Tautologic in the press:

"[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

"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

“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. Ethan Sellers and his bandmates have created a really adventurous soundscape blending jazz and rock with pop and traditional folk. I saw a quick glimpse of a review that mentioned Zappa, and of course that’s in there. But my immediate thought was Jethro Tull. Probably due to the instrumentation, but also in the way they tell their story. It’s very satisfying to be able to pull out little things and still be able to enjoy the song as a whole. The sum is equal to the parts, and that’s always a welcome result.
-Josh Terzino, Music-Defined.com

"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

"Like a lot of neo-prog bands, Marillion chief among them, modern progressive rockers Tautologic could do with a lot more grit in their sound: The Chicago band's first-wave heroes Genesis may have been intricate, ethereal and wispy, but they were never dainty or fragile. That minor quibble aside, the group's second album "Psychle," released in 2007 but only recently denting my radar, is an impressively ambitious example of virtuosic musicianship and deft arrangements navigating myriad sounds and styles without ever losing that essential melodic thread or propulsive rock drive.

Formed in 1997 by key songwriter, guitarist, vocalist and driving force Ethan Sellers and currently completed by drummer Pat Buzby, guitarist Aaron Weistrop, bassist Nathan Britsch, saxophonist Chris Greene and violinist Emily Albright, Tautologic is all the more relevant for lyrics that deal not with lamia, slippermen, tales from topographic oceans and the other stuff or progressive-rock lore, but with Ray Davies-style sociological skewerings of 'burnout roommates and their psychotic crack-whore girlfriends, tube socks, crazy homeless people, indie hipsters, quasi-terroristic rants against totalitarian utility companies and anything else that entertains and/or irritates.'"
-Jim DeRogatis from Chicago Sun Times and NPR's Sound Opinions

"And you thought Chicago was all blues, jazz and working class rock? How about this Zappa inspired date about all the screw balls that live in Obama’s old neighborhood? For those that like it on the Lou Reed side with wildly progressive edges he’d have never touched on, a new time zone can be built right here. Crazy stuff for when you need something over the top with real professional underpinnings."
Midwest Record

"Catchy, quirky Zappa-styled Prog. Hailing out of Chicago, Tautologic take their name from the word tautology which is an argument which repeats an assertion using different phrasing. And just to be sure you get their brand of satiric sense of the band they’ve called their new album the punning Re:Psychle. Once you get past all of this intriguing set up you are in for a treat. There is some really engaging music displayed here over ten compositions that come in at a vinyl sized forty-two minutes. With the first track, you might be forgiven for thinking you just started listening to an old Kansas song until it suddenly shifts gears into a quirky, off-kilter tone and starts singing about loud shoes! This is a set of tunes that is rich with Frank Zappa’s influence. It comes through a lot in the lyrical bent but also in the singing, the instrumentation and often the rhythmic counterpoint. On that last point though, in amongst all the herky, jerky musical elements there is much to recommend here to symphonic prog fans as virtually all of these songs feature tried and true proggy embellishments with grand ascending lines that twist and turn their way through crafty melodies. Each song, and most of them are in the three or four minute range is infused with elements of minor notes and suspended or diminished chords that emphasize an overall strangeness at times but then usually resolves into other more pleasing majors. What I really liked about Tautologic’s writing style is how they manage to incorporate the contrasts without going too far either way. This is not a “normal” prog band and yet everything about them should appeal to prog-heads. Hints of Chamber Prog slapped up against traditional Symphonic prog elements sounds like a winner to me. I’m giving Re:Psychle a big thumbs up. Check it out."
Jerry Lucky, The Progressive Rock Files

"its contemporary contents smack of delirious energy and smarts. Yet whilst ‘Re:Psychle’ inspires in-depth analysis, the recording never falters from the main mark; that of using inventive musicianship to enlighten and “re-sensitize.”"
-Lisa Torem, Pennyblack Music

"This is an unusual and oddly compelling set. The music lands quite firmly in progressive rock, while the vocals are often more in keeping with weird alternative rock styles. That said, it works together well, perhaps calling to mind They Might be Giants in some ways. Perhaps the most surprising thing about this is that for music that is as decidedly out of the norm, it's actually quite catchy. If you like your prog rock adventurous and unusual, give this a try. The rewards are well worth the risk."
-Gary Hill, Music Street Journal

