http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.62079&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rssHow a group of ex-punk rockers came to revitalize the state of independent music in the '90s is anybody's guess, but Tortoise have been placed at the forefront of a collective of musicians intent on pushing the common formulas of Indie Rock. Their debut record was steeped in post-Slint tempos, but came alive in the icy, cavernous production. Echoes of dub ran through the record, and tracks like "Cornpone Brunch" hinted towards jazzier explorations. DJ's and electronic artists took to the group and a full-length remix record followed. With the '96 release of <I>Millions Now Living Will Never Die</I>, they established their distinct sound: an involved, shifting patchwork of cut and paste aesthetics, dueling vibraphones, and kinetic exercises in both dub and film scores. Their on-stage performances were equally involved, with members constantly rotating and adding a liveliness to the music in which certain critics were finding a kind of science. The addition of free jazz guitarist Jeff Parker gave the group a warmer yet more insular sound. The recent <I>TNT</i> was both meticulously detailed and limber, melodic and fully realized. Perhaps the group's greatest fault is the cavalcade of copyists they have inspired. Legions of Indie Rockers now create instrumental passages and name drop Steve Reich, creating a monotonous din of mediocrity which is often lofted back at the band by decriers. The band continue unrivalled though, creating complex, ornate music open to a wide array of instrumentation and only occasionally sounding like Weather Report. - Jon PruettPost-Rocken720Sat, 26 Dec 2009 06:01:09 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.62079&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss How a group of ex-punk rockers came to revitalize the state of independent music in the '90s is anybody's guess, but Tortoise have been placed at the forefront of a collective of musicians intent on pushing the common formulas of Indie Rock. Their debut record was steeped in post-Slint tempos, but came alive in the icy, cavernous production. Echoes of dub ran through the record, and tracks like "Cornpone Brunch" hinted towards jazzier explorations. DJ's and electronic artists took to the group and a full-length remix record followed. With the '96 release of <I>Millions Now Living Will Never Die</I>, they established their distinct sound: an involved, shifting patchwork of cut and paste aesthetics, dueling vibraphones, and kinetic exercises in both dub and film scores. Their on-stage performances were equally involved, with members constantly rotating and adding a liveliness to the music in which certain critics were finding a kind of science. The addition of free jazz guitarist Jeff Parker gave the group a warmer yet more insular sound. The recent <I>TNT</i> was both meticulously detailed and limber, melodic and fully realized. Perhaps the group's greatest fault is the cavalcade of copyists they have inspired. Legions of Indie Rockers now create instrumental passages and name drop Steve Reich, creating a monotonous din of mediocrity which is often lofted back at the band by decriers. The band continue unrivalled though, creating complex, ornate music open to a wide array of instrumentation and only occasionally sounding like Weather Report. - Jon Pruett http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777281&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 28777281 tra.28777281 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 Beacons of Ancestorship alb.28772812 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/2/4/9/1709421_170x170.jpg 2009-06-23 00:00:00.0 2009-06-23 00:00:00.0 true High Class Slim Came Floatin In tra.28777281 494000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777281&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777281&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777283&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 28777283 tra.28777283 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 Beacons of Ancestorship alb.28772812 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/2/4/9/1709421_170x170.jpg 2009-06-23 00:00:00.0 2009-06-23 00:00:00.0 true Prepare Your Coffin tra.28777283 217000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777283&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777283&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874504&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 10 Mar 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 1874504 tra.1874504 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 TNT alb.230069 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/3/2/4/394237_170x170.jpg 1998-03-10 00:00:00.0 1998-03-10 00:00:00.0 true TNT tra.1874504 453000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874504&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874504&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777284&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 28777284 tra.28777284 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 Beacons of Ancestorship alb.28772812 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/2/4/9/1709421_170x170.jpg 2009-06-23 00:00:00.0 2009-06-23 00:00:00.0 true Northern Something tra.28777284 144000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777284&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777284&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777285&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 28777285 tra.28777285 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 Beacons of Ancestorship alb.28772812 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/2/4/9/1709421_170x170.jpg 2009-06-23 00:00:00.0 2009-06-23 00:00:00.0 true Gigantes tra.28777285 381000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777285&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777285&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2079994&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Mon, 1 Jan 1996 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 2079994 tra.2079994 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 Millions Now Living Will Never Die alb.219211 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/8/3/3/663387_170x170.jpg 1996-01-01 00:00:00.0 1996-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Djed tra.2079994 1257000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2079994&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2079994&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874510&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 10 Mar 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 1874510 tra.1874510 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 TNT alb.230069 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/3/2/4/394237_170x170.jpg 1998-03-10 00:00:00.0 1998-03-10 00:00:00.0 true The Suspension Bridge At Iguazu Falls tra.1874510 338000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874510&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874510&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777286&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 28777286 tra.28777286 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 Beacons of Ancestorship alb.28772812 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/2/4/9/1709421_170x170.jpg 2009-06-23 00:00:00.0 2009-06-23 00:00:00.0 true Penumbra tra.28777286 68000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777286&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777286&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777277&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 28777277 tra.28777277 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 Beacons of Ancestorship alb.28772812 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/2/4/9/1709421_170x170.jpg 2009-06-23 00:00:00.0 2009-06-23 00:00:00.0 true The Fall of Seven Diamonds Plus One tra.28777277 220000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777277&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777277&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874508&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 10 Mar 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 1874508 tra.1874508 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 TNT alb.230069 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/3/2/4/394237_170x170.jpg 1998-03-10 00:00:00.0 1998-03-10 