Trans Am - Futureworld
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Trans AmEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1999-03-23
Music Label: Thrill Jockey
Soundtracks:
- 1999
- Television Eyes
- Futureworld
- City In Flames
- Am Rhein
- Cocaine Computer
- Runners Standing Still
- Futureworld II
- Positron
- Sad And Young
Free Music Notes for Futureworld
Free Music Review: An interesting twist on Trans Am's sound
Hit: 4 Stars
Futureworld was my first exposure to Trans Am and it still one of my favorites from their growing discography. It's a bit different than some of their other work, which probably accounts for some of the excessively negative reviews here.
I would say that the biggest difference is the presence of melody. If you listen to "Surveillance", you'll notice that none of the songs have a melody - they're all about groove and cool electronic sounds. There are a few cuts like that on the album, but others such as "Television Eyes" or the title track definitely have an interesting melodic content that makes you hear the Trans Am sound in a different light. I'm not saying it's better or worse - just that it's different. I happen to like it a lot, but I still like their older stuff just as much.
Futureworld is a major success in the combination of electronics and guitars. Of course Trans Am has been exploring this combination for a while, but it really works on this particular album. Other bands or artists sometimes force mixtures that don't cohere into something that sounds natural.
The other big complain that people seem to have is the vocals. I don't know what the big deal is. It's not like they're some guest artist collaboration cooked up the a record label executive. First of all, they fit very very well within Trans Am's unique sound - they don't distract, they don't cover anything up. I would go as far as to say that they add something new and interesting to the mix, especially in the way of the aforementioned melody. Second, it's not like there are a *lot* of lyrics on these tracks. I believe that a total of three out of ten tracks have vocals. They aren't even "normal" vocals - they're Kraftwerk-style vocoder vocals. It fits perfectly within the Trans Am aesthetic AND within the concept of this album.
My final verdict is that Futureworld is an exciting record that any Trans Am fan should at least check out. It's not mainstream by any stretch. To those calling this a "sell out" album, go listen to Britney Spears and remind yourself what pop music sounds like. If you're new to Trans Am, I would say this is one of their more accessible records. It's a possible place to start before moving into the stranger sounds of "Surrender to the Night". Either way, I highly recommend this.
Futureworld Poster
On Trans Am's fourth full-length release, the instrumental trio from Washington, D.C., refine their particular convergence of rock-oriented guitar vocabularies and '80s-influenced electronica. While Philip Manley, Nathan Means, and Sebastion Thomson joyfully grind out aggressive rhythms with loud, whip-smart guitar chords, they are equally adept at creating an android-funk milieu with vintage synthesizers and modulated vocals. Borrowing heavily from the robotic sound of synthesizer groups such as Kraftwerk, Futureworld is a diverse musical project that accommodates modern technology as well as the need to thrash on guitars, bass, and drums. --Mitch MyersAlternative Rock Music CDs
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