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."
Just Drums
Tapes 'n Tapes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Forget calls in line.
We fall off furry creatures.
Fall off all the time.
And it’s not your headdress.
It’s not your hide.
It’s feeling the cold.
It’s feeling the cold.
(These things that we don’t talk about, breathe about. Do I? No.)
Take me over.
Take it over time.
Your needs keep talking.
Your pets they lie.
(These things we’ve never seen before come and meet you, come and fight you. You know they do.)
Reeling in fog. Kneeling in fog.
Reeling in fog. Kneeling in fog.
I’ve been really better under lock.
Come on over the side.
Come on over.
Take the leave for bread
And the leave for brine.
(It seems to me we’ve been lying here all night)
And bait and bows and sows and troughs.
I’ve coughed enough and I’ve walked as much.
(Come to me in metaphor. We’ve met before and I was all in spades.)
Reeling in fog. Kneeling in fog.
Reeling in fog. Kneeling in fog.
I’ve been really better under lock.
When you feel the fog,
It takes all the fog.
I can’t break the fog.
I’ve been really better under lock
The lyrics of Tapes 'n Tapes's song Just Drums seem to be quite abstract and open to interpretation, but there are some underlying themes that can be deciphered. It appears to be a song about feeling lost and disconnected from oneself or one's surroundings. The first few lines suggest a sense of disorientation and falling off of something that is supposed to provide stability, represented by "calls to teacher" and "calls in line." The reference to "furry creatures" could imply that the singer feels like they are losing their grip on something soft or comforting.
The second stanza is a bit harder to understand, but it seems to be about internal conflict or turmoil. The singer talks about "needs" that keep talking and how their "pets" (inner demons, perhaps) lie. The line "These things we’ve never seen before come and meet you, come and fight you" could suggest that the singer feels overwhelmed by new challenges or experiences.
The repeated phrase "reeling in fog, kneeling in fog" seems to represent the feeling of being lost and unclear on one's path. The final line of the song, "I've been really better under lock," could be interpreted in a few different ways. It could suggest that the singer feels more in control when they are isolated or contained, or that they feel better when they put up walls to protect themselves from outside forces.
Overall, the song's lyrics seem to be grappling with feelings of uncertainty, instability, and internal conflict. The repeated reference to "fog" and the repeated refrain could represent the struggle to find one's way through confusing or overwhelming circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Forget calls to teacher.
Let’s ignore any calls to authority figures or teachers.
Forget calls in line.
We don’t need to follow any particular order or rule.
We fall off furry creatures.
We make mistakes and fall down, just like animals.
Fall off all the time.
We frequently make mistakes and fail.
And it’s not your headdress.
It’s not about how you present yourself, like wearing a headdress.
It’s not your hide.
It’s not about what’s on the surface or what you’re hiding.
It’s feeling the cold.
It’s about feeling something deep inside, like a sense of isolation or vulnerability.
Take me over.
Let this experience completely immerse me.
Take it over time.
It will take time to fully comprehend or process this experience.
Your needs keep talking.
Your desires or wants are constantly on your mind.
Your pets they lie.
Even your closest companions may withhold the truth sometimes.
Reeling in fog. Kneeling in fog.
Feeling disoriented or lost, perhaps in a metaphorical fog.
I’ve been really better under lock.
I’ve been doing better when I keep myself contained or restrained.
Come on over the side.
Join me and experience this together.
Take the leave for bread
Take what you need to survive.
And the leave for brine.
Take what you need to cleanse yourself, physically or emotionally.
It seems to me we’ve been lying here all night
It feels like we’ve been stuck in this situation for a long time.
And bait and bows and sows and troughs.
Various objects or tools that may be used in hunting or farming.
I’ve coughed enough and I’ve walked as much.
I’ve endured enough struggles and hardships.
Come to me in metaphor.
Communicate using abstract or symbolic language.
We’ve met before and I was all in spades.
We’ve had a previous encounter and I was fully invested or committed.
When you feel the fog, It takes all the fog.
When you’re in a state of confusion or uncertainty, it’s hard to see or think clearly.
I can’t break the fog.
I can’t seem to break free from this sense of confusion or disorientation.
I’ve been really better under lock.
Again, I feel like I’m doing better when I keep myself restrained or contained.
Contributed by Ellie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.