Tortoise
Origin	{{{origin}}}
Country	Chicago, Illinois, USA
Years active	1990 – present
Genre(s)	Post-rock, Instrumental rock
Label(s)	Thrill Jockey
Members	Dan Bitney Doug McCombs Jeff Parker John Herdon John McEntire
Past members	{{{past_members}}}
Website(s)	{{{website}}}

Tortoise, an instrumental rock band, formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1990. Image File history File links Tortoise. ... Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden) Official website: http://egov. ... Official language(s) English Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 25th 149,998 km² 340 km 629 km 4. ... This article is about the year. ... Genres of Cuban music and other popular music A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... The term post-rock was coined by Simon Reynolds in issue 123 of The Wire (May 1994) to describe a sort of music using rock instrumentation for non-rock purposes, using guitars as facilitators of timbres and textures rather than riffs and powerchords. ... Instrumental rock is a type of rock and roll which features only musical instruments, and no singing. ... A record label is a brand created by companies that specialize in producing, manufacturing, distributing and promoting audio and sometimes video recordings (especially music videos), on various formats including compact discs, LPs, DVD-Audio, SACDs, and cassettes. ... Thrill Jockey is an indepedant record label based in Chicago, IL, USA. Home of Tortoise (band). ... John McEntire is the drummer of post-rock outfits Gastr Del Sol, Tortoise, The Sea and Cake, and is affiliated with several other bands. ... Instrumental rock is a type of rock and roll which features only musical instruments, and no singing. ... Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden) Official website: http://egov. ... See also: 1989 in music, 1990 in British music, other events of 1990, 1991 in music, 1990s in music and the list of years in music if (window. ...

Music

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. Instrumental rock is a type of rock and roll which features only musical instruments, and no singing. ... Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music often used to refer to bands that are on small independent record labels or that arent on labels at all. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music often used to refer to bands that are on small independent record labels or that arent on labels at all. ... Krautrock is a generic name for the experimental bands who appeared in Germany in the early 1970s. ... Dub is a form of Jamaican music, which evolved out of ska and reggae in 1970s Jamaica. ... Minimalism describes movements in various forms of art and design, especially visual art and music, where the work is stripped down to its most fundamental features. ... Electronica is a rather vague term that covers a wide range of electronic or electronic-influenced music. ... Jazz master Louis Armstrong remains one of the most loved and best known of all jazz musicians. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music often used to refer to bands that are on small independent record labels or that arent on labels at all. ...

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. The term post-rock was coined by Simon Reynolds in issue 123 of The Wire (May 1994) to describe a sort of music using rock instrumentation for non-rock purposes, using guitars as facilitators of timbres and textures rather than riffs and powerchords. ... Progressive rock (shortened to prog, or prog rock when differentiating from other progressive genres) is an ambitious, eclectic, and often grandiose style of rock music which arose in the late 1960s, reached the peak of its popularity in the early 1970s, and continues as a musical form to this day. ... Hype! is also the name of a documentary film about grunge music. ...

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 Sea and Cake, is a post rock band, formed in Chicago, Illinois. ... Phrase derived from the movie Brokeback Mountain. ... Thrill Jockey is an indepedant record label based in Chicago, IL, USA. Home of Tortoise (band). ...

History

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 their interest in grooving rhythms and recording studio trickery led to McEntire and Brown (both formerly of Bastro) joining, followed by Bitney. Though songs are credited to all the musicans, McEntire quickly became, if not the acknowledged leader, then the group's guiding force, at least via media perception. In reality his extra contributions mainly took the form of being the recording engineer and mixer. Rhythm section refers to the musicians whose primary jobs in a jazz or popular music band or ensemble is to establish the rhythm of a song or musical piece, often via repeated riffs or ostinati. ... Reggae is a music genre developed in Jamaica. ... Sly and Robbie are probably reggaes most prolific and long lasting production team. ...

Cover of Tortoise's 1998 album TNT

Their first single was issued in 1993, and their self-titled debut album followed a year later. Instrumental and mostly mid-tempo, Tortoise slowly garnered praise and attention, due in part to the unusual instrumentation (two bass guitars, three percussionists switching between drums, vibraphones and marimbas). A remix album followed, Rhythms, Resolutions and Clusters. TNT This is an album cover. ... TNT This is an album cover. ... TNT is a 1998 album by Tortoise. ... Tortoise was a 1994 album by Tortoise. ... A remix is an alternate mix of a song different from the original version, made using the techniques of audio editing. ...

