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Best of | Northwest Bands

Imaginary Liz's Best of 2013 Countdown: Thermals

Thermals - Desperate GroundOh Hutch, Kathy, and Westin, how do we love thee! In 2013, you are not only gracing us with so much:

- A brand new album of brand new Thermals songs on the beloved Saddle Creek label {of Bright Eyes / Conor Oberst fame} on April 16 {with a limited edition vinyl version on colored vinyl available for pre-order}

- Sub Pop is reissuing all of three Thermals' Sub Pop-released albums on limited edition, colored vinyl on March 5, 2013

All that HOT HOT Thermals vinyl action makes me SWOOOOOOON! 

The new Thermals album is titled Desperate Ground and has been described as having "all the raw power and unhinged adolescent energy that made their early LP’s so insanely enjoyable" and is "a dark and yet joyous affair." I'm sold!

They don't have any Seattle dates, but I know they can't stay away from us for long.  In the meantime we can listen to the first single from the album on repeat (and download it for free via the box below!).  I get light-headed everytime Hutch sings, "Keep me alliiiive" because it's so More Parts Per Million!!!! I also like the "when you command, I will" part.

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Thursday, February 21, 2013
by imaginary liz
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Latest comment by: imaginary liz: "

Hoooooray! Thanks Anonymous!

"

Best of | Indie Pop | New Releases | Twee

Imaginary Liz's Best of 2013 Countdown: Tullycraft

Tullycraft - Lost in Light Rotation It's no secret I have an inside scoop on what goes on in the Tullycraft camp, so I've actually have heard this whole album. A hundred times. Because I just can't stop listening to it.

I was a fan long before I infiltrated their compound, so it's been extra hard to keep from quoting lines and exclaiming about how much I love it. But now that cover art is finalized and a release date has been set, I CAN!

The new album, Lost in Light Rotation, will strike a chord with newbies and longtime loves alike. This time around, Tullycraft has given us an album that is more concise and concentrated with relentless indie-pop guitar and vocal twists that will make you spin on the dancefloor until you drop. 

The result is a set of songs that have the hutzpah of "Our Days in Kansas," the demureness of "DIY Queen," a touch of the electro-craft of "We know You're Cute You Told Us," lo-fi rockeries of "Josie," and that doesn't even include a descriptor for the recently released single, "Lost in Light Rotation" {on 7" vinyl on Magic Marker (US) / Fortuna Pop (Europe)} which you can highly rotate on soundcloud.  There's a video for this single making the rounds (and posted below) and there's an added bonus: the 7" includes an exclusive b-side - a cover of Yazoo’s "Bad Connection."

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Wednesday, February 20, 2013
by imaginary liz
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Latest comment by: Steve Robinson: "So jealous that you have such an in to the band. I bought the limited cassette, but can't seem to find the vinyl for sale on Magic Marker's website. Fingers crossed Tullycraft will play a show soon (when I'm not out of town)!"

Best of | New Releases | Northwest Bands | Twee

Imaginary Liz's Best of 2013 Countdown: Math & Physics Club

For the last few months the boys of MaPC have been teasing us with photos on their Facebook page of them recording at K Records' Dub Narcotic Studio in Olympia. Just last week, February 11, 2013 to be exact, they posted a photo with the caption "Finished mixing the new album today - woohoo!"  To me that sounds like new MaPC songs are just a couple moons away! 

But, these things sometimes take time so I'm not sure when the record will be done or exactly how many songs will be on it (is the above photo a complete tracklisting?) or what it's going to sound like, but with MaPC, you know it's going to be twee-licious! 

I was able to pull a couple details from the group about the new record.  It's going to be titled Our Hearts Beat Out Loud and the cover art will be designed by Tae Won Yu, the amazing designer most lovably known for your favorite Built To Spill cover art and super sweet illustrations that you can put in your Buy Olympia shopping cart.

Sidenote: I bet I'm going to love the songs "It Must Be Summer Somewhere" and "Our Own Ending."  Any gut feelings on which songs you'll love the most based on the song title?

In the meantime, we can all meet at the Tractor Tavern on February 24 when Math & Physics Club open up for Ocean Blue.  We can grill them for details then!

Until that time, we can just stare at the above tracklisting and listen to my favorite song from their second album on repeat, "We're So DIY":

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Tuesday, February 19, 2013
by imaginary liz
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Best of

Imaginary Liz's Best of 2013 Countdown: Stornoway

StornowayI am so defenseless against Stornoway's misty melodic tales of yearning tinged with proper British folk, most specifically the songs "Zorbing" and "Long-Distance Lullaby," that the debut release from Oxford band made my Best of 2010 list.

On March 19, 2013, Stornoway will release their second album, Tales From Terra Firma.  There's a single making it's way around the internet, "Knock Me On The Head" (video below) that confirms my suspicions that they've upped the ante in the arrangements department this time around. There's a symphonic John Denver feel to their pop melodies this time around that make it a perfect accompaniment to my daily dose of earl grey tea.

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Friday, February 15, 2013
by imaginary liz
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Crushes | Northwest Bands | Recommended shows

Don't miss: The Orwells, Wimps at the Crocodile {2/16}

If you've been within shouting distance of me anytime in the last two weeks, you've undoubtedly heard me talking about The Orwells, specifically their 2012 release, Remember When. I first heard these kids on Greg Vandy's Best-Of-The-Year Roadhouse show on KEXP at the end of December, and now that I've got the album in-hand, I can't listen to anything else. It's gritty, sloppy-tight Chicago post-garage, mostly about girls and death. Take a listen to "In My Bed" (below).

This band makes me want to bust out of a high school classroom and blow off my classes to take pills, hang out with my friends, and pretend to be disinterested in girls -- all in some kind of lo-fi frame-skipping movie sequence. Get the whole album direct and leave it on repeat until Saturday, when they come to town to play The Crocodile with Wimps (!!!!!).

While you're picking up that Orwells album, PS, click above and go get the Wimps demo FOR FREE. These will be the best two moves you make today, I promise.

{All ages / $12 adv / Wimps and Grim Smiley open. Tickets available here. Orwells photo courtesy of the band.}

Thursday, February 14, 2013
by imaginary victoria
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