"If by "progressive" we mean, as well as "music that progresses", also the contamination of different styles and genres, the American Tautologic proposal can only be described as fully "progressive"... in short, everything and more in a sometimes crazy melting-pot sound…In short, a real ensemble able, and free, to play everything in the mind of the leader. Quirky but fascinating, no doubt."
-Valentino Butti, Arlequins

"18 years after their debut, Chicago band Tautologic is putting out Re:Psychle. As the album title suggests, Tautologic is not a band that takes itself seriously. There is certainly some humour in their lyrics and the mood is clearly festive. This does not mean that their playing is not taken seriously though. The musicians involved are all excellent and the performances faultless.

The material is song based, but always well supported by very creative instrumentation. Mostly acoustic (guitar, saxes, flutes...) there still is a frequent rock edge adding some power to the music. Very much influenced by the 70's, Tautologic's sound can be compared to the more folk/celtic songs by Gentle Giant or Caravan (i.e. ''Golf Girl''), but the band certainly adds their own color to the genre. Re:Psychle was a nice surprise for me and I will certainly check out the Tautologic's first album. Recommended!"
-Marc Roy, ProGGnosis

"Formed in 1997 in Chicago, Tautologic just released its second album, eighteen years after West Is North, East Is South (2000). Although related to prog, if only by the variety of styles discussed, their music has little to do with the 70's classics like Yes or Genesis nor with the neo-prog of Marillion et al. On the other hand, there is the energy and psychedelics of some pop-rock bands of the late 1960s, associated with folk-rock as practiced at the time by groups like Fairport Convention, Strawbs or Trees.

To describe more correctly what Tautologic offers us, it is better to dive into the heart of some of the titles of the repertoire and try to give some useful references. Not If But When comes with a funky old-fashioned rhythm accented by a distorted guitar while The Professor is characterized by an angular melody that Gentle Giant would not have denied. The Whistler is what looks more like folk-prog with a ubiquitous violin and a haunting chorus. The presence of the violin and the way it's used are a little reminiscent of the approach of the mythical but oft-overlooked band East Of Eden. The Gospel Lady brings to mind one of those cool songs that Jefferson Airplane could have delivered to Woodstock, especially with the Jorma Kaukonen-esque extended guitar solo. Despite its title referring to the most famous jazz saxophonist, Coltrane Supermarket is rather a British pop song somewhere between the Kinks and the Beatles. Finally, with its acoustic guitars and nice low-key melody, Osaka Garden refers to Magna Carta.

It will be understood, despite its band name, Tautologic is anything but redundant. Their music is a melting pot of different styles whose main common denominator is an inflection for the psyche pop of the late sixties, except that the lyrics that are sung here tell small stories, gleaned from around Chicago, where there is talk conspiracies, addiction, veteran-related problems, social or even ecological reflections, when it is not an elegiac description of the Osaka Gardens. Re: Psychle is probably not your usual kind of album but it is also one of the reasons why it deserves a careful listening."
Pierre Dulieu, Dragonjazz.com

"Multi-layered and uninhibited Re:Psychle. While Tautologic’s sound is grounded in progressive rock, the lyrics are idiosyncratic and sarcastic, similar in spirit to Frank Zappa’s work and the Canterbury bands. The band is led by multi-instrumentalist Ethan Sellers who delivers superb keyboard work throughout the album. What’s refreshing about Re:Psychle is the fact that Sellers stays true to the progressive music spirit by combining state of the art classic progressive rock with chamber music elements, jazz and other influences such as funk and even unexpected Afrobeat-style brass on one song. […] Sellers collaborates with a remarkable cast of musicians. Guitarist Aaron Weistrop showcases his talent as an instrumentalist who extracts top notch guitar sounds and avoids tired hard and heavy metal riffing. Weistrop also provides captivating interplay with violinist Jeff Yang. […] Re:Psychle is a finely crafted prog rock album that combines meaningful, uninhibited lyrics and first class musicianship."
Progressive Rock Central

