According to Alternative Press, if you like THE PIXIES, SUPERCHUNK or THE WEDDING PRESENT, you'll love the Tiles, while Rock Sound, out of London, boasts "NIRVANA and THE PIXIES influence every nuance of this fuzzy punk album... [the songs] bob along merrily, infused with enthusiastic melodies amid the roughly-hewn guitars." Maximum Rock 'N Roll drew comparisons to THE PIXIES, PAVEMENT, and ATOM AND HIS PACKAGE, hailing the Tiles as one of the best of 2005 and raving "A great blend of indie and post punky pop." The critically acclaimed Exit Magazine out of London went so far as to name the Tiles' debut, PLEASE, one of the best since 2000, beating out INTERPOL, BRIGHT EYES, and THE SHINS
The Tiles Album "Please"
The Tiles "Some Songs EP"
Composing stripped down, rhythm driven songs layered with inventive, melodic pop hooks and evocative lyrics, the Tiles meld pop and punk to create the self described pseudo-pop sound that has established them not only as one of the best indie bands of today, but quite possibly of all time. At least thats what Craig Ricci, singer/guitarist of the Tiles, will tell you. But the Tiles are far more than masters of their own make-believe genre; the Tiles are an ambivalent post-modern love story put to music.
Comprised of Craig Ricci, Willis Garrett, and Brad Lepik, the Tiles formed sometime during the middle of 2003 in Mobile, Alabama. Decidedly unaccomplished musicians, the three focused on writing edgy minimalist pop songs reminiscent of bands like the Jesus and Mary Chain, the Pixies, and Superchunk.. However, combined with the almost reluctant delivery of Riccis distinctive voice, the Tiles quickly realized a sound all their own, a sound they termed pseudo-pop. Ricci explains: pseudo-pop is anti-pop meets pure pop; non-mainstream pop music - in other words, pop music without the popularity. The Tiles first release, a five song, self-recorded E.P. entitled PROOF, however, proved to be anything but unpopular.
On its face, PROOF might have been nothing more than a stylized and charismatic collection of five loosely connected songs. However, if the Tiles were a book, PROOF would have been its inspired introduction. The essential sound was all there Riccis reticent, strained whine of a voice and sparse but catchy guitaring, Garretts compelling, nearly addictive bass lines, and Lepiks persistent and driving rhythm but with only five songs, PROOF was merely a sampling of what was to come.
Recorded over the summer of 2004 by the legendary Steve Albini (the Pixies, SURFER ROSA; Nirvana, IN UTERO), the Tiles first studio album, PLEASE, would fulfill PROOFs promise of what was to come. Boasting 13 songs, the album opens with the instant standout Release Me, a cryptic collection of pop cultural references and vague observations delivered, through the production of Steve Albini, with a supercharged edge not present on PROOF. Parking Lots follows, a strangely outdated and yet, at once, timeless hit remindful of Blondies one time single, Dreaming. As if recognizing this, Ricci unashamedly concedes in the opening verse, I stole another chord I heard Im sure. Still other highlights include A Better Way, a deceptively energetic and upbeat ride through the subtle misery of emotional confrontation, and Elisabeth Smile, perhaps the most uplifting song ever written about the despair of deaths inevitability. It is, however, the fourth track, It Ends This Way, that positively soars. An uncertain mix of romantic optimism and cynicism, It Ends This Way displays the Tiles at their very best, transitioning with ease between moments of nervous disconnection to an ending of almost epic proportions; clearly, It Ends This Way is the Tiles first single.
Interestingly, however, what may be the albums most telling line comes from the tenth track, Rock Radio, with Ricci admitting, Id rather fall apart than have to fall in line. Of course, only time will tell whetherthe tiles will fall apart or fans will fall in line. But if the initial response is any indication, the line is forming fast.
