C/D / S/D / RFI: Trans Am

Where has this band been all my life?

I've kinda passed these guys over for years, then heard Thing (the new 2010 album) last night and I think it's fucking fantastic. Any devoted fans here who can help me sort through the band's back catalog (which, admittedly, is a bit intimidating as a newcomer)? Where should I explore first, and alternatively, what should I avoid until I've hit on the "better" albums as a starting point?

As a side note, I've heard comparisons over the years to other stuff I really enjoy (Oneida, Labradford), other stuff that I'm sort of lukewarm about (Tortoise), and other stuff I just haven't explored (The Fucking Champs). Which comparisons hold true? What else serves as a good reference point?

Also, these guys' list of influences on the AMG is pretty much a dream (Can, Kraftwerk, Sonic Youth, King Crimson, Liquid Liquid, New Order), perhaps setting King Crimson aside as I've never much cared for them. But I'd be interested to hear any Trans Am records that really embody the spirit of these bands.

Anyway... go wild, I'm just happy to receive whatever input you guys can provide. Thanks!

Discography here, in case it helps to jog memory:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_Am_(band)#Discography

My favorites are The Red Line (double lp epic that has a little bit of everything they do) and Surrender to the Night (which is an instrumental concept album about one night of partying iirc). Futureworld seems like it may be their most accessible, but that may be cuz it was a hit at my college radio station. I haven't listened to them much in quite a while but I do think that are a very consistent band and are always excellent live, too.

Would very much like to hear the new one. TA turned me off a little and I had no interest in the remix album.
I don't remember Liberation and may not have heard it.
I hope more informed people chime in here.

Trip otm, those are probably my favorites as well.
surrender to the night probably their krautiest album, futureworld is also good, especially if you like vocoders.
the s/t has the most classic rock riffs.
TA is their new wave-ish record that most people seem to hate.

Last one Sex Change was excellent - vaguely erm balearic in parts. I used to have Futureworld when it came out but remember it as being a bit one-joke.

don't think they ever really sound like tortoise or sonic youth.

trans am, "sex change"

Been a fan a long time, I'd say start with The Red Line. If you want a guitar album get the 1st one. I saw them on the red line tour, fantastic!

Whats that track where they use the melody from a Qawwali devotional song, that rocks.

red line and futureworld imo

trans am, "sex change"

Have already read this, naturally.

Ah yea, Carboforce.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdFQELWES9o

sex change is my favorite, best assimilates (Can, Kraftwerk, Sonic Youth, King Crimson, Liquid Liquid, New Order) vibe

Trans Am (this is good. but they would get better. probably the most "post rock".)
Surrender To The Night (this is better. intro is on a van halen tip!)
The Surveillance (the one i never play.)
Futureworld (better than the surveillance. i play it more.)
Red Line (really ambitious. and really worth hearing.)
TA - CD/LP (gleaming spires tribute album. good sound. better than most neo-80's stuff.)
Liberation (still never heard it!)
Sex Change (after all this time one of their strongest albums.)
Thing (would like to hear this. cuz i like this band.)

thing is similar to sex change in that it just sounds like trans am to me. it rocks a little harder and is a bit funkier in places.

i know these guys are pals with fucking champs and did a split record with them but i really hate fucking champs. and luckily trans am sound nothing like tortoise.

solo album

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/img/metal/various/lifecoach.jpg

lol

Today I cannot stop listening to the track they did for the David Shrigley comp, "The Film." I wish they'd released it as part of an album (like Deerhoof did with "Kidz Are So Small" from the same comp), because it's way too good to languish in semi-obscurity- it's like a perfect summary of everything awesome about the Sex Change/Thing sound in about 4 minutes.

Actually, wait, it looks like it's on the live LP as "Shrigley," a bit faster and with less distorted vocals:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coNCYduNwoc

Red Line is one of my favorite albums bar none.

I Want It All is unfuckingtouchable

also polizei (zu spat)

the phil manley solo album is pretty nice. relaxing kraut jams, one sounds like mannuel gottsching circa blackouts, the rest have a more rother/neu feel.

yeah its not bad at all

perfect work music on a busy day

Trans Am's drummer is one of the most underrated drummers ever; the guy is an incredible machine. I saw them last night as part of a festival called "Raw Power" in Elephant & Castle, and they were great (and the set was loaded with oldies, which was nice).

cool to know they're still rolling along. talk about a band i was *not* ready for back when I first heard them. i saw them a couple of times in college (late 90s) and i think they sort of scared me. i should go back to their records, they're probably more along my taste these days.

That Phil Manley solo album sounds really intriguing, I think I'm going to place a Thrill Jockey order later today.

thrill jockey's been on fire this year

I'm very thankful for whomever in Chicago has been ditching their Trans Am records at Reckless. In the past three weeks I've picked up five of their records and the rarities comp for less than $20 and in the process have (re)discovered one of my new favorite bands. I'd heard the self-titled back in college due to the Tortoise connection, but I was so into Tortoise and post-rock that I wasn't ready for Trans Am at that point. Boy am I now.

