Three Imaginary Girls - The Postal Service

Imaginary Watch This: 80s Phil-Collinsy Goodness from The Postal Service

Imaginary Amie — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 20:06:38 +0000

It's been awhile since we told you about this, so I figured this sunny Seattle day was a perfect oppurtunity to remind you that The Postal Service covered Phil Collins' heart-breaky 80s ballad "Against All Odds" for the 2004 movie Wicker Park (which is kinda weird, since it was already in a movie called...Against All Odds). Enjoy!

imaginary liz's favorite albums of the last decade

imaginary liz — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:52:00 +0000

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.

Still looks like there won't be another Postal Service record

ChrisB — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:17:43 +0000

Ben Gibbard told Rolling Stone magazine that another Postal Service record is a priority for everyone except for he and Jimmy Tamborello.

Our crazy theory for who is headlining SP20 tonight

imaginary dana — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:34:20 +0000

Liz and I aren't at SP20 so we have time speculate and we've got a good working theory that there's a magical secret headliner tonight and it's going to be the Postal Service.

Happy birthday, Sub Pop! Fave 20 releases of all time

imaginary stella — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:00:31 +0000

Here, in tribute to the Seattle label's 20 years of not going out of business, are my favorite 20 releases from Sub Pop from the past two decades. I encourage you to check out their catalog and provide yours, too.

Jimmy Tamborello on Little Radio playing 7"s tomorrow (Thursday) 11AM-1PM!

Mike Mess — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:06:39 +0000

Jimmy Tamborello on Little Radio playing 7"s tomorrow 11AM-1PM!

No new Postal Service record... ever?

imaginary dana — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:58:11 +0000

Thanks for the big bad rainy Monday morning bummer, Aversion.

I Wanna Be Sedated: "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" and "Boys Don't Cry"

imaginary liz — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:25:43 +0000

As much as I put down the Pioneer Square music scene, I love a good cover.

"Natural Anthem" by The Postal Service

imaginary ash — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:49:35 +0000

Yum. The Postal Service for breakfast. I'm digging it. I think I probably melted my copy of Give Up by playing it too many times, but I tell you what, I never got sick of it. I believe it is one of the most important albums of this decade so far, and though I'm excited for more music from them if and when another album is released (which, by most accounts, seems nigh), I also kind of wish they would leave it be, so that we can all have this one perfect band to breathe in and out without any chance of pollution. "Natural Anthem" is somewhat of an anomaly within the album, considering that it spends four minutes building up an electro-instrumental supercharging melody before Ben Gibbard's vocals kick in. The lyrics are short, sweet, to the point, in true BG fashion: "I'll write you a song and it won't be hard to sing It will be a natural anthem, familiar it will seem It will rally all the workers on strike for better pay And its chorus will resound and boost morale throughout the day I'll write you a song and I hope that you won't mind Because all the names and places I have taken from real life So please don't be upset at this portrait that I paint It may be a little biased, but at least I spelled your name right..." Mmmmm, yes, delightful. I think I'll put Give Up on repeat for the rest of the day. Incidentally, the very next song my iPod played was "Wires and Waves" by my most favoritist band, Rilo Kiley. Oh iPod, be still my heart.

postalservice.jpg

Erik couldn't make it for the iPod Roulette today — something about a lizard. I, Betsy, have been asked to step in and take the spin.

Let the Halloween video parade begin: Sonic Youth, Smoosh, Beck, Arcade Fire unite!

imaginary liz — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:41:38 +0000

Here's a video put out a while back from The North American Halloween Prevention Initiative. It's kinda weird and it was hard to get my brain around it before the morning muffin... but it features a ton of awesomeness in the line-up -- and that's good enough for me.

Which albums must be heard on vinyl to fully appreciate?

imaginary dana — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 20:34:55 +0000

Our imaginary household has recently acquired a kickass turntable and a decent pair of speakers, so we've spent many the evening geeking out with our (very small) pile of records.

Sasquatch 2004 Preview

Joseph Riippi — Sun, 16 May 2004 07:00:00 +0000

16 May 2004

sasquatch.gif

How does one write the beginning of a preview of this year's Sasquatch! Music Festival? There has to be a better way then just saying, "Grab you cameras, 'cause here comes a Sasquatch!" or "Is this a Sonics game? I thought I saw a gymnast in a furry suit running around somewhere," or "Got Sasquatch?" or "Don't give me that sass young lady, just give me a sass-QUATCH!!"

