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Walk It Off retains debut hit The Loon’s bluesier tones, with ballads like ‘Time of Songs’ and ‘Demon Apple’ nodding to Jeff Buckley and Creedence Clearwater Revival. For these slower tunes the band keep up the intensity which has leapfrogged them over contemporaries like Two Gallants and Fields.
However punkier numbers such as ‘Blunt’ and ‘The Dirty Dirty’- darker and more contemplative than earlier work- seem to drift by; the subdued, Cold War Kids-esque fretwork of Grier and bassist Erik Appelwick never quite get the crowd sweating in the emotive manner the album suggests. Thankfully Grier’s voice still allows his music leeway, radiating the vitriol of Grohl whilst preserving the fragility of Oberst. Notable highlight, the brilliantly soulful ‘Hang Them All’ draws a collective breath of expectation before old favourites like ‘Insistor’ and ‘Gallon Ascots’ are rolled out to howls of delight.
As the band slip offstage, no-one doubts they’ve had their money’s worth tonight. Let’s just hope that Tapes ‘n Tapes can hold on to the passion that has given us all a new American dream.
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