WHEELS FALL OFF

News

Tautologic is #17 on the Relix/Jambands radio chart on May 31st, 2021
WGN 720 AM - Outside the Loop #763
Progressive Rock Files Podcast #11
Beehive Candy
Tautologic is #8 on the Relix/Jambands radio chart on April 29th, 2021
Interview on Music In Widescreen episode #906
Interview w/ Rudy Panucci in PopCult blog
Tautologic is #19 on the Relix/Jambands radio chart on March 30th, 2021
Progwereld upcoming albums
Charleston Gazette-Mail - Radio Free Charleston
Media Monarchy - March 25
New Prog Releases
Media Monarchy - PumpUpThaVolume: January 21, 2021
ChicagoSoundcheck.com - Fresh Tracks
Deli Magazine single premiere
Tautologic Release Benefit Single 'That's What I Hear'" - Broadway World Music
Stephs in the City Podcast
Playtime with Bill Turck & Kerri Kendall (1-10-21) on WCGO
Radio Free Charleston - PopCult Blog - Rudy Panucci
Powerpopaholic
Best Radio You Have Never Heard
Chicago Music Guide
Rock In Chicago

Reviews

"I reviewed a previous set from this Chicago act. In that review I mentioned that the music was unusual, and even a little odd, but yet compelling. Well, some of the alternative rock weirdness mentioned in that review is still present here, but in some ways this moves more toward more mainstream prog and jazz styled sounds. That said, there is still enough quirkiness to keep it unique. However you slice it, this is another particularly successful release from a very talented act."
- Gary Hill, Music Street Journal

"[Translated from Italian] After the scarce thirty seconds of the intro 'Wheels Fall Off' we get to the heart of the album with 'That’s what I hear' with catchy refrain and horns in evidence. 'Memo to yourself' takes us into the ska field with the usual light-hearted refrain to lead the dances. 'Rocket Surgery,'' one of the best and most 'traditional' pieces, was born almost like a Celtic ballad and then opened in an airy instrumental in which Emily Albright's violin 'plays' with Greene's sax and Sellers' keyboards. . From the middle onwards, however, the song becomes a splendid and inspired jazz-rock. 'Fat, dumb and happy' is a fun and casual piece that the band inserts immediately after, while the following 'Covered in Grit' is 'funkish' with trumpet and trombone (a bit à la Chicago) in the foreground with the vocals by Albright. Another instrumental is also noteworthy, 'Exit Strategy,'' in which the skills of the guitarist Jay Montana emerge on a jazz-rock fabric. Always very high quality also in 'Summer, 1995,'' the longest track of the cd, which moves initially languid, following the voice of Albright, between suffused sax and barely hinted rhythmic, and then grows into a sort of collective jam of great taste. [...] As usual, Tautologic give us a decidedly engaging, intriguing, varied and surprising work ... We can't help but listen to it again ..."
- Valentino Butti, Arlequins

"'Rocket Surgery' has an almost Celtic, Prog-Rock compositional feel. The horns again play a huge part in the sonic foundation of this track. 'Rocket Surgery' is as Progressive as they come and the obvious Zappa influence or even ELP influence is undeniable. As a huge Frank Zappa fan 'Rocket Surgery' is right up my alley and I had to include it on the list of tracks from this album that are a must-listen.
The bass line in 'Covered In Grit' takes precedence and drives this song forward juxtaposing with the clavinet. I enjoy the lyrics and the breakdowns from each member which feels like a straight Funk song. 'Covered In Grit' is a quick track that shows the diversity of this band and its members. I'd love to see more tracks from Tautologic that are Funk-based just to see what they could do with them.
'Exit Strategy' is my favorite track from ‘Wheels Fall Off’ and its musicality and compositional structure are unmatched. The heavy bass and overlying synth are eerie yet angelic, just the way I like it. 'Exit Strategy' is the most 'Jam' track from this album and shows the guitarist's versatility and formidable skill. If I were to pick any song to show my readers from this album it would be 'Exit Strategy.' This song goes hard."
- Robert (R.A.) Fadley, The Jamband Purist

"Tautologic—singer/keyboardist/producer Ethan Sellers, drummer Patrick Buzby, bassist Nathan Britsch, saxophonist Chris Greene, violinist/vocalist Emily Albright and guitarist Jay Montana—come roaring out of Chicago with one of the more unique rock band sounds. Classic Alternative? Now add cello, trombone and trumpet. Mix carefully, simmer to a boil, no need to add flavoring, it’s all there (they’ve been at it for over 20 years). Wheels Fall Off (Turtle Down Music) is engaging, fascinating even. It’s the kind of album that grows exponentially in the heart and mind the more it’s listened to. It’s in the synthesis between male and female vocals, jam-band propensities, genre-morphing (I counted seven) and the kind of delicious studio trickery that can be categorized as ear candy. With songs like “Fat Dumb and Happy,” “Rocket Surgery” and “Covered In Grit” leading the way, one can get lost in their space/time continuum enough to ponder the inequities of life while doing some hard grooving."
- Mike Greenblatt, Goldmine Magazine