"Just as listenable, yet more eclectic and erudite, my record of the month comes from Chicago’s Tautologic. Led by vocalist, composer and musical egghead Ethan Sellers, they proffer second album Re:Psychle (Turtle Down) a mere 18 years after their debut. You can bet Sellers has more than one Gentle Giant LP in his, er, cellar – his urbane lyrical snark is served up with hooky and harmonically challenging music with plenty of 90-degree stylistic turns along the way. It was almost worth the wait!"
Grant Moon, Louder Sound

Can a bunch of pissed off white boys from Chicago's south side sling slings and arrows at the slings of arrows that perforate contemporary life and sound like a bunch of kids from Manchester without sounding like wankers in the main? This set says so."
Midwest Record review

"This buoyant album opens with the sea shantyesque 'Loud Shoes', before being followed by the '80s pop funk feel of 'Not If But When'. The austere lullaby 'The Admiral' is next and is backed by both the the buzzing sounds (literally) of 'The Professor', and then the upbeat, party central horns of 'On Your Left.' The glorious piano work found on 'The Choirboy' is wonderful to behold, and makes this track a true stand out for me. That's followed by the frenetic mish-mash that melds into the more low-fi bounce storytelling of 'Coltrane Supermarket.' Another sea shantyesque cut is the storytelling of 'The Whistler', and that's backed by the late night jazz appeal of 'The Gospel Lady', before the album rounds out with the hectic sounds of Chicago giving way to the more serene quietness found within 'Osaka Garden'…"
Exclusive Magazine

"Behind this album hides a long story, that of a record that took 11 years to come to an end. Certainly, the record of "Chinese democracy" Guns 'n' Roses is not beaten but we did not go far. So, are you going to tell me, why do so much hype for a record of a band that we do not even know? Exactly, it is by doing a little hype for Tautologic that we will manage to make this group a little more known. And it's worth it. […] It is true that the first time you listen to this album, you would swear to be dealing with a reformation of an old group prog or English psych. Yet Ethan Sellers was still in shorts in the '70s and his city of Chicago did not normally predispose him to this type of music. In "Re-psychle"(a subtle play on the concept of recycling, psychedelism and cycling), Ethan Sellers and his band pay homage to progressive English rock, while maintaining a personal touch that makes Tautologic a group apart. The pieces are impressive compositional ingenuity ( "Loud shoes" , "Not if but when" ) and technical qualities (the excellent "The professor" , "The gospel lady"). [...] The last three pieces of the disc maintain a high level of interest, in particular with the powerful prog of "The Whistler" , with the attires marked by Curved Air or String Driven Thing. [...] This is an opportunity to discover the colorful and optimistic universe of Ethan Sellers, which we hope will not spend another eighteen years before we make another album just as charming."
- Francois Becquart, Music in Belgium

"If you’re into ‘prog’ and looking for something, well, ‘different’, then this release from Chicago-based sextet Tautologic could be worth exploring. It’s like nothing you’ve ever heard before, at least not on a single album. […] Everyone will spot their own reference points, but there’s a bewildering breadth from Steely Dan jazz inflected guitar work married to 10cc wordsmithery (‘Loud Shoes’), through pastoral Caravan/King Crimson (‘The Gospel Lady’, ‘Osaka Garden’) moments, and strange juxtapositions like ELO and Steeleye Span (‘Not If But When’). Other influences randomly spring to mind – like The Beatles, David Byrne and Talking Heads – as beguiling melodies shift effortlessly through rock, opera, the classics, Calypso, reggae, and folk, while blues guitars duet with cellos. Like a good thriller there’s a twist at every turn, but don’t take my word for it if you’re in the mood for something weird and wonderful, check Re:Psychle out for yourself at Bandcamp.com. ***1/2"
- Pete Whalley, Get Ready to Rock

" Sometimes silly sometimes serious, sometimes funky, sometimes jazzy, always interesting. For fans of Gentle Giant and Caravan or other Canterbury prog you should certainly give this local band a spin."
- Mark Monforti, Progrock.com

