TNT

by Tortoise

TNT cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: March 10, 1998
  • Label: Thrill Jockey
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 1:04:48
  • Community rating: 4.03/5 from 15 ratings

Artists on this release: Dan Bitney, John McEntire, David Pajo, John Herndon, Douglas McCombs, Jeff Parker

Album Notes & Community Reviews

On their third album 'TNT', Tortoise pivoted from the dub and electronic leanings of their previous work toward a more organic, jazz-inflected sound built on groove and minimalist compositions. The addition of guitarist Jeff Parker and an expanded instrumentation including strings and horns enriched the album's textural palette, which features clean guitar melodies, prominent bass lines, and layered percussion. Produced and mixed by drummer John McEntire, the album was constructed using hard disk technology, with each element overdubbed in a piecemeal process that integrated the aesthetic of remixing directly into its creation.

Genres

Descriptors: instrumental, experimental, polyrhythmic, minimal, electronic, rhythmic, syncopated, diverse

Tracklist

  1. TNT (07:33)
  2. Swung From the Gutters (05:52)
  3. Ten-Day Interval (04:44)
  4. I Set My Face to the Hillside (06:08)
  5. The Equator (03:42)
  6. A Simple Way to Go Faster Than Light That Does Not Work (03:33)
  7. The Suspension Bridge at Iguazú Falls (05:38)
  8. Four-Day Interval (04:45)
  9. In Sarah, Mencken, Christ, and Beethoven There Were Women and Men (07:29)
  10. Almost Always is Nearly Enough (02:42)
  11. Jetty (08:21)
  12. Everglade (04:21)

Credits

  • Dan Bitney - performer, programming
  • David Pajo - performer, guitar
  • Douglas McCombs - performer, bass
  • Jeff Parker - performer, guitar
  • John Herndon - performer, programming
  • John McEntire - performer, recording engineer, editing, mixing, drums, producer
  • Caitlin Hormson - bassoon
  • Popahna Brandes - cello
  • Rob Mazurek - cornet, strings, horns
  • Sara P. Smith - trombone, strings, horns
  • Julie Liu - violin
  • Roger Seibel - mastering
  • Sheila Sachs - layout assistance
  • Tortoise - sleeve design, composed by

More from Tortoise: full discography