Tortoise: Classic or Dud

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Not all messages are displayed: show all messages (210 of them)

If Tortoise were actually a jazz band, I think they might be the Brian Blade Fellowship (or maybe it's just the Jeff Parker crossover talking).

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 18 September 2003 18:06 (9 years ago) Permalink

3 months pass...

TNT is indeed very pretty - I am listening to it right now and it is stunning.

― jed (jed_e_3), Friday, 2 January 2004 19:34 (9 years ago) Permalink

They do I cover of Robert Ashley's In Sara mumble mumble mumble? That's a little intriguing..

― Rockist Scientist, Friday, 2 January 2004 19:37 (9 years ago) Permalink

yeah i wondered was that a cover or "inspired by" or what - in fact it was someone mentioning sara mumble mumble in another thread today that made me dig this out again.

― jed (jed_e_3), Friday, 2 January 2004 19:39 (9 years ago) Permalink

I haven't heard it, but saw that they did it and the title had to be more than a coincidence. (I describe it the way I do partly because I can't remember the exact wording of the title, but Ashely does do I lot of mumbling. I like his speaking style though, overall. I once overheard him talking at a music festival event: "That is [pause] sublime." The way he said it was wonderful)

― Rockist Scientist, Friday, 2 January 2004 19:44 (9 years ago) Permalink

Aha - i have never heard it and now i want to. The tortoise versione is called "In Sara, Mencken, Christ and Beethoven there were Women and Men" as opposed to "...there were Men and Women" in the Ashley version.

― jed (jed_e_3), Friday, 2 January 2004 19:49 (9 years ago) Permalink

It's not really great or anything, but worth hearing. My favorite Ashley doesn't seem to be available on CD. It's Perfect Live/Private Parts: The Bar.

― Rockist Scientist, Friday, 2 January 2004 20:03 (9 years ago) Permalink

the Ashley piece is a setting of the poem by John Barton Wolgamot. the Tortoise piece could be a direct reference to the poem, who knows.

Rockist: 'The Bar' is available on the three disc version of Perfect Lives, but it's a slightly different recording. That is an exceptional piece. He should get a whole thread, I'm an Ashley fanatic.

― (Jon L), Saturday, 3 January 2004 00:14 (9 years ago) Permalink

I want the original recording though. I think I heard the new one and didn't like it. (I'm very reactionary about recordings of old experimental favorites.) At least I still have my vinyl copy in storage.

I didn't know the Ashley piece was based on someone else's poem.

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Saturday, 3 January 2004 01:26 (9 years ago) Permalink

you're right, the original 'The Bar' is better. it's a fantastic record. don't know what's holding up the CD reissue, it'd fit on one disc with ashley's 'music word fire' disco 12" (which many people hate, but I don't).

and the only thing the tortoise piece has in common with the ashley piece is the namedrop. still no need to listen to tortoise.

― (Jon L), Saturday, 3 January 2004 01:43 (9 years ago) Permalink

Is that "Music Word Fire" the one that goes something like I coo coo you coo coo, etc. I don't think I liked it at first, but I think I got to like it.

But I bought some later Ashley that didn't hook me in, so I've kind of backed off from his work. (I can't think of the title right now, but it was a large-scale opera type thing.) Also, "The Bar" is really my favorite part of that Perfect Lives work.

I guess one of us should start an Ashley thread. You know more than I do, but if you start one some time, I'll chime in, maybe think of something new to say (maybe not).

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Saturday, 3 January 2004 01:54 (9 years ago) Permalink

next time I gain the courage to start another thread that'll sink to the bottom three posts later, it'll be an Ashley thread. but I'm unreliable, I've crossed the threshhold and I can even appreciate most of the operas. But 'Automatic Writing', 'The Wolfman', and the hidden secret 'Yellow Man With Heart With Wings'.

didn't mean to be anti-Tortoise above, they certainly were better than many things in the 90's.

― (Jon L), Saturday, 3 January 2004 02:16 (9 years ago) Permalink

ubuweb has a PDF of Wolgamot's poem online here, along with the liner notes. I have the Cramps edition, had never read the story behind the poem; wow.

