Description
Tsunami – World Tour And Other Destinations – Compact Disc
Released in 1995 on Simple Machines Records, World Tour and Other Destinations is a compilation album by Tsunami, one of the defining bands of the 90s indie rock and DIY scene. Known for their smart, melodic post-punk meets indie-pop sound, Tsunami were more than just a band — they were a cornerstone of the 90s independent music movement, especially in the Washington, D.C. area, where they helped foster the ethos of DIY culture through their label, Simple Machines.
Formed in 1990 by Jenny Toomey (vocals, guitar) and Kristin Thomson (guitar, vocals), Tsunami were pioneers of the indie scene, blending angular, melodic guitar lines with sweet yet emotionally direct vocals. Post-punk energy with pop sensibility and lyrically sharp reflections on relationships, politics, and the indie music community itself
They weren’t just a band—they were community builders, with Simple Machines Records being one of the most influential DIY labels of the 90s, releasing not only their own music but also records from Franklin Bruno, Grenadine, Liquorice, and others.
This compilation collects Tsunami’s early singles, B-sides, and compilation tracks from their first few years together. It’s not a proper studio album, but it’s essential for understanding their origins—a map of their growth from scrappy, noisy indie-pop rookies to confident scene leaders.
It’s also a perfect artifact of the DIY 90s indie era, where singles, split 7-inches, and compilation contributions were as important as albums—sometimes even more so, since compilations were how DIY bands connected to new audiences across scenes.
Tsunami had a sound that balanced catchy, jangly melodies (think early R.E.M. or The Clean). Sharp-edged post-punk guitars (sometimes clean and shimmering, sometimes jagged and noisy). A sense of humor, but also moments of deeply personal vulnerability. Lyrics that felt conversational—like eavesdropping on smart, emotionally clued-in people hashing out life and love at a basement show.
World Tour and Other Destinations is a time capsule of a very specific and important moment in American indie rock—when DIY infrastructure (labels, zines, venues, college radio) was thriving, and bands like Tsunami were at the heart of it all. It’s a reminder that indie music wasn’t just about the songs—it was about building a culture, a network, and a way of thinking about music as something created by and for a community, not dictated by industry trends.
Tsunami embodied this ethic more than almost any other band of their era, and this compilation serves as both a document of their sound and a blueprint for what it meant to be a DIY band in the 90s.
Even though Tsunami never broke into the mainstream, their influence runs deep. Simple Machines’ “Mechanic’s Guide”, a how-to manual for starting a label and releasing records, became a bible for indie bands throughout the 90s and beyond. Musically, you can hear Tsunami’s DNA in bands like Rilo Kiley, Sleater-Kinney, and Land of Talk—bands that combine melodic catchiness with smart, personal lyricism and a fiercely independent spirit.
World Tour and Other Destinations is a must-have for indie rock completists, but even if you’re just dipping into 90s DIY history, it’s a fun, charming, messy, and heartfelt ride. It’s also a document of a band that didn’t just play the scene—they helped build the scene itself.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Simple Machines Records
Song List
Flameproof Suit
World Tour
Ski Trip
Kickball Babe
Candyman
Genius Of Crack
Answerman
Left Behind
Punk Means Cuddle
Could Have Been Christmas
Load Hog
Goldigger
Beauty Pt. II
Brick Book Building
Sometimes A Notion
Walking Tour
Crackers
Not Living
Bossa Nova
Kidding On Square
Newspaper
Courage ~
