In order for music to be considered anthemic, it has to work in big, sweeping gestures. Up until now, most post-rock has featured none of these elements.
Rhythms are complex and jerky, and difficult to tap out with only two feet.
It seems remarkably appropriate that Tortoise, perhaps the most vital architects of the post-rock genre, would be responsible for its greatest advancement since its inception. Standards , the group's fourth full-length, takes their already adventurous sound into brave new terrain, exploring previously unknown dimensions of sonic depth and expressiveness. Not only is it the most acoustically enthralling album they've released, it's also without a doubt the most playful, dynamic, and anthemic post-rock album that has been released to date. Though Parker's presence was a welcome addition to the band on TNT , he seems to have really come into his own as a band member on Standards , and his versatile guitar stylings not only breathe new life into Tortoise's sound, they also provide the kind of melodic centerpiece that previous recordings have at times lacked. Over the course of the album, one can hear echoes of such diverse sources as Miles Davis, Tom Z , Jimi Hendrix, Philip Glass, Suicide, Brian Eno, Parliament, and spaghetti westerns and sci-fi flicks alike.