Trans Am is a Chicago band dedicated to the mixture of the modern post-rock sound with the electronic elements of the late 70s/early 80s. Citing influences such as Kraftwerk, Can, New Order, Tortoise, Ui, and Devo, while adding the progressive rock touches of Yes and ELP, Trans Am has proved to be more than a gimmick and to genuinely understand the new possibilities for reworking rock music into a modern framework.

Members:

Phil Manley: Guitars, Keyboards, Wheels of Steel
Nathan Means: Bass, Keyboards
Sebastian Thompson: Acoustic & Electric Drums, Drum Programming

Although little is known about the band, and they frequently refuse to grant interviews, the information gathered thus far appears as this:

Formed in Takoma Park, Maryland in 1990 while still at college, the band didn't produce anything of note until 1995 (and went through a number of member and name changes) when their self-titled debut LP on the Thrill Jockey label was released. In 1996, they released a very limited 12" for the song "Illegal Ass", on Happy Go Lucky Records. Their underground sound grew in popularity, which was coincided with critical acclaim for their 1997 return to Thrill Jockey, Surrender To The Night.

In 1998, the band moved to Chicago (moving closer to friends and fellow post-rockers Tortoise) and released Surveillance, an all-instrumental LP which highlighted each of the band members' prodigious talents at both improvisation and eclectic arrangements. In early 1999 they released the Who Do You Think We Are EP, which comprises most of their unreleased and out of print material, such as the tracks from their SKAM records split and songs they had written for compilations for the Happy Go Lucky and Au Go Go labels. This was followed by their even more progressive album Futureworld in 1999, the You Can Always Get What You Want EP in 2000 and the full-length Red Line, which synthesized their two primary sounds in very interesting ways, adding more subtle electronic elements to a much more prominent dark New Wave style of rock.

Their 2002 release TA was poorly received by critics, who claimed it attempted to cash in on the perceived one-trick pony of the particularly enticing sound of the Moog keyboard (heretofore unused by Trans Am in any recordings), but only further solidified their status as one of the premiere bands of the Chicago post rock scene among fans and newly introduced listeners. This was followed by their 2004 album Liberation, which featured the politically vitriolic cover art of the band, wearing orange jumpsuits that included hoods over their faces, handcuffed and on their knees in front of the Washington Monument. Interspersing their math rock and organ jam efforts with one-dimensional political commentary against George W. Bush and the War on Terror, Trans Am continues to paint a very unique and off the beaten path musical career.

Many people have wondered how the band produces some of their more interesting sounds. The band themselves state that "the importance of the equipment is so great to Trans Am that they refuse to divulge actual brand names and models." This set aside, it is well known they use Juno and Prophet keyboards, along with the more common Fender Rhodes.

Discography:

• 1995 - Trans Am (7" split w/ Thigh Mastersson), SKAM
• 1995 - Trans Am, Thrill Jockey
• 1996 - Illegal Ass (12"), Happy Go Lucky
• 1997 - Surrender To The Night, Thrill Jockey
• 1998 - Surveillance, Thrill Jockey
• 1999 - Futureworld, Thrill Jockey
• 1999 - Who Do You Think We Are EP, Spunk
• 2000 - You Can Always Get What You Want (EP), Thrill Jockey
• 2000 - The Red Line (2LP), Thrill Jockey
• 2001 - Trans Champs: Double Exposure (EP featuring members of The Fucking Champs), Thrill Jockey
• 2002 - TA, Thrill Jockey
• 2002 - Extremixxx (EP), Thrill Jockey
• 2004 - Liberation, Thrill Jockey

The band also have a 7" split with Tortoise in circulation, their song entitled "Now You Die, Thriddle Fool", for Strength magazine. This song can also be found on Who Do You Think We Are, although the split is not sold in stores.

Sources:

Rolling Stone Magazine - http://www.rollingstone.com
Rough Trade Publishing - http://www.rough-trade.com