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The Loon is crafted like a true album; even if all the songs don't quite reach the level of its highlights, it all hangs together well.
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Never quite knowing which Feelies riff or Malkmus vocal turn or, hell, CYHSY organ sound these guys will strike with next is precisely what makes The Loon such a rich, participatory, and eminently repeatable experience.
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UncutThey've yet to match the live genius of the [Arcade] Fire, but their album's got much more life than their static stage shows. [Aug 2006, p.95]
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A solid, solid debut with enough tunes to last the summer, at least.
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And yet for all the disparate elements, we haven't heard a record all year so secure in its own vision, or a collection of songs that sound so much like they need to be together. The only downside of this is it kind of smothers the potential for standout Oh. My. God. moments.
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The Loon is a rare thing: an indie-rock record that's as lovable as it is bewildering.
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The Loon will stand up as one of the best albums of the year, and Tapes 'n Tapes as a jewel in the American music crown.
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Tapes 'n Tapes might have to dismantle their influences soon. But right now, they're building something beautiful.
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SpinEven when you're not sure where they're going, you can't wait to see what happens when they get there. [Aug 2006, p.86]
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Paste MagazineAn original and largely unaffected effort that reminds you why you dug indie rock's yesteryear. [Aug 2006, p.87]
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Entertainment WeeklyThe Loon excites with twisty guitar tangents, an airtight country two-step, and commanding choruses that Grier belts out with the fervor of a preacher. [28 Jul 2006, p.67]
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A sprawling delight that only gets richer with each successive listen.
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The Loon is an exercise in heavy-lidded ballsiness.
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The Loon is nothing short of an incredibly focused song suite, minus all the extraneous frivolities that you’ve gotten too used to hearing from an "incredibly focused song suite."
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On first listen, "The Loon" is not as immediate as several key tracks are individually. But after further study, the pieces eventually fall into place, and it becomes clear that this foursome has a solid debut on its hands.
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You will not be able to tear yourself away from this album. This is no daringly outrageous, Kid A-esque “progressive” music that nobody really enjoys listening to. This is rock 'n roll.
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UrbThis rocking trio is so good, we don't even care that it made a plethora of best-of-2005 lists--it'll end up on our rocking list for the '06. [Jul/Aug 2006, p.132]
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'The Loon' retains a genuinely empathetic sincerity that deserves applause, but should be praised to a greater degree for bringing weird, left-of-centre indie back to the fore.
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The first must-listen record of the year.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 44 out of 58
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Mixed: 9 out of 58
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Negative: 5 out of 58
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Mar 26, 2012
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MarcMar 31, 2008This is just really, really good. Pure and simple.
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EricL.Dec 31, 2007