Tortoise

Tortoise

15530 fans

A pioneer of the post-rock movement, Tortoise is one of the leading independent, experimental and instrumental rock bands of the 1990s. Their polymorphous, free-spirited music is based on an exceptional rhythmic drive, carried by musicians who are almost all bassists and percussionists. Inspired by dub(Tortoise, 1994), electronic music (with krautrock at the forefront) and jazz(TNT, 1998), this Chicago-based collective can boast of having released an album in 1996 that marked the moment when progressive rock became post-rock. Millions Now Living Will Never Die paved the way for many other bands in the following century. The band, revolving around multi-instrumentalist John McEntire, let go of David Pajo (ex-Slint), who embarked on a solo career in 1998. After TNT (1998), Tortoise continued down a more jazz and psychedelic path with the arrival of guitarist Jeff Parker for the albums Standards (2001), It's Around You (2004), The Brave and the Bold (2006), Beacons of Ancestorship (2009) and The Catastrophist (2016). The band that has exerted its influence on the Chicago rock scene returns nine years later under the International Anthem banner and unveils the album Touch (2025).

Top tracks

02
Layered Presence
Tortoise
Touch
03:07
Writer: Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John Herndon - John McEntire
08
Four-Day Interval
Tortoise
TNT
04:45
01
Vexations
Tortoise
Touch
05:31
Writer: Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John Herndon - John McEntire
08
Rated OG
Tortoise
Touch
01:56
Writer: Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John Herndon - John McEntire
02
Swung From the Gutters
Tortoise
TNT
05:52
04
Elka
Tortoise
Touch
03:47
Writer: Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John Herndon - John McEntire
03
Works and Days
Tortoise
Touch
04:16
Writer: Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John Herndon - John McEntire
06
Axial Seamount
Tortoise
Touch
04:20
Writer: Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John Herndon - John McEntire
05
Promenade à deux
Tortoise
Touch
04:23
Writer: Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John Herndon - John McEntire
07
A Title Comes
Tortoise
Touch
03:11
Writer: Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John Herndon - John McEntire
03
Ten-Day Interval
Tortoise
TNT
04:44
09
Oganesson
Tortoise
Touch
03:17
Composers: Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John McEntire - Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - John Herndon
01
Seneca
Tortoise
Standards
06:20
04
Gigantes
Tortoise
Beacons of Ancestorship
06:21
04
I Set My Face to the Hillside
Tortoise
TNT
06:08
06
A Simple Way to Go Faster Than Light That Does Not Work
Tortoise
TNT
03:33
08
Yonder Blue
Tortoise
The Catastrophist
03:18
05
The Equator
Tortoise
TNT
03:42
10
Night Gang
Tortoise
Touch
05:00
Writer: Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John Herndon - John McEntire
03
Benway
Tortoise
Standards
04:46
12
Everglade
Tortoise
TNT
04:21
04
Stretch (You Are All Right)
Tortoise
It's All Around You
05:14
07
Hot Coffee
Tortoise
The Catastrophist
03:53
01
Djed
Tortoise
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
20:57
02
Glass Museum
Tortoise
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
05:27
02
Eros
Tortoise
Standards
04:26
03
Shoe Fly
Mouse On Mars
21 Again Collaborations, Pt. 1
04:34