But that would all be pretty stupid. Some would even say worthy of restricting my imaginary status and ejection-seating me out of the imaginary world of html indie rock reviews. It would seem to me the result of having a very "twee" intellect.

So while struggling to write this at a kitchen table in Puyallup, I was lucky enough to have my girlfriend call from Richmond to see how I was doing with life back on the left side of the country. She was the editor-in-chief of The Flat Hat at the College of William and Mary last year, and she has a degree — with honors, mind you — in art history. That means she is a lot smarter than me. I asked for help.

"Hey Linds, how should I start a preview about the Sasquatch Festival?"

"With babies. Because everyone likes babies. And because they're cute and little. Plus, everybody likes them."

What????

That didn't help at all. But it was really late in Richmond when we were talking, so she was probably just really tired and talking nonsense.

But anyways, nonsense might as well work as a lead to the preview. (Thanks Linds)

The Sasquatch Festival was great last year, and I have no doubts that this year's will be excellent as well. Last year featured amazing sets by the likes of Northwest favorites like The Thermals, Maktub, Pedro the Lion, Neko Case, Modest Mouse... and Death Cab for Cutie debuted a new song, "The New Year," from their hit album "Transatlanticism" that didn't get released until Halloween time. The headliners were The Flaming Lips and Coldplay, the former of turned the Gorge into one gigantic fourth grade summer birthday party while the latter just kind of sucked. (They looped the acoustic guitar part to "Yellow" for crying out loud. Chris Martin, just play it yourself you pansy. And congratulations on the kid.)

This year's lineup is, in my humble music-snob opinion, even better. The only problem is, like last year, trying to decide what shows to miss on the main stage in order to run over and catch something on the side stage. Like, is it worth missing the Fruit Bats in order to see Harvey Danger? Do I want to see the Long Winters and sacrifice part of the New Pornographers' and Sleater-Kinney's sets? Decisions, decisions.

Anyways, I will be there, and shortly after the show I will be driving back to Seattle to make sure I am well-rested enough to see the Sasquatch After-Party at Neumo's, featuring The Shins and the Fruit Bats. You need to show a Sasquatch ticket stub at the door (and also be 21 years old and have 17 dollars.)

So for those of you that had the same problem as I did last year and weren't sure of the who was playing where and at what time until the day of the show when you were part of that crowd furiously writing down set times on arms with borrowed pens in front of the one posted schedule next to the fleet of portable toilets, here it is. (If you're looking for more of a preview, just know it will be awesome. Make sure you get there early enough, Aveo and the newly reunited Harvey Danger are well worth it.)

Main Stage:
Aveo:     12:15 - 1:00
Harvey Danger:   1:15 - 2:00
Visqueen:   2:15 - 3:00
Cat Power:   3:15 - 4:00
The New Pornographers:   4:15 - 5:00
Sleater-Kinney:     5:15 - 6:00
Built to Spill:     6:15 - 7:00
The Shins:     7:15 - 8:00
The Postal Service:    8:15 - 9:00
The Roots:     9:15 - 10:15
Thievery Corporation:    10:30 - 11:30

In between sets on the main stage you get to enjoy the music of DJ Cherry Canoe and the MC-ing of comedian David Cross.

Plaza (food area) Stage:

Apollo Sunshine:     11:45 - 12:30
Fruit Bats:     12:45 - 1:30
Ben Lee:     1:45 - 2:30
Preston School of Industry:     2:45 - 3:30
Alexi Murdoch:     3:45 - 4:30
The Long Winters:     4:45 - 5:30
Donavon Frankenreiter:     5:45 - 6:30
The Decemberists:     6:45 - 7:30
Gary Jules:     7:45 - 8:30
The Black Keys:     8:45 - 9:30

Enjoy it all.

Make sure you get there early enough; Aveo and the newly reunited Harvey Danger are well worth it.

