Willamette Week: Tango Alpha Tango makes exactly the kind of rock 'n' roll I can get behind; it's sweeping, dramatic and unapologetically evil at the most surprising of moments. Formed from one half of the recently disbanded Carolines (the other half of which went on to create Deepest Darkest), Tango Alpha Tango tempers its pop leanings with an aggressiveness that adds a pleasant layer of grime beneath the shine of the group's top-notch production and ass-tight songwriting. What comes out of this aesthetic pairing is gorgeous and engaging in a way that fully exploits this unity of opposites.The Portland Mercury: After the Carolines split a couple years ago, Nathan and Aaron Trueb formed Tango Alpha Tango, while the remaining members teamed up with Derby's Nat Johnson to form Deepest Darkest. Both bands are logical extensions of the Carolines' unpretentious, melodic pop. Deepest Darkest go for shiny, sheen-y, radio-friendly, classicist rock, with every note carefully in place and every timbre in perfect relief. As generic as that could seem, the songs are mighty fine, and the relaxed, sun-faded vibe is a comfortable fit. Tango Alpha Tango have a bit more urgency to their sound, and cultivate a delicate, damaged beauty; the songs are either folkier and more pointed, or trashier and glammier—more suited for the bedroom than Deepest Darkest's convertible-with-the-top-down groove. It's a genuine pleasure, and no slight against what came before, that both bands are better than the Carolines ever were, and sure, it's not exactly fair, or necessary, to pit the two against the past or each other—but when both share the bill, comparisons are inevitable.Seattle Weekly: You could argue that Tango Alpha Tango's sound is the most seductive thing to come out of Portland since Elliott Smith crooned, "Sexy energy makes me charming when I sing." But instead of bated breath and acoustic guitars, Tango relies on slinking bass lines and lyrics so enticing they feel like they're being whispered in your ear during a slow dance. Songs like "Twelve Step" showcase the band's ability to combine their swagger and stealth with just enough California-sunshine pop to keep the audience gently swaying along with them. And after a string of shows at Portland's famed Doug Fir Lounge, Tango Alpha Tango is ready to hit the road and bring the sexiness straight to you.Daily Vanguard:
Some bands will travel fine on a CD. They come across well, more or less the way they intended. After all, recording is an art in and of itself. However, every now and then comes along a band that requires the listener to take the next step to get the full experience of the group, beyond what spins in your stereo.Tango Alpha Tango is one of those bands.Our Favorite, The Daily Vanguard:The other half of The Carolines has added a few appendages to become a local jazz family band called Tango Alpha Tango.
