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Imaginary Liz's Best of 2013 Countdown: Allo Darlin

Allo Darlin - IMAGINARY

Allo Darlin hasn't actually stated the words "we will release a new album in 2013," but they did write on their Facebook page (on January 18th), "So, in preparation for recording our new album we want to do 4 small shows in London to try out the new songs." 

Furthermore, there have been tweets about Elizabeth Morris and the Allo Darlin crew writing and recording some new songs and recently they even played a new song "Bright Eyes" (the song title alone makes my heart skip a beat) on a BBC in-studio session (sadly that session isn't available anymore).  Add in the evidence that the band has always been hard at work, on a constant loop of touring and recording and I think it's just a matter of time, right?  I can't wait to hear their new ukelele ballads and guitar pop melodies, all of which will be my new favorite things ever.

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Monday, February 25, 2013
by imaginary liz
3 comments

Latest comment by: Thunder: "Liz it's still early days yet but we're excited about making the new record. There's 5 or so new songs that we've been rehearsing recently and the aim is to write loads more between now and the summer so we have lots to pick from. I've been having fun making Chris ...

Film

Recommended Viewing: John Dies at the End {Opens 2/22 at The Varsity}

If you can’t tell from the trailer, John Dies at the End is one of those movies that’s completely unhinged—which is honestly why I think I liked it so much. And likely why I laughed almost all the way through the end (that reminds me, make sure you stay through the credits!). 

It’s hard to describe the plot since it’s kind of all over the place, but in a nutshell: John and Dave are two friends who stumble onto a psychedelic drug called “soy sauce” (courtesy of a Jamaican named Robert Marley) that may or may not be alive.

While on the sauce, the boys have the ability to talk to the dead, travel between dimensions, and completely mess with their own timelines. At some point, they get recruited into fighting the forces of evil alongside a slick celebrity Doctor named Marconi (a Russian-accented, suited up Clancy Brown. Yay!).

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Friday, February 22, 2013
by Imaginary Amie
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Imaginary Liz's Best of 2013 Countdown: Kleenex Girl Wonder


Kleenex Girl Wonder

I first fell in love with Kleenex Girl Wonder back in 2001 when I randomly happened upon the song "Road to San Francisco" from the 1998 album Graham Smith Is The Coolest Person Alive.  Since then they've released a bunch of albums, making their new release, Let it Buffer (to be released on March 26, 2013 on TWBOS) their twelfth album over the last twenty years.

They combine rumpled lo-fi of Guided By Voices and the microbrew indie-pop of BOAT and spew out candid,  casual and sometimes esoteric and chaotic songs.  Their songs are never boring, with a few clocking in at under a minute and featuring speculative forays outside the pop norm… and this new album will be the perfect palette cleanser in my usual diet of brit-pop, classic indie-pop, Jack White, Conor Oberst and twee.

To further feed everyone's KGW fandom, throughout 2013, KGW will offer 4 free (or very cheap) rare or unreleased tunes with the purchase of certain physical items (e.g. T-shirts or prints) from kgw.me.

I haven't been able to hunt down any samples from the new album, so listening to "Road to San Francisco" will just have to do:

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Friday, February 22, 2013
by imaginary liz
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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
2 comments

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
1 comment

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)!"