Trans Am (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Trans Am


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Maryland, United States
Instrument = bass guitar, synthesizer, keyboard, guitar, occasional vocals
Genre = Post-rock
Indie rock
Years_active = 1990 – present
Label = Thrill Jockey
Associated_acts =
URL = 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 that performs a mix of synth pop and rock music. Their work treads a fine line between spoof and homage, mainly centering on a cerebrally robotic, semi-danceable, minimalistic format, reminiscent of 1980s video game soundtrack music. They are known for constant touring (with bands such as Tortoise, Pan Sonic, The Fucking Champs, The Bronx, Tool, etc.), cryptic album artwork, and continual thematic re-invention. All of their albums have been released on the Chicago-based independent record label, Thrill Jockey.

Biography

The group formed in 1990 near Washington, D.C., though they didn't begin seriously recording until after its members finished college in 1995. The band's lineup has always been: Nathan Means (bass, vocals, keyboard), Philip Manley (lead guitar, keyboard, voice), and Sebastian Thomson (a.k.a. "Seb") (drums, other sounds). A mixture of both traditional-kit (acoustic) and electronic-kit drumming marks the band's recordings, as has a varying guitar-to-synth ratio, and varying amount of vocals.

Their self-titled debut was recorded after just a few rehearsals back together, and contained instrumental, largely improvised versions of simple rock-oriented motifs based loosely on '70s and '80s bands like Boston, Bachman-Turner Overdrive and Yes. The album was produced by John McEntire of labelmates Tortoise at Chicago's Idful Studios, and was followed by a short tour as Tortoise's opening act. The group released a self-titled EP in fall of 1996 which showed a greater reliance upon electronics. With early 1997's "Surrender to the Night", Trans Am expanded that approach to album length, with nods to Kraftwerk, Can and New Order dominating, and only a few recognizable "rock" songs. Electronics also began to play a leading role in their live performances. Paranoid third album "Surrender To The Night"'s more electronics-heavy material was performed live with trigger devices and MIDI-wired beatboxes.

Trans Am were included on the highbrow electronica label Mille Plateaux's double-CD compilation "In Memoriam Gilles Deleuze". A fourth album, "Futureworld", followed in 1999, for which a music video for the title song was filmed. The first side of this album featured songs with vocals for the first time in the band's career; the second side was all instrumentals, including the sprightly "Cocaine Computer," possibly a nod to the cocaine obsession of synth-rock contemporaries Six Finger Satellite. A year later, the group returned with its longest release yet, the double album "Red Line", recorded in the band's own National Recording Studio. In 2002, Trans Am released "T.A.", [Cite web |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 ] complete with tongue-in-cheek promo photos featuring the band in boy band-esque matching white outfits and a metrosexual overall look. Though essentially a spoof of the electroclash genre, the album was almost universally panned by music critics. They released the politically-charged "Liberation" during the U.S. election year of 2004. "Liberation" is a rare example of an overtly (and cohesively) political instrumental album, a distinction in keeping with Trans Am's fixation on less than diplomatic subversion.

The album "Sex Change" was released in February 2007. It is regarded by many as a return to form after the previous two albums, though it includes some new aspects, especially the inclusion of prominent, "straight" vocals. Following the release, Trans Am did a tour of the United States with Zombi and The Psychic Paramount, 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 ]

Trivia

*"T.A."'s cover art was a direct spoof of an REO Speedwagon best-of collection.
*The band contributed to the soundtrack of the video game for the PSP.

Discography

Albums

* "Trans Am" - CD/LP (Thrill Jockey, 1996)
* "Surrender To The Night" - CD/LP (Thrill Jockey, 1997)
* "The Surveillance" - CD/LP (Thrill Jockey, 1998)
* "Futureworld" - CD/LP (Thrill Jockey, 1999)
* "Red Line" - CD/2xLP (Thrill Jockey, 2000)
* "T.A." - CD/LP (Thrill Jockey, 2002)
* "Liberation" - CD/LP (Thrill Jockey, 2004)
* "Sex Change" (Thrill Jockey, 2007)

EPs, singles

* "Trans Am" - 12" (split with Thigh Mastersson) (S.K.A.M., 1996)
* "Tuba Frenzy" - 12" (split with Wingtip Sloat) (1996)
* "Illegal Ass" - 12" (Happy Go Lucky, 1996)
* "Who Do We Think You Are?" - Australian Tour CD EP (Spunk!, 1999)
* "You Can Always Get What You Want" - best-of compilation CD (Thrill Jockey, 2000)
* "Extremixxx" - CD EP (remixes) (Thrill Jockey, 2002)

With The Fucking Champs

* "Double Exposure" - CD/LP - recorded as TransChamps (Thrill Jockey, 2001)
* "Gold" - CD/LP - recorded as The Fucking Am (Drag City, 2004)

References

External links

* [http://www.transband.com Trans Am's official website]
* [http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=trans_am Trouser Press entry]