Best of 2003: Imaginary Staffers Top 10 Lists

three imaginary girls — Sun, 04 Jan 2004 08:00:00 +0000

Char, Imaginary Girl

All Girl Summer Fun Band, "2"
Death Cab for Cutie, "Transatlanticism"
Massive Attack, "100th Window"
Outkast, "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below"
Stellastarr*, "Stellastarr*"
The Dandy Warhols, "Welcome To The Monkey House"
The Fitness, "Call Me for Together"
The Postal Service, "Give Up"
Various Artists, "Lost in Translation" Soundtrack
Visqueen, "King Me"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Fever To Tell"

Dana, Imaginary Girl

Nada Surf , "Let Go" &
The Postal Service, "Give Up"
The Thermals, "More Parts Per Million"
The Long Winters, "When I Pretend To Fall" &
Visqueen, "King Me"
The Shins, "Chutes Too Narrow"
The Divorce, "There Will Be Blood Tonight" &
The Lights, "Beautiful Bird"
Idlewild, "The Remote Part"
Mogwai, "Happy Songs for Happy People"
Dear John Letters, "Stories of our Lives"
Heather Duby, "Come Across the River"
The Malinks, "Can't Shake Last Night" &
Downpilot, "Leaving Not Arriving"

Liz, Imaginary Girl

The Thermals, "More Parts Per Million"
The Divorce, "There Will Be Blood Tonight" &
Ballboy, "Guide for the Daylight Hours"
Visqueen, "King Me" &
The Long Winters, "When I Pretend To Fall" &
Idlewild, "The Remote Part"
Stellastarr*, "Stellastarr*"
Clearlake, "Cedars" &
Okkervil River, "Down the River of Golden Dreams"
The Decemberists, "Her Majesty, the Decemberists"
The White Stripes, "Elephant"
The Postal Service, "Give Up"
The Shins, "Chutes Too Narrow"
Caesars, "39 Minutes of Bliss (In an Otherwise Meaningless World)"

Chilly C, Imaginary Boy

The Primate Five, "1234567APE"
The New Pornographers, "Electric Version"
The Earaches, "Fist Fights, Hot Love"
Blur, "Think Tank"
The Divorce, "There Will Be Blood Tonight"
Cat Power, "You Are Free
Belle & Sebastian, "Dear Catastrophe Waitress"
!!!, "Me and Giuliani Down by the Schoolyard: True Story" (EP)
Sushirobo, "The Light Fingered Feeling of Sushirobo"
Stellastarr*, "Stellastarr*"

embracey, Imaginary Boy Film~Theatre Critic

Broadcast "Haha Sound"
Various Artists, "Lost in Translation" Soundtrack
Various Artists, "Morvern Callar" Soundtrack
Beth Gibbons & Rustin' Man "Out of Season"
Death Cab for Cutie, "Transatlanticism"
The Dandy Warhols, "Welcome To The Monkey House"
Gillian Welch, "Soul Journey"
Tipper, "Surrounded"
Cat Power, "You Are Free
Lucinda Williams, "World Without Tears"

Imaginary Chapman Boy

The Strokes, "Room On Fire"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Fever To Tell"
The Libertines, "Up the Bracket"
Outkast, "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below"
The Postal Service, "Give Up"
Death Cab for Cutie, "Transatlanticism"
The Rapture, "Echoes"
Junior Senior, "D-D-Don't Don't Stop the Beat"
The Raveonettes, "Chain Gang of Love"
Broken Social Scene, "You Forgot It In People"

Imaginary Lorenzo

Death Cab for Cutie, "Transatlanticism"
Junior Senior, "D-D-Don't Don't Stop the Beat"
Menomena, "I Am the Fun Blame Monster!"
Rufus Wainwright, "Want One"
The Long Winters, "When I Pretend To Fall"
The Postal Service, "Give Up"
united state of electronica, "demos"
Various Artists, "Wig In a Box" Compilation
Visqueen, "King Me"

Jake Barnes, Fictional Lost Generation Character

Kaito, "Band-Red"
American Analog Set, "Promise of Love"
Rachel's, "Systems/Layers"
The Postal Service, "Give Up"
Cat Power, "You Are Free
British Sea Power, "Decline of British Sea Power"
Cinerama, "Cinerama Holiday"
Beth Gibbons & Rustin' Man "Out of Season"
Longwave, "The Strangest Things"
Innocence Mission, "Befriended"

Michael X, Imaginary Boy

Dead Meadow, "Shivering King and Others"
Kinski, "Airs Above Your Station"
A Perfect Circle, "Thirteenth Step"
Massive Attack, "100th Window"
Radiohead, "Hail To The Thief"
Mogwai, "Happy Songs for Happy People"
American Analog Set, "Promise of Love"
Mono, "One Step More and You Die"
The Ruby Doe, "Dream Engine Blue"
Los Halos, "Leaving Va."