― (Jon L), Saturday, 3 January 2004 02:55 (9 years ago) Permalink

I read that with amazement, but by the end I was wondering if this whole story is a prank. You're sure it's legit?

― Rockist Scientist, Saturday, 3 January 2004 03:37 (9 years ago) Permalink

who knows, stranger things. in the end there's only the poem itself really.

frustrating to realize only the rough tape survived. think of what they could have done with a more detailed mixdown.

― (Jon L), Saturday, 3 January 2004 03:40 (9 years ago) Permalink

UBUWeb is incredible - i could spend 2 lifetimes looking through it. My frind has a long prose-poem on it here if you are interested.

― jed (jed_e_3), Saturday, 3 January 2004 03:41 (9 years ago) Permalink

i think its really good and ill look forward to reading that Wolgamot Poem, thanks.

― jed (jed_e_3), Saturday, 3 January 2004 03:43 (9 years ago) Permalink

4 months pass...

I finally listened to "Djed" and it's not awful. I think I would have liked it more if I heard it back in the 80's than I do now (not that it was there to be heard then). The minimalist/Krautrock/prog. blend is less appealing to me now than it was then. I like something a little more rhythmically articulated. (I don't know if that's really the right word, but I like how it sounds.) But, this is okay. I could see myself possibly getting to like it more.

I don't see what the big deal with the "tape crash" thing is.

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Monday, 31 May 2004 01:42 (9 years ago) Permalink

I like the marimba (or whatever it is).

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Monday, 31 May 2004 01:50 (9 years ago) Permalink

I'm not sure I need to buy it though.

― Rockist Scientist (rockistscientist), Monday, 31 May 2004 01:54 (9 years ago) Permalink

I got It's All Around You the other day. Meh. Works if I'm in the right mood.

― Pack Yr Romantic Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Monday, 31 May 2004 02:01 (9 years ago) Permalink

I still like it.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 31 May 2004 03:28 (9 years ago) Permalink

Surprisingly, Tortoise put on one of the funnest shows I've ever attended.

― Mike Stuchbery, Monday, 31 May 2004 11:38 (9 years ago) Permalink

2 weeks pass...

I listened to Millions Now Living again last night. Some of it is too fusion-y for me. One track was surprisingly similar to Ralph Lundsten (not a name I see mentioned too much), with some space rock mixed in.

― Rockist Scientist, Wednesday, 16 June 2004 13:37 (9 years ago) Permalink

I heard that "Salt the Skies" track from the new album and really liked it, so I guess I'll have to buy it now.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 13:43 (9 years ago) Permalink

"Salt the Skies" may be the best track on It's All Around You. I definitely thought so the first few times I heard the album -- but now I'm not so sure, since others have grown on me. It's a pleasant album, but I can't get excited about it the way I got excited about Millions and TNT.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 14:08 (9 years ago) Permalink

hmmm, maybe I should just see if there's a single.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 14:14 (9 years ago) Permalink

I still like the album...actually it's hard for me to think of individual songs on Tortoise albums, if I'm in the mood to listen to them I usually end up listening to the whole thing.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 14:41 (9 years ago) Permalink

monumental DUD. bored out of my skull listening to Tortoise-- and I like Stars of the Lid, Labradford, and Windy and Carl!

― King Kobra (King Kobra), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 19:02 (9 years ago) Permalink

King Kobra is secretly me!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 19:14 (9 years ago) Permalink

I hear a lot of late Zappa (like There's a Ship Arriving Too Late. . .) in the post-rock I've heard (mostly five second samples, but still), when it isn't overtly Krautish. Even that whole marimba + funny time signature thing. Maybe math rock more than post-rock. (No post-rock until after you've finished you're math-rock!) Eisbar?

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 17 June 2004 12:14 (9 years ago) Permalink

And that's what I wanted to say.

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 17 June 2004 12:14 (9 years ago) Permalink

I think these guys are all listening to Zappa, Ralph Lundsten, and Mars Everywhere, aside from the obvious Neu and Harmonia and Cluster and various German law firms.

― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 17 June 2004 12:17 (9 years ago) Permalink

2 years pass...

new tour! i wonder if they are still writing new songs. i didn't care much for IAAY but i love the rest of their discography. still, i'm curious to see where they go. not really feeling the supporting acts... they always seem to tour with such mediocre artists.

Dates:

06-14 Columbus, OH - Wexner Center
06-15 Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo
06-16 Lawrence, KS - Granada Theatre *
06-18 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre
06-20 Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room
06-22 San Francisco, CA - Independent
06-23 San Francisco, CA - Independent
06-26 Seattle, WA - Neumos
07-01 Chicago, IL - Metro
07-03 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace
07-05 Boston, MA - Museum of Fine Art
07-08 New York, NY - Webster Hall #

* with Hot Chip
# with Kieren Hebden, Steve Reid

― lfam, Thursday, 22 February 2007 19:17 (6 years ago) Permalink

it would be cool if they toured with some other chicago jazz types.

― lfam, Thursday, 22 February 2007 19:19 (6 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

mcentire, herndon, and bitney have a new side project:

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/42309-tortoises-mcentire-herndon-bitney-team-up-for-ibumpsi

― lfam, Monday, 16 April 2007 12:49 (6 years ago) Permalink

sounds like it could be good; I'm always up for percussion records, and I actually just dusted off my copy of TNT last night for the first time in a while (it was decidedly not boring).

― bernard snowy, Monday, 16 April 2007 13:52 (6 years ago) Permalink

Ooh.

― Jordan, Monday, 16 April 2007 14:02 (6 years ago) Permalink

3 months pass...

I like Bumps more than I thought I would! It's fun to hear the whole frequency range is given over to the drums, like wide-screen breaks. I wish it came with some notes about how they got some of those sick drum sounds (or maybe it does, it's not like I have the cd).

― Jordan, Wednesday, 8 August 2007 20:18 (5 years ago) Permalink

7 months pass...

'millions now living...' is about as interesting and compelling as the genre gets. one of my favourite records of all time. well, top 30.

'tnt' is nice, but a little jammy and unfocused for my liking

'it's all around you' is one of those records that has really obvious merits, but not a gread deal of replay value i feel

― Charlie Howard, Thursday, 13 March 2008 06:21 (5 years ago) Permalink

TNT trumps all.

― baaderonixx, Thursday, 13 March 2008 10:16 (5 years ago) Permalink

I'd really like another album from these guys

― Hurting 2, Thursday, 13 March 2008 13:05 (5 years ago) Permalink

Theyve paved the way (along with Godspeed!) for the countless instrumental bands out now. Yay!(?)

― U-Haul, Thursday, 13 March 2008 14:31 (5 years ago) Permalink

yeah, can't really thank them very enthusiastically for that. Although I do like some of the projects they were linked to (Brokeback at times, Isotope 217, Town and Country, etc.)

― Hurting 2, Thursday, 13 March 2008 14:34 (5 years ago) Permalink

Yeah. Fuck The Shadows. And Booker T & The MGs. And jazz. And Beethoven.

― Scik Mouthy, Thursday, 13 March 2008 14:34 (5 years ago) Permalink

<i>Fuck the Shadows</i> sounds like an emo band.

― Raw Patrick, Thursday, 13 March 2008 14:38 (5 years ago) Permalink

Fuck the BB Code

― Raw Patrick, Thursday, 13 March 2008 14:38 (5 years ago) Permalink

These guys lost it when they got that gtr guy in.

― Raw Patrick, Thursday, 13 March 2008 14:39 (5 years ago) Permalink

the fact that there's so much of this instrumental stuff out there now gives me a good basis of comparison to determine that tortoise is up there as one of the best of the genre. instrumental, post-rock stuff frequently bores me these days, but it's nice to have a few favourites.

― Charlie Howard, Thursday, 13 March 2008 14:39 (5 years ago) Permalink

aren't they supposed to have a new one this year?

― Jordan, Thursday, 13 March 2008 14:42 (5 years ago) Permalink

Skipping 110 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.