Brown left and was replaced by Pajo (formerly of Slint, who plays mostly bass, but offers Tortoise's first recorded guitar, as well) for 1996's Millions Now Living Will Never Die, a breakthrough, both in quality and attention. The album blended many genres, yet never seems like a pastiche. Millions showed up on many year-end best of lists, and the 20 minute Djed was described by critic John Bush as proof that "Tortoise made experimental rock do double duty as evocative, beautiful music." Slint was a rock/math rock band consisting of Brian McMahan (guitar and vocals), David Pajo (guitar), Britt Walford (drums), Todd Brashear (bass on Spiderland) and Ethan Buckler (bass on Tweez). ... Millions Now Living Will Never Die is the second album by Tortoise. ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... Experimental rock or Avant Rock is a type of rock and roll which experiments with the basic elements of the genre, and/or which pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique. ...

In 1998, Tortoise released TNT, arguably their most jazz-inflected album. Pajo had been replaced by Parker, who has a strong jazz background. 2001 led to Standards, where Tortoise incorporated more electronic sounds and post-production into its music than in previous works. 2004 saw the release of It's All Around You, and in 2006 they collaborated with Bonnie 'Prince' Billy on an album of covers entitled The Brave and The Bold. See also: 1997 in music, other events of 1998, 1999 in music, 1990s in music and the list of years in music // Events February 15 - Sir Edward Elgars unfinished third symphony, completed by Anthony Payne is performed for the first time at the Royal Festival Hall. ... TNT is a 1998 album by Tortoise. ... See also: 2000 in music, 2001 in music (UK), other events of 2001, 2002 in music, 2000s in music and the list of years in music // Events January 1 - Comeback of Guns N Roses in House of Blues January 1 - Hum disbands. ... Standards is a 2001 album by Tortoise. ... Its All Around You is a 2004 album by Tortoise. ... Will Oldham is a songwriter and musician from Louisville, Kentucky. ...

Line-up

• John McEntire (drums and keyboards)
• Doug McCombs (bass guitar)
• John Herndon (drums, keyboard, vibraphone)
• Dan Bitney (percussion)
• Jeff Parker (guitar)

John McEntire is the drummer of post-rock outfits Gastr Del Sol, Tortoise, The Sea and Cake, and is affiliated with several other bands. ...

Former members

• Bundy K. Brown (bass guitar; left in 1995)
• David Pajo (guitar; left in 1998).

David Pajo is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. ...

Discography

• Tortoise (Album, 1994)
• Rhythms, Resolutions, and Clusters (Remix Album, 1995)
• Millions Now Living Will Never Die (Album, 1996)
• TNT (Album, 1998)
• In the Fishtank (EP, 1999)
• Standards (Album, 2001)
• It's All Around You (Album, 2004)
• The Brave and the Bold (Collaboration with Will Oldham; Covers Album, 2006)

Tortoise was a 1994 album by Tortoise. ... See also: 1993 in music, other events of 1994, 1995 in music, 1990s in music and the list of years in music // Events January 29 - The Supremes Mary Wilson is injured when her jeep hits a freeway median and flips over just outside of Los Angeles, California. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Millions Now Living Will Never Die is the second album by Tortoise. ... See also: 1995 in music, other events of 1996, 1997 in music, 1990s in music and the list of years in music // Events January 8 - Madonnas stalker, Robert Hoskins is found guilty and convicted on 5 charges of assault, stalking, and threatening to kill her. ... TNT is a 1998 album by Tortoise. ... See also: 1997 in music, other events of 1998, 1999 in music, 1990s in music and the list of years in music // Events February 15 - Sir Edward Elgars unfinished third symphony, completed by Anthony Payne is performed for the first time at the Royal Festival Hall. ... In the Fishtank is a 1999 EP by Tortoise with The Ex as part of the In the Fishtank project. ... See also: 1998 in music, 1999 in British music, other events of 1999, 2000 in music, 1990s in music and the list of years in music // Events January 7 After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation. ... Standards is a 2001 album by Tortoise. ... See also: 2000 in music, 2001 in music (UK), other events of 2001, 2002 in music, 2000s in music and the list of years in music // Events January 1 - Comeback of Guns N Roses in House of Blues January 1 - Hum disbands. ... Its All Around You is a 2004 album by Tortoise. ... See also: 2004 in music (UK) other events of 2004 list of years in music 2000s in music // Events January 1 - Vienna New Years Concert by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in Vienna, conducted by Riccardo Muti January 1 - Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol January 3 - Britney Spears marries Jason... The Brave and the Bold was a DC Comics superhero comic book which was published from August 1955 to July 1983. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Official site