It usually isn't in my nature to go against the John Roderick grain, but when it comes to end of year lists of favorites, I can't help myself. I have to gather all of my favorite songs into an MP3 scrapbook for my own current and future mental sanity.

Perusing the song stacks of the past year allows me to recall and file the past year before opening up my next year's calendar. Having an MP3 scrapbook gives me a one stop shop when, a year or even 15 days from now, I ask my-list-driven-self "What was 2010?" {because aren't all of our best memories tied to a song?}.

The answer to that question is below in the form of the playlist of my Imaginary Liz's Favorites Songs of 2010 mix:

1. Stornoway - Zorbing / Beachcomber's Windowsill
This is a solid album that is a soothing blend of a bashful Mumford & Sons, randy Features with a pinch of John Denver. This is the most rocking song on the album and the best Stornoway gateway drug, although I nearly featured "Long Distance Lullaby" on this record because I'm a sucker for love letters about late night phone calls. If I was the kind of girl that would have two songs by the same band on a single mixtape, "Long Distance Lullaby" would be a great way to end this year's wrap up.

2. Drums - Let's Go Surfing / The Drums
I'm a sucker for their Spector-esque take on the new wave of the retro reverb. I also love that igDana suggested that the chorus is actually, "Obama, I want to go shopping!"

3. Allo Darlin' - Kiss Your Lips / Allo Darlin'
It is far from hyperbolic to say this is my album of the year if not the decade. I can't recommend it highly enough. It's got the sweet coy of Heavenly, the foresight of Weezer (name checked in this song), and the jangle guitar of the Wedding Present. I've got several candles lit in hopes Allo Darlin returns to Seattle this year {they are set to play the San Francisco PopFest over Memorial Day weekend - which is just a hopskipjump away!}. They are getting a lot of attention from critics and record store fans far and wide, so I can only hope that Allo Darlin' is the future of sweetheart pop {and that sweetheart pop is the future of twee}.

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The turn of the weather and shortness of days in Seattle over the last couple weeks has left little room to deny that winter is upon us. Thankfully, imaginary victoria has gathered a subtle and soothing mix of songs that is warming our tootsies as of late.

You can listen to a stream of the podcast below or download the MP3 version of the podcast on the imaginary bandcamp page.

If you are the type that likes to listen to podcasts in itunes, download the .m4a file here {it's one single file with fancy chapter markers!} and then open it in your itunes {big thanks to Jigsaw Records and Indie Pages for hosting the file!}.

 

Tracklisting: Imaginary Mixtape - December 2010 {part 1}

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{Carissa's Wierd play the Showbox at the Market on July 9th with Aveo}

This is the way to do it. A properly posh and keenly-selected collection of band and fan favorites from the tribe that split open to become Grand Archives, Band of Horses, S, and (a lady named) Sera Cahoone. Call them time travel super troopers; elements of each of those smothered-by-hugs Seattle groups make up the melodic, melancholy, dialectically anxious and delicate anti-anthems swarming sixteen tracks deep here. Hardly Art has done an ace job of stringing up pearl upon pearl, purifying and balancing the sound of the scrappy original songs, and tying it together with a fact-filled little book (hardly a booklet) thrilling for followers and fun for beginners.

I bring up the phrase "super troopers" as they remind me of ABBA, for in a weird way Carissa's Wierd was the alternately icy and passionate twin sister of those pop opera experts. But instead of bouncy bass and sweeping ballads, on They'll Only Miss You When You Leave, CW explores pretty little wounds, beautiful but heartbroken days, bonfires with lovers clenching more than clutching each other. All set to the strum and pluck of a booze-soaked acoustic left after a party, some really gorgeous strings, and an occasional surge in emotion best exemplified by the photo of the "Ugly But Honest" sign on the lyric sheet. Strong emotions of all type are shared, with (S's) Jenn Ghetto's nectarous voice often more than hinting at a bitter center.

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This month's imaginary mixtape features a slew of Seattle finest who are taking to the clubs {and some even reuniting!} during the next few weeks, but kicks off with a perfect summertime song by a band that we wish was coming to town.

You can listen to a stream or download the MP3 version of the podcast on the imaginary bandcamp page.

If you are the type that likes to listen to podcasts in itunes, download the .m4a here {with fancy chapters even!} and then open it in your itunes {Thanks to Jigsaw Records for hosting it!}.

 

Tracklisting: Imaginary Mixtape - July 2010:

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Join us Sunday, June 27 from 1p-3p at Neptune Coffee for the second edition of our Imaginary Crafty Listening Party! Last month we had a glorious time making new crafty friends and debuting the new Math & Physics Club album.  This time around, we'll fill the air with the likes of two album we think should be on your must-have summer playlist:

Carissa's Wierd - They’ll Only Miss You When You Leave: Songs 1996-2003
This retrospective reminds us why Carissa's Wierd should be counted as one of the most important bands to come out of Seattle. They perfected elegant sadness and inspired the beard-core movement that has penetrated today's music charts.

The album releases July 13, 2010 on Hardly Art and they will knock our socks off at the Showbox at the Market on July 9. Listen to "Die" on repeat.

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(Photo: Explosion 5000) from the Imaginary Flickr Photo Pool)

Last week I had a dream that I found out that Carissa's Wierd is going to play the Capitol Hill Block Party this year. Sometimes my dreams prove prophetic, sometimes they make me wonder what is going on with my subconscious (and involve eating pizza and/or hanging out with Michael Stipe). My fingers are crossed that this Carissa's Wierd sleepy vision will come true. You never know, right?

Who do you want to play the 2010 Capitol Hill Block Party (subconscious or otherwise)?  Any rumors flying around the locker room?

And while we're talking summer Seattle festivals... has anyone heard any Bumbershoot whispers?

 

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Yesterday I divulged my favorite albums of the year. Today I am ready to let go of my latest obsession: My album recap of how I spent my 00's.

The below listage rant is my own little time capsule to remind myself why 2000-2009 musically ruled. As with my other list posts, I'm certain I totally forgot to add something really important to my end-all-be-all-recap. It's up to you to remind me by posting your favs of the 00's below.

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For the keyword curious, here's the full top 50 ways folks found TIG in Google last month.

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n honor of tonight's Grand Archives show at the Crocodile (that I am very, very, VERY excited to see!), our photo of the day today is of Mat Brooke...

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I think Eric Grandy over at the Stranger might be as huge of a Carissa's Wierd fan as I am, as he's doing a stellar job keeping me and the rest of Seattle up-to-date on the haps of Grand Archives, a brand new band featuring Mat Brooke (Carissa's Wierd's somber front-man) as well as Ron Lewis (Ghost Stories, ex-Mines) and Curtis Hall (ex-Jeunes).

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