Tortoise Album: “Standards [Japan Bonus Tracks]”

just thought i'd comment on the two bonus tracks in case someone was debating buying this import simply for them. the first, `blackbird', is noticeably underdeveloped, sounding like the other songs would if you removed half their tracks (the ones containing the melody). the sequenced percussion is the same sort that's on `benway' but at mid-tempo and quirkier. as mentioned, there's not much for melody and the song sputters along for about four minutes, going nowhere, before cutting out and returning with some too little too late noodling distorted bass or guitar or something. on the whole it would have made a better breakdown in one song than a full five minute track on its own. `blue station' is even sparser, lacking any sort of discernable structure... it kind of reminds me of really low-key oval with less interesting production value. whereas `firefly' managed to do pull it's ambient-ness quite well simply by being eerily pretty and leading well into `six-pack', this track just makes for a dull fizzling out of the entire album, which is really a shame since `speakeasy' is such a good closer. this is really what pulls an otherwise fantastic five-star album down to four for this release (that, and the price). i really wouldn't recommend it unless you're an obsessive collector, and even then i'd say just wait for a collected b-sides and outtakes album (if these two even make it).

"Standards" is an amazing album full of so many styles and musical offerings that the album almost seems bland. Yes, its that good. So good that it can and is overlooked by many people on their quest to find music that is truly "earth-shattering". Well, Tortoise's "Standards" is a perfect example of such music. The composition skill of this band is phenomenal, providing different song arrangements and time signature changes and off beat tempos. You really cannot describe this music, its atmospheric, intense, jazzy, loungy and awesome. Check it out if you can hold an open mind to all forms of art and music.

this is the culmination of tortoise's work. Jazz, techno, and dub come together to form oscillations and sounds irrestible to the listener. once play is pressed this disc takes you on a sonic journey throught the limits of music. A truly innovative album, tortoise has surpassed the high expectations of many of thier fans. i'd be willing to bet that this album helps a great deal in spreading the name of this fantastic band. More potent than TNT and more innovative that Millinons now living....this is an opus, a truly excellent composition