Standards

Released in 2001, Standards represents a pivotal moment in the Tortoise discography, marking a departure from the pastoral, jazz-heavy textures of TNT toward a more aggressive and electronically-informed sound. Recorded at John McEntire's Soma Electronic Music Studios in Chicago, the album showcases the band's 'recomposition' technique, where live group performances are heavily edited and processed at the mixing desk. The album is notable for its use of distorted drum sounds, particularly on the opening track 'Seneca,' and its incorporation of IDM-inspired textures that echo the work of contemporary artists like Mouse on Mars. While it retains the signature mallet percussion and intricate bass work of Doug McCombs, Standards is characterized by a more fragmented, experimental structure. Critical reception was generally very positive, with AllMusic noting the band's refusal to repeat themselves and praising the album's empathic, group-minded approach to experimental rock.