The Soundtrack of Our Lives explained

The Soundtrack of Our Lives
Background:group_or_band
Origin:Gothenburg, Sweden
Genre:Alternative rock, neo-psychedelia
Years Active:1995–2012, 2023–Present
Label:Telegram Records (Europe)
Universal Music (USA)
In-Fidelity Recordings (Aus) Haldern Pop Recordings (Germany, Switzerland, Austria)
Website:Official website
Current Members:Fredrik Sandsten
Martin Hederos
Ebbot Lundberg
Mattias Bärjed
Åke Karl Kalle Gustafsson
Ian Person
Past Members:Björn Olsson

The Soundtrack of Our Lives, often abbreviated T.S.O.O.L., are a Swedish rock band that formed in Gothenburg in 1995 and disbanded in 2012 before reuniting again in 2023. The band's style draws heavily from sixties and seventies rock and punk, such as Rolling Stones and Iggy and the Stooges. Psychedelic rock is another strong influence for the band, and psychedelic and mystical references are also prominent in the band's lyrics and aesthetics. The abbreviation 'OEOC', which features on all their albums, refers to the phrase "as above, so below" from Hermeticism.[1] [2]

Formation

The Soundtrack of Our Lives was originally formed by Torbjörn "Ebbot" Lundberg, Björn Olsson, Ian Person, Kalle Gustafsson Jerneholm, Fredrik Sandsten and Martin Hederos. Several members, including vocalist Ebbot Lundberg, had previously played in the punk rock band Union Carbide Productions while Jerneholm had previously released an album with Gothenburg grunge rockers Electric Eskimoes. Olsson, who as guitar player had helped craft the band's sound, left T.S.O.O.L. after its first release, Welcome to the Infant Freebase, to pursue a solo career. He was replaced by Mattias Bärjed, who, like other members, has also engaged in solo and spinoff projects.

Band members

Apart from those mentioned instruments, they all played other instruments such as mellotron, dulcimer, cello, piano, sitar, cembalo and others.

Former band member:

Tours and releases

The band found critical success in the United States in 2002, with their third album Behind the Music, released the previous year in Sweden and in the rest of Europe. It was nominated for the Best Alternative Album award at the 2003 Grammy Awards. They toured the US in 2002 with Oasis in support of their album Behind the Music.

Their double album Communion was released in November 2008. After a tour of the US the band announced that they were working on their next record Throw It Into the Universe. In October 2010, the band announced it would be releasing their first 'best of' compilation entitled Golden Greats no. 1. According to a statement on their website: "The band has spent much of the summer of 2010 in Svenska Grammofonstudion where they remastered the original recordings and in part picked up nuances that somehow went missing. With the carefully restored and remastered versions we are invited to TSOOL classics in a way we never heard them before."

In early 2012, the band announced on their website that their latest album, Throw It to the Universe, was complete. The album was released on 18 April 2012.

Lead singer Ebbot Lundberg stated in an interview with Intro Magazine that Throw It to the Universe would be the band's final album, stating that he felt it completed the band's journey. The band performed its last show on 22 December 2012 in Stockholm.[3]

In 2023, the band reunited for a number of festival performances in Sweden, Norway, and Spain. A tour of Sweden is planned for the spring of 2024.https://www.dn.se/kultur/the-soundtrack-of-our-lives-gor-sverige-turne/

Songs featured in popular culture

Their track "Instant Repeater 99" is played during the closing credits of the 2002 film Spun.

Their track "Sister Surround" was included on the "jukebox" of EA Sports' MVP Baseball 2003, while "Karmageddon" is featured on EA Sports' NHL 2005 and FIFA Football 2005 video games.[4] and in the movie Grand Theft Parsons. "Sister Surround" was also featured in an episode of Six Feet Under. Their track "Babel On" was featured in .

Their track "Bigtime" featured as the theme of WrestleMania 21 and on the soundtrack of the PAL version of Gran Turismo 4. Their track "Mother One Track Mind" was also featured on the Gran Turismo 4 soundtrack. T.S.O.O.L.'s songs "Sister Surround" and "Ten Years Ahead" both appear on the In Good Company soundtrack as well.