Ryan Schierling, Photographer

The Long Winters, "When I Pretend To Fall"
Idlewild, "The Remote Part"
The Weakerthans, "Reconstruction Site"
The Postal Service, "Give Up"
Visqueen, "King Me"
The Decemberists, "Her Majesty, the Decemberists"
Nada Surf, "Let Go"
The Thermals, "More Parts Per Million"
Dischord (compilation), "20 Years Of Dischord"
An American Starlet, "3 Song EP"

sero(tone)in, Imaginary Boy Events Expert

Crooked Fingers, "Red Devil Dawn"
Idlewild, "The Remote Part"
The Decemberists, "Her Majesty, the Decemberists"
Broken Social Scene, "You Forgot It In People"
The Wrens, "The Meadowlands"
The Pernice Brothers, "Yours Mine & Ours"
Kaito, "Band-Red"
Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, "Hearts of Oak"
Aereogramme, "Sleep and Release"
Songs: Ohia, "Magnolia Electric Co."

Trix, Imaginary Correspondent

Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, "Hearts of Oak"
The Shins, "Chutes Too Narrow"
The Thermals, "More Parts Per Million"
The New Pornographers, "Electric Version"
The Wrens, "The Meadowlands"
The Notwist, "Neon Golden"
The Postal Service, "Give Up"
The Decemberists, "Her Majesty, The Decemberists"
Stellastarr*, "Stellastarr*"
Dirtbike Annie, "Show Us Your Demons"

return to the full 2003 recap

Best releases of 2003, in the opinions of the imaginary staff...

Best of 2003: Your #1 Album Picks of the Year

three imaginary girls — Sat, 03 Jan 2004 08:00:00 +0000

Although some folks couldn't rank their lists {igChar}... which is fine... you know... if you just can't bear to proclaim to the world, "THIS WAS THE BEST FUCKING ALBUM OF THE YEAR!!!" but some of us could. And albums that have such an exclamation bestowed on them deserve a special note. So here they are... the albums that our voters deemed "THE BEST FUCKING ALBUM OF THE YEAR!"

These albums all received at least one #1 vote:

Outkast, "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" *
The Postal Service, "Give Up" *
Radiohead, "Hail To The Thief" *
The Strokes, "Room On Fire" *
The White Stripes, "Elephant" *
Wonderful, "God Bless Our Pad" *
Audioslave, "Audioslave"
The Bad Plus "These are the Vistas"
Belle & Sebastian, "Dear Catastrophe Waitress"
British Sea Power, "Decline of British Sea Power"
Broadcast "Haha Sound"
Cat Power, "You Are Free
Coil, "The Key to Joy is Disobedience (limited box set)"
Crooked Fingers, "Red Devil Dawn"
Dead Meadow, "Shivering King and Others"
The Dears, "No Cities Left"
The Decemberists, "Castaways and Cutouts"
The Delgados, "Hate"
The Divorce, "There Will Be Blood Tonight"
The Drive-By Truckers, "Decoration Day"
Eddie Izzard, "Circle (live)"
The Flaming Lips, "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots"
Four Tet, "Rounds"
Holopaw, "Holopaw"
Idlewild, "The Remote Part"
Kaito, "Band-Red"
Led Zeppelin, DVD {This voter explains, "No album release came close to the monumental Zeppelin DVD package"}
The Long Winters, "When I Pretend To Fall"
The Malinks, "Can't Shake Last Night"
The Mars Volta, "De-Loused in the Comatorium"
Martina Topley-Bird, Quixotic"
Mogwai, "Happy Songs for Happy People"
Mojave 3, "Spoon & Rafter"
Nada Surf , "Let Go"
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, "Nocturama"
The Primate Five, "1234567APE"
The Rapture, "Echoes"
The Shins, "Chutes Too Narrow"
Sleepy Jackson, "Lovers"
Sloan, "Action Pact"
Smog, "Supper"
Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, "Hearts of Oak"
The Thermals, "More Parts Per Million"
Triple R, "Friends"
Twilight Singers, "Blackberry Belle"
Visqueen, "King Me"
The Wrens, "The Meadowlands"