"Versatile Chamber Artpop, also known as Progressive Pop in some reviews… For friends of such music quite worthwhile."
- Siggy Zielinski, BabyBlaue-Seiten Prog-Reviews

"Hey, Fearless fans, there's a new hip and happenin' place in Chicago for live musical entertainment! Reggie's Music Club is the place to go for good eats and cool music. It was a packed house Saturday night. This evening Southside came out to hear her favorite ambient folk rock band, otherwise known as Tautologic. This band rocked the audience with their unique blend of music genres and their electric violin accompaniment. For this performance they added something new to enhance their opening set. On a backdrop screen behind the band, movie shorts played throughout the set in order to give the audience a deeper feel for the tone of the songs.

Tautologic kicked off their set with The Admiral. SouthSide enjoyed how both the song and video images helped create a very haunting feel. She liked the idea of using video shorts to accompany the songs to convey the songwriter^Òs imagination and mood. For example, during the performance of Loud Shoes the audience was presented with a video of a woman shopping in a store. Other video shorts included images of churches and a cyclist along the bike path for Bike Lock. The movie shorts were rather quirky and at times made the audience wonder at the connection between the images and the lyrics of the songs. Some of Tautologic^Òs songs did have its funny moments that made SouthSide laugh or dance along while the band jammed on stage.

What SouthSide liked best about Tautologic's show was their experimentation with different genres. The band kept Reggie^Òs alive with an interesting mix of Irish folk, Island rhythms, and rock music. During Choirboy, this fast paced song was rich with guitar sounds and keyboard melodies. This song included extended guitar solos at the end. While performing On Your Left, Ethan really got into the funky island beat by dancing a little.

It was Tautologic's newest addition that added the right amount of edge and intensity to their music. Emily on the electric violin was an excellent newcomer to the band. She gave their closing song The Whistler a wee bit of Irish folk sound with her electric violin accompaniment. During this particular song as the three guitars performed a video about the whistler was played on the screen. This combination between visuals and sounds added more dimension to their performance for it completely engaged the audience's senses. For more information about Tautologic, visit them at www.tautologic.com or www.myspace.com/tautologic. Until next time, Fearless fans, support your local indie artists."
-SouthSide from Fearless Radio

"The first band to kick off this caravan show instantly won this reviewer's heart, Fearless fans. It was sweet heavenly acoustic music with a wee bit of rock that you could dance an Irish jig to. Tautologic impressed SouthSide with their mesh of unique sounds that really didn't seem to belong together, but Tautologic proved they could. Their amazing music had her rockin'. Violin and acoustic guitar offset the bass and electric to create one incredible sound that would certainly liven up any pub around town especially an Irish one). This Fearless reviewer totally fell in love with their acoustic/folk rock which has recently exploded once again in the music scene around Chicago. Tautologic's instrumental songs, as well as their lyrical ones, had some in the audience dancing a silly jig while rocking along with the band. Though the sax member of the band wasn't in attendance, this band was scheduled to perform again the night following at the House of Blues, this time with their full ensemble. It was a definitely a welcome change of pace for SouthSide's ears and she enjoyed every minute of their set. During the middle of a couple of songs, there was a taste of the Emerald Isle from the acoustic and violin. Then combine the electric and bass, the audience's ears were blown away by this lively folk performance. Tautologic's music rocked Subterranean down and SouthSide highly recommends that Fearless fans catch their next show. Check out more info about Tautologic and their music at www.tautologic.com or www.myspace.com/tautologic."
-SouthSide from Fearless Radio

"... miraculous progressive pop.... Immortal and visionary."
-Harmonie (from review of Basement Sessions, Volume I)

"Occasionally experimentation with new names reveals a hidden gem. Tautologic is one such case in point, where each and every track has had me completely blown away... music can be best defined as eclectic progressive rock with a healthy dose of folk rock with the group described as a cross between early Genesis, early Fairport Convention and a healthy dose of Stackridge. Basically the group sound very very British though they hail from Chicago, very late sixties stuff.... When considering that this is a debut album, the promise is great. Musically Tautologic have a lot to offer and are an extremely tight professional outfit."
-Nigel Camilleri, The Dutch Progressive Rock Page

