Albums by this artist

You Can Always Get What You Want (2000)

Futureworld (1999)

Who Do We Think You Are? (1999)

The Surveillance (1998)

Trans Am

The Surveillance

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» JONATHAN COHEN | SENIOR EDITOR

Trans Am The Surveillance Thrill Jockey/Touch & Go, 1998 RiYL: Can’s Monster Movie, Pell Mell’s Flow, Van Halen’s 1984, Kraftwerk’s Autobahn

With song titles such as "Armed Response," "Prowler" and "Home Security," it's pretty clear hyperactive instrumental trio Trans Am had a spy motif in mind for its third LP The Surveillance.

It's predecessor, 1997's Surrender To The Night, found the band unleashing some of the gaudiest guitar riffage this side of ZZ Top alongside whimsical Casio keyboard creations one might find playing in his porno movie of choice. But, save for three ineffectual tracks in the middle of The Surveillance ("Access Control," "Endgame" and "E.S.I."), Trans Am has wisely focused on the fearless rock it plays so well in live performance.

"Armed Response" and its mean undertones personify the guys who begrudgingly man the 24-hour hotline provided by most home security services. "The Campaign" is the soundtrack to a variety of exciting spy adventures, switching on walkie-talkies, high-priced gadgets and irrepressible surfy riffs behind furious drumming.

The Surveillance isn't loaded with high concepts or an indier-than-you mentality. Instead it's another batch of freshly baked instrumentals from a band that oozes ceaseless energy. Rock on.

JONATHAN COHEN | Jonathan Cohen co-created Nude As The News with his Indiana University mates Troy Carpenter and Ben French. When not traversing the globe for business and pleasure, he holds down the fort as a senior editor for Billboard in New York. Stop him and he just may ask, "what for lunch?"