* Denotes more than one #1 rating received.

return to the full 2003 recap

AstroPOP! for August 2003

chilly c — Sat, 02 Aug 2003 07:00:00 +0000

Imaginary rock and roll astrology CD reviews for August 2003

Leo {July 23-August 22}
Ah, summer! The long, hot days, the glare of the sun, the constant sweating. It's ok to admit it, Leo, you hate summer. You want to crawl into a hole dark and deep enough to beat the heat until we set the clocks back in the fall. Now I won't argue with you if you want to avoid the daylight (after all, I am an astrologer whose very job depends on waiting for nightfall when the stars come out) but at least take some artificial light with you: listening to Sounds of Summer - The Very Best of the Beach Boys (Capitol) is like spending a day at the beach without the greasy smear of sunblock and the grit of sand in your shorts. Like the hot season itself, a Beach Boys greatest hits reissue has become an annual ritual that you just can't escape. This year's model comes with some new stereo mixes including "California Girls," "Dance, Dance, Dance," and "Shut Down." The spooky "Heroes and Villains" is still the creepiest song ever recorded by the Beach Boys—and that includes their Charles Manson cover! "Heroes" helps balance out the wide-eyed naivety of longtime favorites like "Surfer Girl," "Help Me, Rhonda" and "Little Deuce Coupe." True, I suppose it's possible that 80 minutes of good-time sugary harmony might send you screaming from your hibernation cave, but look on the bright side, Leo—at least you'll be getting some fresh air!

Virgo {August 23-September 22}
You haven't gotten this far on your own, Virgo. This month you need to acknowledge those who have given you guidance along the way: your fourth grade art teacher, your first boss at your lawn-mowing service job, your grandmother. Like yourself, Sacramento/New York-based !!! knows where they come from. Without ever getting jokey, the eight-piece band pays homage to a record store's worth of forebears with an exuberant mix of funk/dance/punk, giving musical props to the Gap Band, James Chance, Gang of Four, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kool and the Gang, New Order, and, ok, even Kenny Loggins with their new 2-song ep single Me and Giuliani Down by the School Yard (A True Story) (Touch and Go). Both nine-minute songs squiggle and shimmy across the floor with such ease it makes you wonder why it's taken punks this long to want to dance (jumping up and down in one place notwithstanding). It just goes to show that it's never to late to tell someone that they've changed your life. Can you feel it intensify? Good, now go on and give grandma a call...

Libra {September 23-October 22}
Good luck is in the stars for you this month, Libra. You just got to believe, to paraphrase... I don't know, Lenny Kravitz—or Ravenna. It's obvious that Ravenna believe in something—cynics are never this passionate. Their debut cd Interruption (Broucek) spills over with emotional surges and lyrical appeals to "savor these times" and "try a different kind of breathing." The strong band is led by multi-pedaled guitarist Noel Paul, who clearly loves Radiohead so much that when he hears the National Anthem at baseball games I'll bet he says "th-they're playing the wrong song!" Vocalist Shelby Earl sings with crystalline, enunciated beauty, like Tori Amos without the anger. The songs rise, fall and rise again with a majestic sweep that belies the lo-fi basement recording. Libra, hang your good luck on Ravenna, because their star is only going to rise.

Scorpio {October 23 - November 21}
Your stubborn streak this month has its downside, Scorpio. Sure, when your mouth runs on autopilot you tend to speak more freely, but what about the feelings of others? And apologies are a bitch, aren't they? It's time to take it down a notch. Gently. First, get calm with the very mellow Britta "Jem" Phillips/Dean Wareham collaboration L'Avventura (Jetset). It definitely sounds like more than just 50% of Luna: languid, half-spoken melodies, "Pale Blue Eyes"-inspired guitar, impeccable rhythm. The kicker here is that half the record is covers: from Madonna ("I Deserve It") to the Silver Jews ("Random Rules") to a surprisingly tender take on the Doors' "Indian Summer." Luna's signature sound unifies what could have been disjointed mess; Wareham and Phillips sensitively handle the disparate range of material. Soak up that sensitivity, Scorpio. You've got some fences to mend, and you're going to need it. And if Wareham & Phillips can come clean with a Doors cover, then you certainly can manage an "I'm sorry."

