Tortoise has been around since 1994 since they released there s/t album. Tortoise has released a total of five albums and this was there third album. Unfortunately this is the only Tortoise album I own so I can't compare this to all of there other albums. Tortoise is an instrumental post-rock band that combines different styles into there music. They mix in electronica, vibrating effects, jazzy trumpets, and dub effects. There is no lead singer and no vocals, Tortoise is completely an instrumental band. Although Tortoise has no vocalist there music is not dull or boring. If you're a fan of post-rock than this is a must have.
Members : Jeff Parker
John McEntire
John Herndon
Douglas McCombs
Bundy Brown
Dan Bitney
Tortoise is an amazing expiremental post-rock band. Some of you may hear the genre post-rock and think it's boring, trust me I did the same thing just a few months ago. Although Tortoise has no vocalist there music is still very effective. If you need lyrics or a vocalist than don't get this album because there are none. Tortoise can do so many different things it's amazing. They have a jazzy sound mixed in with electronica and TNT features very nice drumming. At first I wasn't getting into this album at all, but it takes a few listens just like all post-rock music. Although Tortoise uses a lot of instruments and mixes in a lot of different styles of music, there music isn't very complex. Most of these songs start up slow and slowly build up to make something beautiful or dark. TNT is not a dark post-rock album, it can go through some dark parts but overall it's just a nice, ambient, expiremental post-rock album. Once again even though there is no vocalist this album should not bore anyone interested in post-rock.
When I say TNT is an expiremental album I mean it. Tortoise mixes in electronica in "The Equator", "Jetty", and "Almost Always is Nearly Enough ." Electronica comes up in most of these songs, but in the ones I just named off elctronica is the most heavily used. TNT also is influenced by jazz, "TNT" has some nice jazzy trumpets featured at the end of the track and "Jetty" is also a heavily influenced jazz track. "The Bridge at Iguazu Falls" and "Ten-Day Interval" features some nice xylophone work and "Ten-Day Interval" also has some chimes as the main sound. "I Set my Face to the Hillside" is probably the darkest track on the album, and it has a bit of a western feel to it. Tortoise are all over the place, but they don't force anything. Most of these tracks are very mellow, and soothing. Tortoise is able to mix in a lot of sounds and effects but they still manage to keep there music fairly simple and mellow. When you listen to Tortoise you should probably turn the volume up higher than usualy, but there is no need to blast this album. TNT is a great expiremental post-rock album, there are a lot of different styles put in here, and this is not a boring album.
Tortoise can be used for so many different things. You can listen to this album if you want to think, do work, or you can intently listen to this music and find out it's true greatness. When I first started listening to this album I just used it as backround music. When I actually started focusing and listening to this I found out that this music is very inventive and every track is different in so many ways. For the most part this album is very mellow, and soothing. As well as post-rock fans I think that electronica fans will also like this album. Electronica is used a lot in this album and it's very obvious in about half of the songs. If you want something mellow than this album is for you. TNT isn't a dark album at all. Although some of these songs are darker and more intense than others doesn't make this a dark album. While saying this TNT isn't an upbeat album either. Tortoise mixes things up so much that the only way I can put it is that the music is mellow, wistful, peaceful, and soothing. Tortoise show a lot of range on this album so it can apeal to a lot of people.
I hardly ever listen to instrumental music but this really works for me. TNT isn't a boring album just because they can mix in enough different sounds and moods to keep things interesting. Once again this album is not a bore and should keep you interested through out the whole album. I would suggest this music for fans of post-rock, electronica, ambient, and expiremental/instrumental music. I've had this album for a while and I still love it. I can use it in so many different situations and it's a very interesting yet simple album. Tortoise uses a lot of instruments and creates such a unique sound that vocals arn't really needed. If you absolutely need a vocalist when you listen to music than you might have to pass this up. I hardly ever listen to all instrumental music and I still love this album. I would suggest everyone to check out some of these songs because they are very well done. Tortoise is an amazing band and this album is also amazing. Once again fans of post-rock, electronica, ambient, or instrumental music should definately check this out.
Pros :
Never a boring moment
Songs are very well done
Mellow/soothing
A lot of genres in this album
Cons :
No vocalist may annoy some people
Recommended Tracks :
"Jetty"
"The Equator"
"The Suspension Bridge at Iguazu Falls"
"TNT"