Writer: ELI - Mark E. Smith / Composers: Jan Werner - Andi Thoma - Dan Bitney - John Herndon - Douglas McCombs - John cEntire - Jeff Parker
09
In Sarah, Mencken, Christ, and Beethoven There Were Women and Men
Tortoise
TNT
07:29
01
Gesceap
Tortoise
Gesceap
07:37
04
The Taut and Tame
Tortoise
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
05:01
11
Jetty
Tortoise
TNT
08:21
07
Monica
Tortoise
Standards
06:30
06
Along the Banks of Rivers
Tortoise
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
05:50
03
Central Heating
The Ex
In The Fishtank 5
02:18
Composers: Tortoise + The Ex
05
Did You Comb?
The Ex
In The Fishtank 5
02:09
Composers: Tortoise + The Ex
03
Northern Something
Tortoise
Beacons of Ancestorship
02:24
04
Pleasure As Usual
The Ex
In The Fishtank 5
05:06
Composers: Tortoise + The Ex
02
The Lithium Stiffs
Tortoise
It's All Around You
03:59
01
It's All Around You
Tortoise
It's All Around You
04:09
03
Oganesson (Heba Kadry Remix)
Tortoise
Oganesson Remixes
07:00
Composers: Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John McEntire - Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - John Herndon
01
Magnet Pulls Through
Tortoise
Tortoise
04:38
02
Ox Duke
Tortoise
The Catastrophist
04:49
05
Six Pack
Tortoise
Standards
03:11
10
At Odds With Logic
Tortoise
The Catastrophist
03:15
03
Why We Fight
Tortoise
A Lazarus Taxon
04:23
16
Beautiful Love
Tortoise
Moog (Original Film Soundtrack)
04:42
Writer: Haven Gillespie / Composers: Victor Young - Egbert Van Alstyne - Wayne King
02
Oganesson (Saul Williams Remix)
Tortoise
Oganesson Remixes
03:14
Writer: Saul Williams / Composers: Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John McEntire - Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - John Herndon
07
Didjeridoo
Tortoise
A Lazarus Taxon
04:33
11
Charteroak Foundation
Tortoise
Beacons of Ancestorship
05:07
08
Minors
Tortoise
Beacons of Ancestorship
04:23
02
The Source of Uncertainty
Tortoise
A Lazarus Taxon
03:42
01
Gamera
Tortoise
A Lazarus Taxon
11:53
02
Prepare Your Coffin
Tortoise
Beacons of Ancestorship
03:37
02
Pooh Song (Christopher Robin's Nightbear)
The Ex
In The Fishtank 5
04:57
Composers: Tortoise + The Ex
01
High Class Slim Came Floatin' In
Tortoise
Beacons of Ancestorship
08:14
05
Penumbra
Tortoise
Beacons of Ancestorship
01:08
06
Eden 2
Tortoise
Standards
02:08
03
Blackbird
Tortoise
A Lazarus Taxon
05:01
08
Blackjack
Tortoise
Standards
04:07
09
Monument Six One Thousand
Tortoise
Beacons of Ancestorship
03:22
05
The Clearing Fills
Tortoise
The Catastrophist
04:22
04
Gopher Island
Tortoise
The Catastrophist
01:13
09
Five Too Many
Tortoise
It's All Around You
04:33
02
TNT (Remixed by Nobukazu Takemura)
Tortoise
A Lazarus Taxon
10:03
06
Dot/Eyes
Tortoise
It's All Around You
03:46
10
Salt The Skies
Tortoise
It's All Around You
04:45
01
The Lawn Of The Limp
The Ex
In The Fishtank 5
04:05
Composers: Tortoise + The Ex
10
Tesseract
Tortoise
The Catastrophist
03:54
05
Unknown
Tortoise
It's All Around You
05:38
04
Oganesson (Patrick Carney Remix)
Tortoise
Oganesson Remixes
03:24
Composers: Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John McEntire - Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - John Herndon
06
Oganesson (Makaya McCraven Remix)
Tortoise
Oganesson Remixes
04:51
Composers: Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John McEntire - Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - John Herndon
05
Shake Hands With Danger
Tortoise
The Catastrophist
04:10
01
The Catastrophist
Tortoise
The Catastrophist
03:52