The song "Second Life Replay" was featured during an episode of the fourth season of Californication and "What's Your Story" in season six.[5]

Discography

Studio albums

YearDetailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
(sales thresholds)
SWE
[6]
FIN
[7]
UK
[8]
US
[9]
1996Welcome to the Infant Freebase
  • Released: March 1996
  • Label: Telegram Records
7

Gold[10]

1998Extended Revelation for the Psychic Weaklings of Western Civilization
  • Released: April 1998
  • Label: Telegram Records
16
2001Behind the Music
  • Released: February 2001
  • Label: Telegram Records
395
  • SWE: Gold
2004Origin Vol. 1
  • Released: 18 October 2004
  • Label: Telegram Records
120136179
2008Communion
  • Released: 26 November 2008
  • Label: Telegram Records
1
2012Throw It to the Universe
  • Released: 18 April 2012
  • Label: Telegram Records
1

Compilation albums

YearDetailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
(sales thresholds)
SWE
FIN
UK
US
2005A Present from the Past
  • Released: 7 December 2005
  • Label: Telegram Records
34
2010Golden Greats No. 1
  • Released: 24 November 2010
  • Label: Telegram Records
2014Rest in Piece 1994–2012
  • Released: 29 January 2014
  • Label: Parlophone S

EPs

YearDetails
1996Homo Habilis Blues
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: Telegram Records
  • Position: No. 23 (SWE)[12]
2000Gimme Five!
  • Released: 21 June 2000
  • Label: Telegram Records
  • Position: No. 58 (SWE)
2010The Immaculate Convergence
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: Yep Roc
Live at Lime
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: Limewire
2012Shine On (There's Another Day After Tomorrow)
  • Released: December 2012
  • Label: EMI

Singles

YearTitleChart positionsAlbum
SWE
UK
[13]
1996"Instant Repeater '99"Welcome to the Infant Freebase
1997"Blow My Cool"
1998"Mantra Slider"
"Black Star"Extended Revelation for the Psychic Weaklings of the Western Civilization
"Firmament Vacation (A Soundtrack of Our Lives)"96Welcome to the Infant Freebase
"Instant Repeater '99" (remix)156
1999"Avenger Hill Street Blues"Non-album single
2001"Still Aging"Behind the Music
"Nevermore"
"Sister Surround"6080
"21st Century Rip Off"114
2004"Bigtime"178Origin Vol. 1
"Believe I've Found"
2005"Heading for a Breakdown"70
2008"Thrill Me"Communion
2009"Ra 88"
"Flipside"
"Babel On" (radio edit)
"The Ego Delusion" (radio edit)
2010"Demophon"non-album download-only singles
"Earthmover"
"You Better Run"
2012"Try Again"
"What's Your Story?"Throw It to the Universe
"Throw It to the Universe" (radio edit)

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: The Soundtrack Of Our Lives' Ebbot Lundberg Can't Control Himself: Giordano Bruno (A Past Master) . . 25 April 2011 . 16 February 2012.
  2. News: Austin L. . Ray . Soundtrack of Our Lives explain Communion cover art . . 10 March 2009 . 16 February 2012.
  3. Web site: The Soundtrack of Our Lives called it quits, played final show in Stockholm (setlist, video); guitarist forms new band. Brooklynvegan.com. 27 December 2021.
  4. Web site: NHL 2005: The Music . . 2004-09-30 . 2011-04-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110316090048/http://music.ign.com/articles/552/552112p1.html . 2011-03-16 .
  5. Web site: Californication: Music From the Showtime Series: Season 6 . . 2013-01-30 . 2014-10-24 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141024225736/http://store.sho.com/californication-music-from-the-showtime-series-season-6-cd/detail.php?p=433538 . 2014-10-24 .
  6. Web site: Swedish album positions . swedishcharts.com . 2009-07-17.
  7. Web site: Finnish album positions . finnishcharts.com . 2009-07-17.
  8. Web site: UK Chartlog: DJ S – The System Of Life . zobbel.de . 2009-07-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150322040621/http://zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_S.HTM . March 22, 2015 .
  9. Origin Vol. 1 US position . . 2009-07-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140901045128/http://www.billboard.com/charts/2005-04-02/billboard-200 . September 1, 2014 .
  10. Web site: IFPI Sweden: 2004 certificates . ifpi.se . 2009-07-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120305012930/http://www.ifpi.se/wp/wp-content/uploads/ar-20042.pdf . March 5, 2012 .
  11. Web site: IFPI Sweden: 2005 certificates . ifpi.se . 2009-07-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110616145813/http://www.ifpi.se/wp/wp-content/uploads/ar-20051.pdf . June 16, 2011 .
  12. Web site: Swedish single positions . swedishcharts.com . 2009-07-17.
  13. Web site: Soundtrack of Our Lives - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. October 27, 2019.