Changelog

_ Tortoise – Millions Now Living Will Never Die_ A bit odd overall. Not a word anywhere. Very similar to the Ghost In The Shell Soundtrack. Very abstract, maybe too abstract, lots of bells and other noises with only slight electronic undertones. A little hard to place really… I’m fond of it but not blown away. I would really like to hear some of Tortoise’s newer music and see if that doesn’t appeal more. I like “Glass Museum” more than “Djed” mostly for the jazz influence and the guitar work, it has a lot more energy while keeping with the compositional theme of “Djed.” The same goes for “A Survey” which is really mellow but a lot more accessible than “Djed” I also like how the some blends so well in to “The Taut and Tame.” “Dear Grandma and Grandpa” is an interesting techno track that is kind of a departure from the earlier tracks, the samples work well, and add some needed texture. Earlier tracks are almost too smooth. “Along the Banks of Rivers” is a surprise because you hardly notice the transition from “Dear Grandma and Grandpa” until you hear a prominent guitar that sounds like it came out of John Barry’s 007 theme or some other 60’s soundtrack. The influences throughout the entire album are really interesting… Definitely jazz, some funk, electronica (though very mild, of the trance/ambient variety). Don’t know much about indie rock, but I’ve been told it’s definitely a key part of Tortoise’s music. It wouldn’t hurt to throw in some world beat too. Actually, I really wish the later tracks were longer, they really piqued my interest, but I really liked the cohesiveness of the album. In the end, I find myself very interested in listening to more of Tortoise’s work to see where they’ve taken their music in the last few years.