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.
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 & 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 & Rosalind Bae in various locations, and Alan F. Jones at Laminal Audio.
Album artwork & design by Jeremy James Meyer
credits
released November 17, 2023
Side A
Railroad Car
(written by Jodee Adams-Moore, Ben Walden & Jeremy James Meyer)
Ben Walden - vocals, piano, mellotron
Jeremy James Meyer - ac guitar, mellotron
Dean Shakked - bass
Olaf Ydstie - drums
Brett Sisun - mandolin
Anna Patrick
(written by Ben Walden & Jeremy James Meyer)
Ben Walden - vocals, electric guitar, triangle
Jeremy James Meyer - vocals, ac guitar, percussion
Luke Ydstie - upright bass
Olaf Ydstie - drums
Nevada Sowle - synthesizer
Kati Claborn - mountain dulcimer
Skip Town
(written by Ben Walden & Jeremy James Meyer)
Ben Walden - electric guitar, mandolin
Jeremy James Meyer - vocals, ac guitar, percussion
Dean Shakked - bass
Olaf Ydstie - drums
Matt Mitchell - rotary organ
Omission
(written by Ben Walden, Jeremy James Meyer, Clara Dunklee & Matt Mitchell)
Ben Walden - vocals, electric guitars, melodica, bean shaker
Jeremy James Meyer - vocals, ac guitar
Dean Shakked - bass
Olaf Ydstie - drums
Matt Mitchell - rotary organ
Clara Dunklee - vocals
Flip McGuire - baritone saxophone, percussion
Mozy Coy
(written by Ben Walden & Jeremy James Meyer)
Ben Walden - electric guitar
Jeremy James Meyer - vocals, whistles, ac guitar
Dean Shakked - bass
Olaf Ydstie - drums
Kati Claborn - banjo
Brett Sisun - vocals, ocarina
Clara Dunklee - vocals
Autumn Prevette - bass clarinet
Side B
Laced Weed
(written by Ben Walden & Jeremy James Meyer)
Ben Walden - vocals, electric guitar, fuzz bass, fx
Jeremy James Meyer - vocals, ac guitar, harmonica, percussion
Dean Shakked - bass
Olaf Ydstie - drums
Matt Mitchell - rotary organ
Alan F. Jones- soundscapes
Smoker Dad
(written by Ben Walden & Jeremy James Meyer)
Ben Walden - vocals, electric guitars, fiddle
Jeremy James Meyer - vocals, ac guitar
Dean Shakked - bass
Olaf Ydstie - drums
I Know You Rider (trad.)
Ben Walden - vocals, electric guitars
Jeremy James Meyer - vocals, ac guitar, fx
Dean Shakked - bass
Olaf Ydstie - drums
Kati Claborn - mountain dulcimer
Matt Mitchell - rotary organ
Flip McGuire - cello
Rosalind Bae - piano
Girl From Atlantis
(written by Ben Walden & Jeremy James Meyer)
Ben Walden - vocals, electric guitar
Jeremy James Meyer - vocals, ac guitar
Dean Shakked - bass, percussion
Olaf Ydstie - drums
Alan F. Jones- soundscapes
Calico Queen
(written by Ben Walden & Jeremy James Meyer)
Ben Walden - vocals, electric guitar
Jeremy James Meyer - vocals, ac guitar
Dean Shakked - bass
Olaf Ydstie - drums, piano
Kati Claborn - banjo
Bart Budwig - coronet
Flip McGuire - clarinet
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.
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