"With ”Wheels Fall Off” the American band Tautologic has released an intriguing record. It's my first encounter with this Chicago sextet that has been around since 1997. “Wheels Fall Off” is the third album of this company.
The big man behind Tautologic is Ethan Sellers. He is the founder of the band together with drummer Pat Buzby. Sellers is responsible for (almost) all music and lyrics on this record, he produced the record and designed the cover. Sellers and Tautologic have their roots in the progressive rock of the 1970s, but Sellers, in addition to Tautologic, plays in groups that perform a variety of styles: Irish and Scottish folk, bluegrass, Cajun and soul / funk. You can hear all these influences on “Wheels Fall Off”. And add pop, jazz, and some Zappa to that. The song "Memo To Yourself" even shows some ska. So yes, Tautologic makes progressive rock; certainly in the sense of a potpourri of different styles, changing beacons and crossing borders. The great thing I think is that Sellers et al. Keep an eye on the importance of the melody. In fact, some tracks are treacherously accessible. The "pop melodies" only swim in a progressive pool and are therefore not only interesting, but also catches the eye.
As a reviewer I always try to give direction to what you can expect as a listener by mentioning (usually well-known) names. With Tautologic, I mainly leave it with the potpourri. The instrumental tracks "Rocket Surgery" and "Exit Strategy" show the band's most experimental side, and certainly in 'Rocket Surgery' some more "traditional progressive 70's rock." To my ears, "Covered In Grit" is also slightly different from the rest, with the strong emphasis on a funk groove. Violinist / singer Emily Albright also contributed to this song.
A song that also has more traditional prog influences is the longer "Summer, 1995." It is a bit quieter, more supported and has a strong melody that comes back very nicely at the end of the song. It has a somewhat pastoral atmosphere and the readers of the undersigned's reviews now know that I really like it. Most pop-like songs are of average single length, but there is plenty going on in each song and they are cheerful with an edge. Another nice thing is the combination of the voices of Ethan Sellers and Emily Albright; these match well and their vocals are an excellent match for the music. Chris Greene's saxophones give the music an abrasive surface, then an almost Sade-like charge.
In short, Tautologic doesn't make "standard prog", but I find it challenging, intriguing and refreshing. And the most important to me is: I use the repeat button. This album really came as a surprise to me."
- Jacco Stijkel, Progwereld

"Funky and fun loving, Tautologic combines so many genre layers it's truly mind blowing. Reflecting the influences of its six members, there are elements of irish punk, ska, funk, blues, soul, new wave, R&B and ‘70s rock, all stirred into a soup of musical oddity that could only be born in the 21st century."
- Chicago Crowd Surfer

"Few albums come full circle without dropping the ball a few times along the way, but Wheels Fall Off by Chicago based progressive art rock sextet Tautologic is one of them. After a short intro/nursery rhyme featuring the band's songwriter Ethan Sellers kids they are off for a visit to a musical candy store, touching base with ska (Memo To Yourself), Zappa-esque instrumentals (Rocket Surgery) and breakneck speed folk (Fat, Dumb, and Happy, High School Reunion). Tautologic cater to fans from so many genres that it could have turned into a muddy, faceless mess, but they are able to get to the core and add a smathering of bells and whistles that lets each track shine like the queen of the prom. Whether it is funky disco (Covered In Grit) or a late night jazzy torch song (Summer, 1995), this band really has both the stamina and the skills 'to keep driving 'til the Wheels Fall Off.'"
- Hans Werksman, Here Comes the Flood

"'That’s What I Hear' is the latest off their upcoming record Wheels Fall Off, and it’s a whole bowl full of goodness. Now, sure, it’s about the crumbling of society at the hands of our government, but it’s also a great example of how you can make a fun song out of something serious. Listen to the interplay of instruments throughout this whole composition-it is very satisfying."
- Josh Terzino, Music Defined

"Well-arranged funky & jazzy Zappa-esque orchestration punctuated with brass and pop sensibility. The lyrics are relevant. The message is bitingly true."
- Rock At Night

"Back in my day, you couldn't get money out of the Illinois Arts Council by gun point. Nice to see they are funding left field rockers with something to say that might not otherwise be heard these days. [...] Since you can do anything you want in a pomo world and justify it, give this bunch credit for figuring things out for themselves. They've got some nice rocking genre splicing going on here and they are well worth keeping an ear out for. "
- Midwest Record

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