Anyway, I'm going to preorder the new Wooden Shjips from Thrill Jocket and trying to decide which of the remaining Trans Am albums to get. Is TA really that weak? Should I go with one of the other two gaps, Liberation, Surveillance, or Sex Change? What about the TransChamps stuff?

ta is pretty brutal. i like sex change a lot actually.

I want to hear the Phil Manley solo album. The drummer has a solo thing, as well, correct?

The Manley solo album is really good, haven't heard the drummers thing yet (I think its called Publicist).

yeah it's called Publicist, it's funky/ disco-ey, had Ian Svenoius on vocals, think he only put out one 12"
I actually like some of TA, like Different Kind of Love is a good song, but Sex Change is one of their best, imo. still have never heard Liberation.

The Surveillance has one of my favorite Trans Am tracks - "Home Security":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-52l3955OJA

Surveillance is critical

I assumed this thread was revived do to the Futureworld re-issue/tour thing. I never realized James Murphy mixed that. I wonder why they changed the name of the bonus track to "Nazi/Hippie Empire" - it was "Alec Empire is a Nazi/Hippie"!

Futureworld was a pretty big album for the guys of Trans Am. Along with being their fourth record, it was also their first to feature vocals. And to add to the futuristic vibe of the album art and the music in general, they delivered the vocals through a vocoder. As such, it's only right that they would choose Futureworld to get remastered and reissued by Thrill Jockey. The "new" version of the album, which is due out on vinyl, will feature a download card and two bonus tracks, studio outtake "Nazi/Hippie Empire," and "Now You Die, Thriddle Fool!". The former was mixed by James Murphy while the latter was originally released on flexi-disc. Trans Am is also embarking on a North American tour this fall during which they will play Futureworld in its entirety.

You can view the tour dates and listen to the title-track below. The Futureworld reissue drops Sept. 13.

09.27 Philadelphia, PA: Johnny Brenda
09.28 Boston, MA: Middle East Upstairs
09.29 Montreal, QC: Il Motore:
09.30 Toronto, ON: Lee's Palace
10.01 Grand Rapids, MI: Pyramid Scheme
10.02 Milwaukee, WI: Cactus Club
10.03 Chicago, IL: Empty Bottle:
10.04 Cleveland, OH: Grog Shop
10.05 Pittsburgh, PA: Brillobox:
10.06 Baltimore, MD: Talking Head Club
10.07 Washginton, DC: 9:30 Club
10.08-09 Brooklyn, NY: Union Pool

(That's from Prefix, BTW)

Well, I swung by another branch of Reckless that I don't usually get to today and rounded out my Trans Am collection with the other four albums for $11! That Futureworld reissue sounds cool, but those two bonus tracks can already be found on their rarities comp. The "Nazi/Hippie Empire" track is pretty good, but the second one is pretty much messing about with sci-fi film clips.

got tickets for the second brooklyn show, described as "a special set" kinda bummed they are doing the whole play an album thing.

I can't be the only one excited about this news, paticularly with Phil's recent solid solo stuff:

Based on your past orders, we thought you'd like to know that we have a new album on the way from Trans Am!

Yep - Phil, Nathan and Sebastian are at it again with prehaps their most rippin' record yet,Volume X. We're taking pre-orders now for the May release! Thrill Jockey mailorder customers get the opportunity to grip this LP on CLEAR vinyl, which will only be available direct from Thrill Jockey or at the band's merch table.

Look for fresh vinyl represses of a number of three fine Trans Am releases to pair with your new copy of Volume X. The Surveillance, Futureworld andRed LIne are pressed on fresh wax and ready to pack with your new Volume X LP.

i'm excited. i'd like to see them in may, too. the futureworld show i saw was tons of fun.
http://www.brooklynvegan.com/img/bp/volume-x.jpg
01. Anthropocene
02. Reevaluations
03. Night Shift
04. K Street
05. Backlash
06. Ice Fortress
07. Failure
08. I'll Never
09. Megastorm
10. Insufficiently Breathless

this is hitting the spot. naming the last song after the second captain beyond album is a nice touch. sometimes i can't tell the difference between this and the unreleased 1981 alan parsons project album that just came out, 'the sicilian defence,' which i have to think is sorta what they're going for half the time

I'm anxious to hear this. Funnily enough, Pitchfork's lukewarm review actually made me want to hear this even more. Especially this part, which sounds awesome:

“Anthropocene” sounds as if Uriah Heep had pioneered the use of synths—instead of stodgy old organs—in the pursuit of fantastic, early 70s proto-metal. Understandably, the result is incomprehensible, a mess of mixed signifiers that sounds like Spinal Tap trapped in an Atari.

Volume X is great!

Newish Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diOe9Ly9uzo

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/files/2017/04/trans-am-california-hotel.jpg?w=630&h=630&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89

Trans Am – California Hotel

I hear Fake Voices
Staying Power
Ship of the Imagination
Alles Verboten
California Hotel
I Want 2B Ignored
Expansions
Rules of Engagement

we haven't had that spirit here since 1999

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIzHLbP29fY

great live performance of future world

I randomly jammed The Surveillance this morning, a record I loved when it came out but haven't listened to in forever, still sounds great