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Tortoise
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Listening now: msmogor
Tortoise’s almost entirely instrumental music defies easy categorization, and the group gained significant attention from their early career. The members have roots in Chicago’s fertile music scene, playing in various indie rock and punk groups. Tortoise was among the first American indie rock bands to incorporate styles closer to krautrock, dub, minimalism, electronica and various jazz styles, rather than the standard rock and roll and punk that had dominated indie rock for years.
Some have cited Tortoise as being one of the prime forces behind the development and popularity of the so-called “post-rock” movement. Others, however, have criticized Tortoise’s music as being derivative of progressive rock and argue that Tortoise have been subject to much undeserved hype for such a relatively new ensemble.
Other groups related to Tortoise include The Sea and Cake, Brokeback, Shrimp Boat, Isotope 217 and the Chicago Underground Duo. Tortoise records on the Thrill Jockey label.
The group’s origins lie in the late 1980’s pairing of McCombs and Herndon, who imagined themselves as a freelance rhythm section (like reggae legends Sly And Robbie). That idea never saw fruition (but in the summer of 2007 they formed the group Bumps and released a record with the same name on indie hip-hop label Stones Throw records, their interest in grooving rhythms and recording studio trickery led to McEntire and Brown (both formerly of Bastro) joining, followed by Bitney.
Some have cited Tortoise as being one of the prime forces behind the development and popularity of the so-called “post-rock” movement. Others, however, have criticized Tortoise’s music as being derivative of progressive rock and argue that Tortoise have been subject to much undeserved hype for such a relatively new ensemble.
Other groups related to Tortoise include The Sea and Cake, Brokeback, Shrimp Boat, Isotope 217 and the Chicago Underground Duo. Tortoise records on the Thrill Jockey label.
The group’s origins lie in the late 1980’s pairing of McCombs and Herndon, who imagined themselves as a freelance rhythm section (like reggae legends Sly And Robbie). That idea never saw fruition (but in the summer of 2007 they formed the group Bumps and released a record with the same name on indie hip-hop label Stones Throw records, their interest in grooving rhythms and recording studio trickery led to McEntire and Brown (both formerly of Bastro) joining, followed by Bitney.
Top Albums
Shoutbox
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richardkuok wrote:
the new album is awesome !! a good fusion of jazz, electronic, and rock !!
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ClintSpector wrote:
http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb090708tortoise/#
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DemonCashew wrote:
I must say, the new album was pretty good.
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dhcmrlchtdj wrote:
love it-diamond indeed. dont find it is massively innovative but is certainly a band on top of their game.
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WarloxInTubeSox wrote:
What does everyone think of the new album? I had some mixed feelings, but I'm finding a few tracks I really like. Will be seeing them in Austin this month too.
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teh_archie wrote:
new album took a while to grow on me but i'm really enjoying it. they're still innovating, which is more than you can say for a lot of instrumental bands.
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mukeys wrote:
Probably the best "post-rock" band.
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Guy_Bushin wrote:
pokémon go!
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foolonahill235 wrote:
his music the hipster garabe i've ever heard
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Justin1983 wrote:
Very true =)
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messo wrote:
Personal as a huge Tortoise fan I can tell you right now that I'm not offended in any way, nor will I ever be. However I do wanna question those people who set out to tell everyone else how much they loathe a new album from whatever given band. What do they gain by saying something so inane as "new album sucks"??? That sentence doesn't even open up a discussion...
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Justin1983 wrote:
I love it. I think it's their best "proper" album (A Lazarus Taxon is my favorite release from them... but obviously it's not a "proper" album, so I have to specify it as my favorite release)... In fact I only enjoy their self-titled debut album, A Lazarus Taxon, and Beacons of Ancestorship. I do not care for their more popular releases (the ones that are in the top four, above), because when I listen to those I always end up saying to myself, "Why don't I just listen to Steve Reich?" or "... Liquid Liquid?" or "... Ennio Morricone?" or "... David Axelrod?" etc. etc. depending on whichever song or album it is... Such a statement will probably upset the "Cult of TNT" and other dedicated Tortoise fans--to which I say, I am merely stating my personal opinion on the matter, don't get in a jumble over it =) I know a lot of people on LastFm can easily get offended if you say anything that goes against their own personal taste. (Are differing opinions being expressed really that offensive?)
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ratilas wrote:
new album sucks
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GB-Indie-Ghost wrote:
NEW COOL UKRAINIAN POST-ROCK BAND!!! MP3 FOR FREE!!! http://www.lastfm.ru/music/GingerBeard/GingerBeard
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riigo wrote:
i set my face to the hillside <333
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tomandrum wrote:
anyone got "ice ice gravy" (itunes bonus track)? i wanna hear it.
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messo wrote:
Tortoise explains Beacons track by track: http://chicago.timeout.com/articles/music/75595/tortoise-talks-beacons-track-by-track
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kVidAl wrote:
Prepare Your Coffin, Gigantes and Charteroak Foundation <3
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keltysem wrote:
Tortoise's "Beacons of Ancestorship" was recently reviewed at Exclaim.ca! Here's the link to the article: http://www.exclaim.ca/musicreviews/latestsub.aspx?csid1=133&csid2=870&fid1=39364. Check it out!!!
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afrocntric86 wrote:
I can't believe I'm not going to see them play live
Videos
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Events
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Jul
11
Tortoise
Troubadour, West Hollywood, Los Angeles CA, United States
20 shouts
| 43 attendees
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Jul
13
Tortoise
The Great American Music Hall, San Francisco CA, United States
4 shouts
| 44 attendees
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Jul
15
Tortoise
Mohawk, Austin TX, United States
2 shouts
| 26 attendees
Listeners
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msmogor
Listening now
to Northern Something -
rocksismynameeh
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to Gigantes -
LucianVonDooom
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Miblo
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friesgentleman
Top Listener
Recent Activity
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jujubeansesq, DarknessOutsidr, eyekino and 3 other people added Tortoise to their libraries. 1 hour ago
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Deep_Night tagged Tortoise with experimental and post-rock. 6 hours ago
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remilie, Bnagdrumer11, glowen74 and 7 other people added Tortoise to their libraries. 7 hours ago
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mRRedi tagged Tortoise with ‘post-rock’. yesterday morning
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Dudekotka, hoverdog, gleryff and 2 other people added Tortoise to their libraries. yesterday morning
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kendralugo tagged Tortoise with ‘seen live’. yesterday morning
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MariaBravada, glitchyboy and eblasina added Tortoise to their libraries. yesterday morning
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MyWeirdSide tagged Tortoise with ‘post-rock’. Thursday evening
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Xanthinee, GarionTaxt, hollow_earth and 2 other people added Tortoise to their libraries. Thursday evening
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Thomaaazs tagged Tortoise with ‘experimental’. Thursday afternoon
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