Surveillance

Trans Am | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 10, 1998)
• Original Release Date: March 10, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Thrill Jockey
• ASIN: B000006A99
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #202,624 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Armed Response

2. Prowler '97

3. The Campaign

4. Access Control

5. Endgame

6. E.S.I.

7. Home Security

8. Extreme Measures

9. Shadow Boogie

10. Stereo Situation

Editorial Reviews

Option

[Trans Am] specializes in stripped-down, no-frills instrumental music of several sorts--three-chord thrash, drum 'n' bass, surf punk, Flying Saucer Attack-style drone minimalism and even basic techno.... By mixing genres on this CD, they avoid representing themselves as specialists, and instead come across as a bunch of guys having a good time, trying out different combinations of instruments and influences.

Product Description

1998 : Trans Am's third studio album The Surveillance is released. Out of print on vinyl for years we are happy to finally offer it again. Pressed on high quality virgin vinyl and including all original artwork - a fully artworked inner sleeve and for the first time a download coupon! The Surveillance was the first record recorded and mixed entirely by the band. At the time their home studio, the Bridge, had taken several months to build. The Surveillance was to take an equal amount of time as the band labored hard to give the recording what they call ''a dangerous quality''. What is dangerous to Trans Am? It is no noise reduction, no digital tape compression, and no computer aided editing. Instead they relied on live performances, hours of hard work, hands-on mixing, careful microphone placement, and, to quote the band, ''faith in their experimental vision.'' The results are raw, sparse electronic breaks mixed with diesel-powered rock and roll. Trans Am put it in more masculine terms ''balls-to-the-wall-rockers'', which perhaps better capture not only the sound but the intent. --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Post-Rockin' Fun!, March 10, 2003

By 

"_cml" (Upstate, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surveillance (Audio CD)

Basically, all Thrill Jockey stuff is high grade goodness, and should be bought on site. Trans Am is just one of the many fine Post-Rock gems on this label. The Surveillance album is pretty darn good in a Brian Eno meets Frank Zappa kinda way. Very weird blips, beeps and hops melding into rock anthems, what more could you ask for? Also, a great driving cd if your running really late for work, and you wanna get their super quick to try and make up for lost time._cml

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who needs vocals?? i don't, June 26, 2009

By 

Daniel J. Leonard (Auckland - NZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Surveillance (Audio CD)

Brilliant album!! a great band when NO vocals are involved - i saw Trans Am live about 2 years ago - great when playing until Nathan Means opened his mouth via a voice box - yuk! soooooooo "The Surveillance" is perfect as it's an instrumental album (like their first release "Trans Am") - my personal pic is "Stereo Situation" a super great song!!

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You have to experience them for yourself., March 29, 2001

By 

Dan (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surveillance (Audio CD)

However inarticulate the two previous views for this album were, I ultimately have to agree with their opinions. Trans Am is, indeed, better than sex. People have compared them with so called post-rock bands such as Tortoise but this doesn't really do them justice. Electronic tendencies do relate the two but Trans Am is hardly single faceted. In fact, I would compare them more with bands such as Shellac and Fugazi. Unlike these bands however, Trans Am has a very unique perspective on arrangement and composition. The mood they set is also uncomparable to anything else. The music doesn't make you feel a very specific emotion. Rather, it makes you feel like moving your body.

Trans Am is, without a doubt, the most intense band I have ever heard. Don't take my word for it though, experience it yourself and derive your own opinion. I suggest starting with their self-titled album and progressing in order from there. All of the albums are amazing and I wouldn't want to begin putting them in order of worth, each is too unique in and of itself to do so.