Tortoise are one of those bands that never seem to live up to my expectations. Of course I think they're amazing musicians and everything, but I'm always expecting a little bit more. I think a lot of other people do as well. Sadly, I think this is a result of the genius that was Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Every album after it has been a little below what I've hoped for, but still quality.
This slight disappointment doesn't mean that all hope is lost though, as It's All Around You is still a solid, fantastic album. The overall sound isn't too much of a departure from their previous material, but manages to wedge itself somewhere in between the more ambient/rock sound of Standards and the jazz-inspired TNT to create a fairly unique sound; and rhythmic guitars mixed with soft electronic ambience and somewhat-funky basslines help breath life into this. While the jazz parts take somewhat a back seat compared to the rock portions, there are still a few tracks that feature that "grooviness" that is, sadly, scarcely used.
The album begins with the title track "It's All Around You". The song is slightly upbeat, and works as a good opener. However, things seem to get a little less interesting in "The Lithium Stiffs", which tends to be repetitive and boring: the album's weakest track. However, things pick up with "Crest;" an extremely powerful and epic track which has been deemed my favorite on the entire album. Other ones worth mentioning are the extremely interesting "Dot/Eyes" which is quite a bit harder than other tracks, and is filled with layer upon layer of electronics; and the closing track "Salt The Skies", which is fresh, jazzy, and also very interesting.
Overall, I must say that I was somewhat afraid that this was going to be one of those albums with wonderful artwork and mediocre music upon first listen. However, after a few listens I got into it. It was definitely one of my most anticipated albums of 2004, and has already found it's way to the top of my "current favorites" list. If you're into Tortoise this is a must, and even if you're not it's worth checking out. While they may not be able to top Millions Now Living Will Never Die any time soon, this album proves that they're definitely capable of doing it again someday.
