The Soundtrack of Our Lives, often abbreviated T.S.O.O.L., is 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 is featured on all their albums, refers to the phrase "as above, so below" from Hermeticism. The name of the bands own independent record label is Akashic Records.
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 a guitarist 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 Mattias Bärjed – guitar, backing vocals (1997–2012, 2023–) Kalle Gustafsson Jerneholm – bass guitar, backing vocals (1995-2012, 2023–) Martin Hederos – keyboards, backing vocals (1995–2012, 2023–) Ebbot Lundberg – lead vocals (1995–2012, 2023–) Ian Person – guitar, backing vocals (1995–2012, 2023–) Fredrik Sandsten – drums, backing vocals (1995–2012, 2023–)
Apart from those mentioned instruments, they all played other instruments such as mellotron, dulcimer, cello, piano, sitar, cembalo and others.
Former band member: Björn Olsson – guitar, backing vocals (1995–1997)
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 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.
In 2023, the band reunited for a number of festival performances in Sweden, Norway, and Spain. A tour of Sweden took place in the spring of 2024, and more dates were added for summer and autumn.
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. 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 MLB 10: The Show.
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.
Discography Studio albums Year Details Peak chart positionsCertifications(sales thresholds) SWE FIN UK US1996Welcome to the Infant Freebase Released: March 1996 Label: Telegram Records 7 — — —SWE: Gold1998Extended Revelation for the Psychic Weaklings of Western Civilization Released: April 1998 Label: Telegram Records 16 — — —2001Behind the Music Released: February 2001 Label: Telegram Records 3 — 95 —SWE: Gold2004Origin Vol. 1 Released: 18 October 2004 Label: Telegram Records 1 20 136 179SWE: Gold2008Communion Released: 26 November 2008 Label: Telegram Records 1 — — —2012Throw It to the Universe Released: 18 April 2012 Label: Telegram Records 1 — — —
Compilation albums Year Details Peak chart positionsCertifications(sales thresholds) SWE FIN UK US2005A 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 1996 Homo Habilis Blues Released: 1996 Label: Telegram Records Position: No. 23 (SWE) 2000 Gimme Five! Released: 21 June 2000 Label: Telegram Records Position: No. 58 (SWE) 2010 The Immaculate Convergence Released: 2010 Label: Yep Roc Live at Lime Released: 2010 Label: Limewire 2012 Shine On (There's Another Day After Tomorrow) Released: December 2012 Label: EMI
Singles Year Title Chart positions AlbumSWEUK1996"Instant Repeater '99" — —Welcome to the Infant Freebase1997"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) — 1561999"Avenger Hill Street Blues" — — Non-album single2001"Still Aging" — —Behind the Music"Nevermore" — —"Sister Surround" 60 80"21st Century Rip Off" — 1142004"Bigtime" 1 78Origin Vol. 1 "Believe I've Found" — —2005"Heading for a Breakdown" — 702008"Thrill Me" — —Communion2009"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) — —
References
External links
VH1 artist site MTV artist site June 2009 Interview with L.A. Record The Soundtrack of Our Lives collection at the Internet Archive's live music archive The Soundtrack of Our Lives at IMDb