T A R


The decision that this would be our last album was made back in early 1994. There were no dramatic movements of tempers flaring, or major musical differences, or feelings of resentment and hatred within the band or anything like that. There was a catalyst, however. We had a really bad tour. At some point we were bound to reach the point where the hassles of being in the band overwhelmed the fun of being in the band. For most of us, touring just wasn't fun anymore. After years of going on tour, we had just about run out of ways to keep it interesting. So we stopped touring. Very shortly thereafter, one of us expressed the wish to bow out entirely after one more album. Being a band of good friends, it was inconceivable that the band could exist without one of the members. So we decided to make one more record, and call it quits.

Tar - Chicago 10/94
supplied by Malcom Riviera
And so, roughly one and a half years later, "Over And Out" is released. We approached this album in much the same way we have approached the others. We employed this narrow sonic palette that we have (our instruments have sounded almost identical from release to release) started kicking around ideas, and went wherever the songs took us. We believed the sound of our instruments was unique enough among other bands of our rock ilk that we could indulge ourselves by approaching songwriting from an extremely open frame of mind, and still be confident that whatever we tackled would become part of a cohesive whole. Almost all of our songs came out of group improvisations which then were refined and refined and refined and cut up and turned over and generally fucked with structurally and harmonically until a song we were all happy with finally took shape. Finding the right chords to fit next to each other in a given part can take months. "Known Anomalies", for example, was a song that was kicking around in one form or another for over a year before it settled into place a month or two after the basic tracks were recorded when a couple of guitar overdubs and vocal "enhancements" were finally added. Many potential songs were thrown out when all four members could not come to an agreement.

On this final album of ours, the songs ended up covering more territory stylistically than before. This is probably more by coincidence than by design. Only in the very rare cases have we set out in advance to write a certain type of song. After all, this armchair analysis that you have just read was put together through hindsight. I don't believe that we ever once discussed any of our methods of songwriting at the time we were writing. That would be cheating. We didn't follow any direction excepting that which the songs dictated.

Tar formed in the year of 1988 in Chicago, Illinois. The bass guitar parts were written and played by Tom Mescher up until January of 1991 at which point Tom Zaluckyj was more than happy to fill his shoes. The guitars were always played by Mark Zablocki and John Mohr, though Tom and even myself started to moonlight a bit there towards the end. Tar used to tour a lot back in the day. Following the "European Debacle" of 1993 we quit touring altogether, and finally, in 1995, brought its prolific carrer to an abrupt close. During our tenure, Tar released four singles, four albums, two mini albums, and contributed songs to six compilations and split singles. We never made a living off of our music, and, "Thank God" we never had to.

--- Mike Greenlees

In 1993 we toured like madmen, in part to promote "Toast". It was also because we were partly addicted to the lure of the road. After dozens of U.S. shows, we embarked on a European tour in late October. We ripped through ten countries in six weeks, insulted the French, embraced the Czechs, and endured unpredictable road adventures that would make Kerouac shiver. As usual the Europeans were great, but little did we know that this would be our last full tour.

We returned home in early December, took some time off and did some soul searching. In January we met over breakfast and coffee at a little diner on W. Belmont. We talked, assessed our situation, and came to the mutual decision to stop touring. No more walking the rope without a net. It was time to stop and smell the flowers, get jobs and lay down roots. We would only play weekend dates for people in the the great Midwest. We also agreed to write one more album.

"Over And Out" is our latest and last full length album. It took over a year to write, but hey, democracy is a slow process. "Over and Out" as usual was produced by the band. For recording purposes we employed Steve Albini to engineer seven songs. Bob Weston engineered the remaining three. Listeners will notice the usual Tar elements, (methodical song writing, shifting dynamics, layered guitars) but may also notice a more somber mood. We expanded our time restraints on some songs, and weren't afraid to whisper on others. We also threw in a few barnburners for good measure. The result is a sonic downer, a "roaster" as John would say. We are very happy with the album and hope you are too.

On May 1995, we played our last show at an American Legion Hall in Peoria, Ill. When it was over we did what we normally did, get paid, pack up and drive home. No tears. No apologies. No regrets. The limp reminder of the evening was a banner hung over the stage. An American flag with the slogan "For God And Country" bordered around it, the significance of which will not be lost upon us. Burn, baby burn.

Amen, Abagados, Over and Out.

--- Mark Zablocki