combination of destruction and creation
Sparks and stone
The power to create something from destruction
As you fall
As things crumble and break down
As you fall I fade
I lose my own power and become weaker as things around me break apart
While ships Seek signs of life
While others search for signs of hope
They'll have Our heads on sight
There is a real danger in exposing hope
It comes
The inevitable destruction that will come
Bronze will bash
Even the strong will be tested
To the hills
To a place of safety and refuge
To the survivors
For those who remain alive
Clear the plains
To remove all obstacles and distractions
Clear the blame
To find the true source of problems and resolve them
When you run
When others flee
When you run I run
I will follow to find safety and protection
Storm the shores for fame
To fight for recognition and reward
As time the footprints fades
As the evidence of our efforts disappears
It comes
The impending doom that we cannot escape
Now you sit
Now that everything has fallen apart
Now you sit
Now that there is nothing left to do
In your house
In a place that once was safe
In your abandon
In the feeling of being abandoned and alone
Evil bound
The darkness and negativity that surrounds us
When you came
When things fell apart even more
When you came I went
I lost my own strength when things got worse
Banned and boarded life
Life in a world that has shut me out
The hive all shifts when time
Everyone else is always moving on, even if I'm stuck
Has come
The inevitability of change
It has come x8
The realization that things have changed and there is no going back
Contributed by Nolan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sol Oriana
If anyone knows the chord progression please tell me! I know the first one is G minor...