Tocotronic

Tocotronic is a German rock band founded in 1993 (see 1993 in music). Similar to Blumfeld or Die Sterne they are considered a part of the Hamburger Schule (School of Hamburg) movement. They are influential for bands such as Tomte or Wir sind Helden.

Tocotronic got signed to "L'Age D'or", a German independent record label situated in Hamburg, in 1994 after quickly gaining popularity in the local scene. Their early style consists of ironic sloganeering ("I want to be part of a youth movement") and almost diary-like songwriting, paired with a lo-fi punkrock sound. In 1995 they released their debut-album "Digital ist besser" (Digital is better). Their third album, released in 1996, was the first to hit the German charts. The music got more complex over time, their lyrics less direct, resulting in a sound that was compared to that of "Pavement" on Tocotronic's 1999 album "K.O.O.K". The self-titled "White Album", released in 2002, features dreamlike songs; metaphoric, heavily produced, highly polished, it completes a slow but steady course away from their early works ("eins zu eins ist jetzt vorbei" - "one-to-one is over now").

Despite never being overly commercially successful, Tocotronic have a steady fanbase in Germany and their records are regularly reviewed in mainstream newspapers and music magazines alike.

In July 2007, Tocotronic released their most recent album "Kapitulation". Also, around this time, the band announced the end of their working relationship with long-time label "L'age D'or", and consequently "Kapitulation" was released by Vertigo Berlin, a sublabel of Universal music.

The current band members and positions are Jan Müller (bass), Arne Zank (drums), Dirk von Lowtzow (rhythm guitar, vocals), and, since 2004, Rick McPhail (lead guitar, keyboard).

Discography

Studio albums

• 2010: Schall & Wahn (The Sound and the Fury - release date: January 22)
• 2007: Kapitulation (Surrender)
• 2005: Pure Vernunft darf niemals siegen (Pure Reason Must Never Prevail)
• 2002: Tocotronic
• 1999: K.O.O.K.
• 1999: K.O.O.K. (English Version)
• 1997: Es ist egal, aber (It doesn't matter, but)
• 1996: Wir kommen um uns zu beschweren (We come to complain)
• 1995: Nach der verlorenen Zeit (After the lost time)
• 1995: Digital ist besser (Digital is better)

Best Of, Live, Remixes

• 2005: The Best of Tocotronic (CD/double-CD)
• 2004: Tocotronic – 10th Anniversary (CD/DVD)
• 2000: K.O.O.K. - Variationen (remixes done by a number of artists)
• 1998: Live in Roskilde (limited edition of 2222 CDs, mailorder only)
• 1998: The Hamburg Years (export only)
• 1998: Tocotronic - Tocotronics (VHS/PAL)

Singles and EPs

• 2007: Imitationen (12"/CD; Imitations)
• 2007: Kapitulation (12"/CD; Surrender)
• 2007: Sag alles ab (7", limited edition: 1.500 pieces, handnumbered; Call off everything)
• 2005: Pure Vernunft darf niemals siegen Remixes (12"/CD on Kompakt Records; Pure reason must never prevail)
• 2005: Gegen den Strich (12"/CD); Against the grain)
• 2005: Aber hier leben, nein danke (12"/CD; But live here, no, thanks)
• 2002: Hi Freaks I + II (2×12"/CD)
• 2002: This Boy Is Tocotronic (12"/CD)
• 2000: Variationen I + II (2 EPs; Variations)
• 2000: Freiburg V 3.0 (12"/CD)
• 1999: Live auf dem Petersberg (7", limited edition: 1000 pieces - 500 Clear / 500 Black Vinyl; Live on Petersberg)
• 1999: Jackpot (12"/CD)
• 1999: Let There Be Rock (12"/CD)
• 1998: Split with Fuck (7")
• 1997: Themenabend (Live In Dresden, 7", limited edition: 500 pieces Red Vinyl; Theme evening)
• 1997: Dieses Jahr (12"/CD; This year)
• 1997: Sie wollen uns erzählen (12"/CD; They want to tell us)
• 1996: Split with Christoph de Babalon (7")
• 1996: Die Welt kann mich nicht mehr verstehen (12"/CD; The world can't understand me anymore)
• 1996: Split with Chokebore (7")
• 1995: Freiburg (live, 7")
• 1995: You are quite cool (7")
• 1995: Ich möchte Teil einer Jugendbewegung sein (12"; I want to be part of a youth movement)
• 1994: Meine Freundin und ihr Freund (7"; My girlfriend and her boyfriend)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tocotronic

• Official Site
• MySpace Page
• Tocotronic Ushered in New Era of German Rock Deutsche Welle
• Tocotronic on Jerusalem student radio part#1 and part#2