More Info on Trans AmSimilar Undetermined MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
Infobox musical artist| name = Trans Am| image = Transam_11-15-2007.JPG| caption = Trans Am in Austin, Texas , November 15, 2007| image_size =| background = group_or_band| origin = Maryland , United States | instrument = Bass guitar, synthesizer, keyboard, guitar, occasional vocals (English and German)| genre = Post-rock Indie rock | years_active = 1990–present| label = Thrill Jockey | associated_acts =| website = http://www.transband.com| current_members = Nathan Means (bass, vocals) Philip Manley (guitar) Sebastian Thomson (drums)| past_members = Trans Am is a three-piece band which originated in Bethesda, Maryland that was one of the originators of " post-rock " in the mid 90s. Their work centers on a cerebrally robotic, usually instrumental, semi-danceable, minimalistic format, with influences including Krautrock , Heavy metal music|heavy metal , hardcore punk , synthpop , electronic music , and folk music . They are known for constant touring (with bands such as Tortoise (band)|Tortoise , Pan Sonic , The Fucking Champs , and Tool (band)|Tool ), cryptic album artwork, and continual thematic re-invention.
Biography
Nathan Means (bass, keyboard, vocoder, vocals), Phil Manley|Philip Manley (lead guitar, bass, keyboard, vocals) and Sebastian Thomson (drums, bass, keyboard, guitar, vocals) formed Trans Am in 1990 near Washington, D.C. . cite web| last=Cooper | first=Sean | url= http://allmusic.com/artist/trans-am-p169861/biography | title=Trams A, - Biography | publisher= Allmusic ( Rovi Corporation ) | accessdate=2011-08-27 The band started as a HarDCore project but the sound evolved as the members finished college to include additional influences: New Wave music|new wave , classic rock and experimental rock . cite web| last=Ostroff | first=Joshua | url= http://exclaim.ca/Interviews/FromTheMagazine/trans_ams_transformation | title=Trans Am's Transformation | publisher= Exclaim! | date=2002-06 | accessdate=2011-08-27 In 1995 they began recording their music, which until 1998 was almost entirely instrumental. Their sound is generally marked with acoustic and electronic drums, guitars, electronics, and a varying amount of often-heavily processed vocals. Instrumental virtuosity (especially with the drums) is a focal point. All of their albums have been released on the Chicago-based independent record label, Thrill Jockey .
Their self-titled debut, recorded after just a few rehearsals, contained instrumentals which were largely improvised versions of simple rock-oriented motifs based loosely on '70s bands such as Boston (band)|Boston , Bachman–Turner Overdrive and Yes (band)|Yes . The album was produced by John McEntire of labelmates Tortoise at Chicago's Idful Studios. Afterwards, the band opened for Tortoise on a brief US tour.
In the fall of 1996, Trans Am released a self-titled EP which showed a greater reliance on electronics. The group expanded that approach to album length on Surrender to the Night (1997) and The Surveillance (1998). The band's sound during this period was reminiscent of such acts as Kraftwerk , Can (band)|Can and New Order interspersed with more rock-oriented material. Their previously unreleased track "Starjammer" was included on the highbrow electronica label Mille Plateaux 's double-CD compilation In Memoriam Gilles Deleuze . In their live shows, the band began to incorporate trigger devices and MIDI-wired beatboxes in order to perform their electronics-heavy songs. Around the time of the release of The Surveillance , the band started to perform material with vocorder-heavy vocals by Nathan Means.
