Tocotronic


Tocotronic is a German rock band formed in 1993. Similar to Blumfeld or Die Sterne they are considered a part of the Hamburger Schule movement. They are influential for bands such as Wir sind Helden.
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History

Tocotronic were signed by 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 consisted of ironic sloganeering and almost diary-like songwriting, paired with a lo-fi rock sound with elements of punk rock and grunge.
In 1995, Tocotronic released their debut album Digital ist besser. It was noted for its perceptive lyrics and raw, unpolished sound. Frank König described the album in SWR1 Milestones as "grungy, punky, furious and yearning". Some of its best known songs include "Wir sind hier nicht in Seattle, Dirk", "Die Idee ist gut, doch die Welt noch nicht bereit", as well as the title track "Digital ist besser". The final track, "Über Sex kann man nur auf Englisch singen", alludes to a contemporary discussion about German-language songwriting. Bayerischer Rundfunk called Digital ist besser "a milestone in German pop history" in 2010. Tocotronic's second album, Nach der verlorenen Zeit, followed only a few months later.
Wir kommen um uns zu beschweren, released in 1996, was the first of their albums to hit the German charts. Over time the music became more complex and 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.
In July 2007, Tocotronic released their eighth studio album, Kapitulation. Introducing the album in Hamburg, Dirk von Lowtzow described Kapitulation as "the most beautiful word in the German language". Richard Kämmerlings said that in the context of contemporary history, the album's conception of capitulation as liberation has a "distinctly anti-nationalist thrust". 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.
Their ninth studio album, "Schall & Wahn", was released in January 2010 and became their first number-one record. Wie Wir Leben Wollen, was released on 25 January 2013 and Tocotronic was released on 1 May 2015. Nie wieder Krieg came out in January 2022 and was their thirteenth release.
Despite never being overly commercially successful, Tocotronic have a steady fanbase in Germany and their records are regularly reviewed and acclaimed in mainstream newspapers and music magazines alike. The current band members and positions are Jan Müller, Arne Zank, Dirk von Lowtzow, and, since 2004, Rick McPhail.

Discography

Studio albums

  • 1995: Digital ist besser
  • 1995: Nach der verlorenen Zeit
  • 1996: Wir kommen um uns zu beschweren
  • 1997: Es ist egal, aber
  • 1999: K.O.O.K.
  • 1999: K.O.O.K.
  • 2002: Tocotronic
  • 2005: Pure Vernunft darf niemals siegen
  • 2007: Kapitulation
  • 2010: Schall und Wahn
  • 2013: Wie wir leben wollen
  • 2015: Tocotronic
  • 2018: Die Unendlichkeit
  • 2022: Nie wieder Krieg
  • 2025: ''Golden Years''

Best of, live, remixes

  • 1998: Live in Roskilde
  • 1998: The Hamburg Years
  • 1998: Tocotronic – Tocotronics
  • 2000: K.O.O.K. - Variationen
  • 2004: Tocotronic – 10th Anniversary
  • 2005: The Best of Tocotronic
  • 2008: Kapitulation Live
  • 2013: ''>20<''

Singles and EPs

  • 1994: Meine Freundin und ihr Freund
  • 1995: Freiburg
  • 1995: Ich möchte Teil einer Jugendbewegung sein
  • 1995: You are quite cool
  • 1996: Die Welt kann mich nicht mehr verstehen
  • 1996: Split with Chokebore
  • 1996: Split with Christoph de Babalon
  • 1997: Dieses Jahr
  • 1997: Sie wollen uns erzählen
  • 1997: Themenabend
  • 1998: Split with Fuck
  • 1999: Jackpot
  • 1999: Let There Be Rock
  • 1999: Live auf dem Petersberg
  • 2000: Freiburg V 3.0
  • 2000: Variationen I + II
  • 2002: Hi Freaks I + II
  • 2002: This Boy Is Tocotronic
  • 2005: Aber hier leben, nein danke
  • 2005: Gegen den Strich
  • 2005: Pure Vernunft darf niemals siegen Remixes
  • 2007: Kapitulation
  • 2007: Imitationen
  • 2007: Sag alles ab
  • 2010: Macht es nicht selbst
  • 2010: Im Zweifel für den Zweifel
  • 2010: Die Folter endet nie
  • 2013: Auf dem Pfad der Dämmerung
  • 2013: Ich will für dich nüchtern bleiben
  • 2013: Warte auf mich auf dem Grund des Swimmingpools
  • 2015: Prolog
  • 2015: Die Erwachsenen
  • 2015: ''Zucker''

Compilations