Playlists

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  • Discography
Albums
Touch
â„— 2025 International Anthem Recording Co., distributed in North and South America by Nonesuch Records Inc.
09-09-2025
Touch
01
Vexations
Tortoise
Touch
05:31
Writer: Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John Herndon - John McEntire
02
Layered Presence
Tortoise
Touch
03:07
Writer: Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John Herndon - John McEntire
03
Works and Days
Tortoise
Touch
04:16
Writer: Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John Herndon - John McEntire
04
Elka
Tortoise
Touch
03:47
Writer: Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John Herndon - John McEntire
05
Promenade à deux
Tortoise
Touch
04:23
Writer: Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John Herndon - John McEntire
06
Axial Seamount
Tortoise
Touch
04:20
Writer: Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John Herndon - John McEntire
07
A Title Comes
Tortoise
Touch
03:11
Writer: Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John Herndon - John McEntire
Access the complete album info (10 songs)
The Catastrophist
â„— 2016 Onions Wrapped In Rubber Music (ASCAP)
22-01-2016
The Catastrophist
01
The Catastrophist
Tortoise
The Catastrophist
03:52
02
Ox Duke
Tortoise
The Catastrophist
04:49
03
Rock On
Tortoise
The Catastrophist
03:13
04
Gopher Island
Tortoise
The Catastrophist
01:13
05
Shake Hands With Danger
Tortoise
The Catastrophist
04:10
06
The Clearing Fills
Tortoise
The Catastrophist
04:22
07
Gesceap
Tortoise
The Catastrophist
07:37
Access the complete album info (11 songs)
Beacons of Ancestorship
â„— 2009 Thrill Jockey Records
23-06-2009
Beacons of Ancestorship
01
High Class Slim Came Floatin' In
Tortoise
Beacons of Ancestorship
08:14
02
Prepare Your Coffin
Tortoise
Beacons of Ancestorship
03:37
03
Northern Something
Tortoise
Beacons of Ancestorship
02:24
04
Gigantes
Tortoise
Beacons of Ancestorship
06:21
05
Penumbra
Tortoise
Beacons of Ancestorship
01:08
06
Yinxianghechengqi
Tortoise
Beacons of Ancestorship
03:37
07
The Fall Of Seven Diamonds Plus One
Tortoise
Beacons of Ancestorship
03:40
Access the complete album info (11 songs)
A Lazarus Taxon
â„— 2006 Thrill Jockey Records
22-08-2006
A Lazarus Taxon
01
Gamera
Tortoise
A Lazarus Taxon
11:53
02
The Source of Uncertainty
Tortoise
A Lazarus Taxon
03:42
03
Blackbird
Tortoise
A Lazarus Taxon
05:01
04
Sexual For Elizabeth
Tortoise
A Lazarus Taxon
04:49
05
To Day Retrieval
Tortoise
A Lazarus Taxon
03:57
06
Whitewater
Tortoise
A Lazarus Taxon
05:06
07
Didjeridoo
Tortoise
A Lazarus Taxon
04:33
Access the complete album info (33 songs)
It's All Around You
â„— 2004 Thrill Jockey Records
06-04-2004
It's All Around You
01
It's All Around You
Tortoise
It's All Around You
04:09
02
The Lithium Stiffs
Tortoise
It's All Around You
03:59
03
Crest
Tortoise
It's All Around You
04:21
04
Stretch (You Are All Right)
Tortoise
It's All Around You
05:14
05
Unknown
Tortoise
It's All Around You
05:38
06
Dot/Eyes
Tortoise
It's All Around You
03:46
07
On The Chin
Tortoise
It's All Around You
05:21
Access the complete album info (10 songs)
Standards
â„— 2000 Thrill Jockey Records
19-02-2001
Standards
01
Seneca
Tortoise
Standards
06:20
02
Eros
Tortoise
Standards
04:26
03
Benway
Tortoise
Standards
04:46
04
Firefly
Tortoise
Standards
03:56
05
Six Pack
Tortoise
Standards
03:11
06
Eden 2
Tortoise
Standards
02:08
07
Monica
Tortoise
Standards
06:30
Access the complete album info (10 songs)
TNT
â„— 1998 Thrill Jockey Records
09-03-1998
TNT
01
TNT
Tortoise
TNT
07:33
02
Swung From the Gutters
Tortoise
TNT
05:52
03
Ten-Day Interval
Tortoise
TNT
04:44
04
I Set My Face to the Hillside
Tortoise
TNT
06:08
05
The Equator
Tortoise
TNT
03:42
06
A Simple Way to Go Faster Than Light That Does Not Work
Tortoise
TNT
03:33
07
The Suspension Bridge at Iguazú Falls
Tortoise
TNT
05:38
Access the complete album info (12 songs)
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
â„— 1996 Thrill Jockey Records
12-01-1996
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
01
Djed
Tortoise