Their fourth album, Futureworld (album)|Futureworld , followed in 1999. The first side of this album featured songs with vocoder and the second side has all instrumentals, including the sprightly "Cocaine Computer". A music video for the title song was filmed and released. In 2000, the group followed up with the double album Red Line (album)|Red Line , recorded in the band's own National Recording Studio. cite web| last=Sisario | first=Ben | url= http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/01/arts/recordings-finding-freedom-in-free-form-rock.html | title=Recordings: Finding Freedom in Free-Form Rock | publisher= The New York Times | date=2000-10-01 | accessdate=2011-08-27 A compilation album|rarities collection , You Can Always Get What You Want , was also released that year. cite journal| last=Cohen | first=Jonathan | date=2002-07 | title=Thrill Jockey Set Shows Evolution of Trans Am Band | journal= Billboard (magazine)|Billboard | publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. | volume=112 | issue=22 | page=23 | issn=0006-2510
In 2002, Trans Am released T.A. (band)|T.A. ,cite news |url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9E01E4DA1E3EF93AA3575AC0A9649C8B63 |title= POP REVIEW; Anniversary Party Mixes Innovation and Nostalgia |work= New York Times |accessdate= 2007-01-04 | first=Jon | last=Pareles | date=2002-09-09 complete with tongue-in-cheek promo photos featuring the band in boy band -esque matching white outfits. T.A. s cover art was a parody of a REO Speedwagon best-of collection. Though the album was essentially a spoof of the electroclash genre, it was mostly panned by music critics. cite web| last=Phares | first=Heather | url= http://allmusic.com/album/ta-r589458 | title='T.A.' - Trans Am - Review | publisher= Allmusic ( Rovi Corporation ) | accessdate=2011-08-27 cite web| last=Richard-San | first=Mark | url= http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/8134-ta/ | title=Album Reviews: Trans Am - 'TA' | publisher= Pitchfork Media | date=2000-04-30 | accessdate=2011-08-27
During the 2004 U.S. election year, the band released the politically charged Liberation (Trans Am album)|Liberation , an album which questioned the George W. Bush presidency and addressed such issues as the 2003 invasion of Iraq , the War on Terror and paranoia. cite web| last=Stelloh | first=Tim | url= http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/transam-liberation | title=Music Reviews: Trans Am - 'Liberation' | publisher= PopMatters | date=2004-04-02 | accessdate=2011-08-27 cite web| url= http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/trans-am-liberation | title=Trans Am - 'Liberation' - Music Review | publisher= Tiny Mix Tapes | accessdate=2011-08-27 cite web| last=Phares | first=Heather | url= http://allmusic.com/album/liberation-r677958/review | title='Liberation' - Trans Am - Review | publisher= Allmusic ( Rovi Corporation ) | accessdate=2011-08-27
Sex Change (album)|Sex Change , the band's sixth studio album, was released in 2007. cite web| last=Brainlove | first=John | url= http://drownedinsound.com/releases/8858/reviews/1610119- | title=Trans Am - 'Sex Change' - Releases | publisher= Drowned in Sound | date=2007-02-19 | accessdate=2011-08-27 cite web| last=Newlin | first=Jimmy | url= http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/trans-am-sex-change/1051 | title=Trans Am - 'Sex Change' - Music Review | publisher= Slant Magazine | date=2001-02-20 | accessdate=2011-08-27 cite web| last=Martin | first=Rick | url= http://www.nme.com/reviews/trans-am/8176 | title=Music Reviews: Trans Am - 'Liberation' | publisher= NME | date=2007-02-16 | accessdate=2011-08-27 Following the release, Trans Am did a tour of the United States with Zombi (band)|Zombi and The Psychic Paramount , seventeen shows opening for Tool (band)|Tool , and played the Thrill Jockey 15th anniversary show in Chicago, Illinois.Cite web |url= http://www.spin.com/features/ithappenedlastnight/images/2007/12/071217_thrill_jockey/ |title= Thrill Jockey Turns 15 |work=SPIN |accessdate= 2008-01-04
Also in 2007, Trans Am contributed to the soundtrack of the video game After Burner: Black Falcon for the PlayStation Portable|PSP .
Discography
Albums
Trans Am (album)|Trans Am - CD/LP ( Thrill Jockey , 1996)
Surrender To The Night - CD/LP (Thrill Jockey, 1997)
http://prankster101.com/music/interview-with-trans-am/ Interview with Trans Am
DEFAULTSORT:Trans Am Category:American indie rock groups Category:American post-rock groups Category:Thrill Jockey artists Category:Musical groups established in 1990
de:Trans Am (Rockband)
Copyright Citations
This article is licensed under the GNU License
Click here for original article: Trans Am
