TACO TAPES Keep On The Shady Side LP
Taco Tapes Keep On The Shady Side is available on Bandcamp, Apple Music, Tidal
by Walter Price
Taken from Bandcamp, Taco Tapes’ latest release is described as, “Taco Tapes’ third full-length album, Keep On The Shady Side, puts a greater emphasis on co-written original material and full band arrangements. The musical influences of psych rock, hip-hop, and Latin jazz can be heard alongside the old-timey freak-folk style that has defined the band from its formation. Keep On The Shady Side is a loose concept album, which explores the margins of society from the perspective of millennials who grew up in the Pacific Northwest. The music is darkly introspective, yet danceable; deftly spanning tragedy and humor, shade and light.”
And what a wild ride it is. Each track or vignette, if you will, explores a new vibe and the musical and zeitgeist influences travel a vast landscapes. There’s plenty of levity in this set’s nooks, with the heady and weighty moments somewhat smoothed with indelible folk harmonies, psych arrangements, and brilliant storytelling. But don’t be fooled, although this album is a long drive must hear, messages are being told and conversations worth having throughout.
If time is an issue, I’d suggest sampling tracks such as the Band of Horses-esque “Railroad Car“, the shadowy far-out “Mozy Coy“, the AM Radio “Girl From Atlantis“, and the ramblin’ rocker “Smokerdad“. Or if you’re the traveling kind or enjoy bong rips at the DMV, do as the good lord intended and stream the full album, here at the GTC.
Keep On The Shady Side LP
Band photo and artwork via Bandcamp
Produced by Taco Tapes & Alan F. Jones
Recorded at Hole in the Wall Recording House, Astoria, OR in February 2023
Engineered by Bart Budwig
Mixed and mastered by Alan F. Jones at Laminal Audio in Tracyton, WA
Additional recording and engineering:
Stephen Fiske at Rhududu in Portland, OR
Olaf Ydstie & Jeremy James Meyer at Hole In The Wall and at Big Red in Portland, OR
Nevada Sowle, Brett Sisun & Roselind Bay in various locations, and Alan F. Jones at Laminal Audio.
Album artwork & design by Jeremy James Meyer
“Taco Tapes is a collaboration, steered by Ben Walden and Jeremy James Meyer. Both raised in the Pacific Northwest and in the folk music tradition, they cite their parents, more than anything, in initiating them down this path.” – bio