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
20:57
02
Glass Museum
Tortoise
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
05:27
03
A Survey
Tortoise
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
02:52
04
The Taut and Tame
Tortoise
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
05:01
05
Dear Grandma and Grandpa
Tortoise
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
02:49
06
Along the Banks of Rivers
Tortoise
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
05:50
Tortoise
â„— 1994 Thrill Jockey Records
22-06-1994
Tortoise
01
Magnet Pulls Through
Tortoise
Tortoise
04:38
02
Night Air
Tortoise
Tortoise
03:50
03
Ry Cooder
Tortoise
Tortoise
07:06
04
Onions Wrapped in Rubber
Tortoise
Tortoise
06:40
05
Tin Cans & Twine
Tortoise
Tortoise
04:23
06
Spiderwebbed
Tortoise
Tortoise
08:34
07
His Second Story Island
Tortoise
Tortoise
02:42
Access the complete album info (10 songs)
EPs
Oganesson Remixes
â„— 2025 International Anthem Recording Co., distributed in North and South America by Nonesuch Records Inc.
24-06-2025
Oganesson Remixes
01
Oganesson
Tortoise
Oganesson Remixes
03:17
Composers: Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John McEntire - Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - John Herndon
02
Oganesson (Saul Williams Remix)
Tortoise
Oganesson Remixes
03:14
Writer: Saul Williams / Composers: Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John McEntire - Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - John Herndon
03
Oganesson (Heba Kadry Remix)
Tortoise
Oganesson Remixes
07:00
Composers: Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John McEntire - Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - John Herndon
04
Oganesson (Patrick Carney Remix)
Tortoise
Oganesson Remixes
03:24
Composers: Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John McEntire - Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - John Herndon
05
Oganesson (Broken Social Scene Remix)
Tortoise
Oganesson Remixes
05:06
Composers: Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John McEntire - Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - John Herndon
06
Oganesson (Makaya McCraven Remix)
Tortoise
Oganesson Remixes
04:51
Composers: Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John McEntire - Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - John Herndon
In The Fishtank 5
1999 In The Fishtank
17-05-1999
In The Fishtank 5
01
The Lawn Of The Limp
The Ex
In The Fishtank 5
04:05
Composers: Tortoise + The Ex
02
Pooh Song (Christopher Robin's Nightbear)
The Ex
In The Fishtank 5
04:57
Composers: Tortoise + The Ex
03
Central Heating
The Ex
In The Fishtank 5
02:18
Composers: Tortoise + The Ex
04
Pleasure As Usual
The Ex
In The Fishtank 5
05:06
Composers: Tortoise + The Ex
05
Did You Comb?
The Ex
In The Fishtank 5
02:09
Composers: Tortoise + The Ex
06
Huge Hidden Spaces
The Ex
In The Fishtank 5
04:11
Composers: Tortoise + The Ex
Singles
A Title Comes
â„— 2025 International Anthem Recording Co., distributed in North and South America by Nonesuch Records Inc.
24-10-2025
A Title Comes
01
A Title Comes
Tortoise
A Title Comes
03:11
Writer: Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John Herndon - John McEntire
Works and Days
â„— 2025 International Anthem Recording Co., distributed in North and South America by Nonesuch Records Inc.
30-09-2025
Works and Days
01
Works and Days
Tortoise
Works and Days
04:16
Writer: Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John Herndon - John McEntire
Layered Presence
â„— 2025 International Anthem Recording Co., distributed in North and South America by Nonesuch Records Inc.
09-09-2025
Layered Presence
01
Layered Presence
Tortoise
Layered Presence
03:07
Writer: Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John Herndon - John McEntire
Oganesson
â„— 2025 International Anthem Recording Co., distributed in North and South America by Nonesuch Records Inc.
27-03-2025
Oganesson
01
Oganesson
Tortoise
Oganesson
03:15
Composers: Jeffrey Lawrence Parker - John McEntire - Daniel John Bitney - Douglas Andrew McCombs - John Herndon