00:00:00.0 true The Equator tra.1874508 222000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874508&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874508&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777282&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 28777282 tra.28777282 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 Beacons of Ancestorship alb.28772812 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/2/4/9/1709421_170x170.jpg 2009-06-23 00:00:00.0 2009-06-23 00:00:00.0 true Yinxianghechengqi tra.28777282 217000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777282&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777282&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10547331&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 20 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 10547331 tra.10547331 Tortoise art.62079 0.0 Austin City Limits Music Festival 2005 alb.10545895 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/0/0/4/884002_170x170.jpg 2006-06-20 00:00:00.0 2006-06-20 00:00:00.0 false Salt The Skies tra.10547331 285000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10547331&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10547331&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777278&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 28777278 tra.28777278 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 Beacons of Ancestorship alb.28772812 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/2/4/9/1709421_170x170.jpg 2009-06-23 00:00:00.0 2009-06-23 00:00:00.0 true Minors tra.28777278 263000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777278&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777278&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874506&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 10 Mar 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 1874506 tra.1874506 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 TNT alb.230069 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/3/2/4/394237_170x170.jpg 1998-03-10 00:00:00.0 1998-03-10 00:00:00.0 true Ten-Day Interval tra.1874506 284000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874506&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874506&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2079998&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Mon, 1 Jan 1996 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 2079998 tra.2079998 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 Millions Now Living Will Never Die alb.219211 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/8/3/3/663387_170x170.jpg 1996-01-01 00:00:00.0 1996-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Dear Grandma And Grandpa tra.2079998 169000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2079998&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2079998&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2079997&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Mon, 1 Jan 1996 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 2079997 tra.2079997 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 Millions Now Living Will Never Die alb.219211 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/8/3/3/663387_170x170.jpg 1996-01-01 00:00:00.0 1996-01-01 00:00:00.0 true The Taut And Tame tra.2079997 302000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2079997&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2079997&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874505&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 10 Mar 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 1874505 tra.1874505 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 TNT alb.230069 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/3/2/4/394237_170x170.jpg 1998-03-10 00:00:00.0 1998-03-10 00:00:00.0 true Swung From The Gutters tra.1874505 352000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874505&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874505&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.11371615&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 5 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 11371615 tra.11371615 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 A Lazarus Taxon alb.11368865 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/4/2/6/886246_170x170.jpg 2006-09-05 00:00:00.0 2006-09-05 00:00:00.0 true Source Of Uncertainty tra.11371615 222000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.11371615&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.11371615&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777279&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 28777279 tra.28777279 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 Beacons of Ancestorship alb.28772812 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/2/4/9/1709421_170x170.jpg 2009-06-23 00:00:00.0 2009-06-23 00:00:00.0 true Monument Six One Thousand tra.28777279 202000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777279&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28777279&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874512&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 10 Mar 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 1874512 tra.1874512 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 TNT alb.230069 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/3/2/4/394237_170x170.jpg 1998-03-10 00:00:00.0 1998-03-10 00:00:00.0 true In Sarah, Mencken, Christ And Beethoven There Were Women And Men tra.1874512 449000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874512&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874512&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874507&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 10 Mar 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 1874507 tra.1874507 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 TNT alb.230069 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/3/2/4/394237_170x170.jpg 1998-03-10 00:00:00.0 1998-03-10 00:00:00.0 true I Set My Face To The Hillside tra.1874507 368000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874507&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874507&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874509&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 10 Mar 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 1874509 tra.1874509 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 TNT alb.230069 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/3/2/4/394237_170x170.jpg 1998-03-10 00:00:00.0 1998-03-10 00:00:00.0 true A Simple Way To Go Faster Than Light That Does Not Work tra.1874509 213000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874509&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874509&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.11371616&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 5 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 11371616 tra.11371616 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 A Lazarus Taxon alb.11368865 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/4/2/6/886246_170x170.jpg 2006-09-05 00:00:00.0 2006-09-05 00:00:00.0 true Blackbird tra.11371616 301000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.11371616&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.11371616&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.11371614&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 5 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 11371614 tra.11371614 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 A Lazarus Taxon alb.11368865 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/4/2/6/886246_170x170.jpg 2006-09-05 00:00:00.0 2006-09-05 00:00:00.0 true Gamera tra.11371614 713000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.11371614&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.11371614&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874511&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss Post-Rock Tue, 10 Mar 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Tortoise on Rhapsody Online 1874511 tra.1874511 Tortoise art.62079 0.99 TNT alb.230069 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/3/2/4/394237_170x170.jpg 1998-03-10 00:00:00.0 1998-03-10 00:00:00.0 true Four-Day Interval tra.1874511 285000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874511&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1874511&variant=data&rws=%2Ftortoise%2Ftop-tracks.rss