Tortoise

"Standards" is not a tribute to jazz greats, but a post-psychedelic journey of urban and rock melodies that sets standards of their own. Although not as beautiful as the previous "TNT," "Standards" is one of the most compelling releases of 2001. With tracks such as "Monica," you'll find that gangsta synth can mix well with Indie Rock.

The title suggests both a measure of excellence and songs that have entered the
performance canon. The five hipsters in Tortoise probably would reject those definitions -
and, to be honest, Standards doesn't attain either one. Still, these ten instrumentals flirt
with structure more intently - if no less elliptically - than Tortoise have in the past.
"Blackjack" even sounds like the lost theme from an imaginary spaghetti western... More >