"Tautologic brings a new twist to orchestral pop, melding a wide variety of musical styles with classical arrangements. Ethan Sellers sings in a Styx-like, operatic voice about everyday occurrences and topics, while a mini orchestra peppers each song with intriguing and often lovely, violins, cello, and keyboards. For example, on the folksy "Jim's Home Brew," he sings about his friend's beer recipe, while Jen Justice's pretty backing vocals, catchy piano, and charming strings flow throughout. The band also tackles psychedelica ("Hype Dark"), Celtic ("Glasgow Smile"), funk ("Love Bus"), space rock ("Tube Socks"), and classical pop ("Lazy Sundays," my favorite track), while Justice contributes gorgeous lead vocals to "The House Song." It sounds strange on paper, but the results satisfy more often than not. Thanks to Sellers's and Pat Buzby's songwriting talents and string arrangements, this debut is an impressive, if slightly twisted, modern-day "rock" opera."
-Mark Suppanz, The Big Takeover

"There are not many heirs to Gentle Giant. This American band (a duo!) is paradoxically very close to the very British outfit... the music is more pop oriented by the format, often in the way of the Beatles ('Eleanor Rigby') or chamber music influenced... A great debut..."
-RR, Acid Dragon

"With its tightly scripted string arrangements and ambitious intelligence, Tautologic... is among the city's most original acts. This brilliantly sequenced, $15,000 independent album opens playfully and ominously with a complicated instrumental bit of modern orchestral dissonance, which then gives way to Sgt. Pepperesque, psychedelic Beatleism... The melodies have a distinctly traditional folk feeling, shaped by the apt use of classic meters (these guys have obviously been successfully exposed to the Great Books at University of Chicago)."
-Darryl Cater, ChicagoGigs.com

"A 'tautology' is defined as needless repetition of an idea in different words, which points to this very interesting band's wryly self-effacing sense of humor. Consisting of Ethan Sellers on vocals, keyboards, and guitar, and Pat Buzby on drums and keyboards, the duo is assisted by a variety of other musicians, most often a small string section.

As if to illustrate the disorientation of the album's title, they open with a string trio figure that eventually widens and falls apart - classical space music? 'Hype Dark' follows, with a great chorus, plus harmonies and voice processing reminiscent of the United States of America.

The strings expand to a quartet for the charging 'Glasgow Smile,'and viola player Jen Justice vocally backdrops another great set of chord changes on 'Jim's Home Brew.' The Beatles-esque sense of invention on 'Lazy Sundays' extends to the general spirit of this album, which often is redolent of late-1960s underground radio... overall, this is a very auspicious debut."
- Larry Nai, Progression, Summer/Fall 2000

"It's a roaring fire and two glasses of wine type sound, though not limited to such intimacies. Tautologic can hold their own with Chicago's best, as evident at their album debut at Elbo Room in June."
- Centerstage Chicago's "Who's Who in Chicago Music"

"Tautologic: On its debut CD, West is North, East is South, the ambitious Chicago trio offers modernist compositions for strings, pastiches of Beatles psychedelia, Celtic rock and the kitchen sink. Friday, May 19, Tasting Room."
- Shepherd Express Metro 5/18/2000 "A List May 18-24

"Serving up a prog-influenced mixture of rock and classical music, with some worldly jazz thrown in for variety, Tautologic has the unusual lyrics to match its unpredictable sound."
- The Onion A.V. Club 18-24 May 2000 "Picks"

"With their eclectic images and down-to-earth metaphors ("Are all humans like white tube socks?"), Hyde Park band Tautologic's music is somewhere between Shakespearean poetry and punk rock."
- Liss Palamkumnel, Chicago Weekly News

"From lyrics about race relations in Hyde Park to a Hyde Park bus where the driver says 'Welcome to the love bus,' there is always a Hyde Park component to this music... While the new compilation of songs from 'Hype Dark' to 'Love Bus' can be quite artsy at times with a pop-music-feel chiming in through cello and violin, any Hyde Parker can easily understand the inspiration to these songs."
- Jennifer Fortney, Hyde Park Herald

"...idiosyncratic..." -The Isthmus 7/21/2000 "Critics' Choice"