Sagittarius {November 22-December 21}
So lately you just feel different, Sagittarius? Look up. See those stars up there? See how they form a little heart-shaped pattern? That means that love is, quite literally, in the air for you this month. Romance is about to blossom in all its fascinating, creepy glory—not unlike the way the new Eisley ep Laughing City (Record Collection) makes me both shiver and shine at the same time. Not since Bjork ran through that weird forest of bears and bunnies has the natural world been portrayed with such a compelling mixture of wonder, simplicity and terror: "On the mossy turf we'll dance 'til our feet shatter / our toes will splinter." Girls sprout wings, lightbulbs in pockets light up the woods, butter clouds drip into mouths. The Eisley sisters sing these lyrics with a starry-eyed other-worldliness that should serve as a caveat for you, Sag: love makes you feel many things, but most of all it makes you feel different.

Capricorn {December 22-January 19}
You don't just live your life, Capricorn. You "live" your "life." Yes, your entire month is in quotes—a densely-woven dookie chain of irony, self-awareness, and attitude. The best way to let everybody know about your new meta-lifestyle is to grab an old skool boom box and blast So Stylistic (Tommy Boy), the debut cd from Brooklyn's Fannypack, everywhere you go. A delicious mixture of Deee-Lite, Lil Kim and JJ Fad, Fannypack hides two old male DJ's behind three underage rapper girls. Cat, Belinda and Jessibel bring plenty of sass and surprising rhyming skills, and their voices-in-unison giggle with so much wink-winkin' that you'd swear the flutter of their heavily-shadowed eyelids never stops. Fannypack teases mega-stardom like it was the nerdy kid in the locker room. Sure it may be staged and calculated, but meta-lifers like yourself sleep through sincerity the way Jessibel sleeps through English class. C'mon Capricorn, let's get famous! Endquote.

Aquarius {January 20-February 18}
People can't always get a bead on you, Aquarius, and it frustrates you. This month you've got to make a choice: either enjoy your intrinsic inscrutableness, or speak up and tell us how you really feel. When you turn off your phone and stay shut in your room, are you truly depressed? Or are you "pulling a Mogwai?" Since their inception in 96, the Scottish five-piece has been writing songs that get labeled 'depressing' but really aren't depressing at all. Their title of their latest release, Happy Songs For Happy People (Matador), will probably get called 'ironic' a lot more than 'spot-on,' but to me the songs' churning guitars and dreamy melodies are cinematic and uplifting. Snappier than Sigur Ros, more traditionally tuneful than Massive Attack, Mogwai will be our clue—if we hear lead-off track "Hunted By A Freak" from your locked bedroom door, we'll know that you're feeling, well, happy.

Pisces {February 19-March 20}
You love the summer, Pisces, so much so that anyone can see the positive changes in you. The good weather makes the best parts about you get even better. You and the Oly, Wa quartet All Girl Summer Fun Band (K). Bolder and brighter than their 2002 debut, AGSFB's just-released 2 pogoes with abandon, cranks the amps, and displays more chutzpah and ambition than the last ten K Records releases combined. Sure, the band still shambles in places, but I'll wager that the eventual "3" will take out the Donnas by this time next summer. As it is, "Dear Mr. & Mrs. Troublemaker" is super-catchy and features the best use of a typewriter-as-percussion I've heard in a long time. As for you, Pisces, make sure you're storing up some of this good energy so that when the cold comes you won't be left out in it. Keep the All Girl Summer Fun Band close at hand, and you'll always have a great pop song and a sunny day in your heart.

Aries {March 21-April 19}
Aries, you're a team player, a social animal, part of the crowd. But sometimes you like to stand out on your own. Denver Dalley co-fronted Desaparecidos with Conor Oberst, but he didn't want to wait out yet another leg of the Bright Eyes tour before getting started on a new Desaparecidos cd. So Dalley formed Statistics and wrote and played everything himself (except some drums). For a one-man-show, Statistics' self-titled ep is a bit murky as a statement of purpose. The lead-off track "Another Day" adds keyboard loops to the Desa-style circular-riff guitar and repeats the existentialist's favorite lament "I wish I wasn't me." The rest of the ep plays out like a fast-paced, half-remembered dream that doesn't make a whole lot of sense—radio static and quiet guitar arpeggio interludes surround the loud standout track "Hours Seem Like Days," a nostalgic look back when art (including music and films) was created by hand, not computers. I'm not sure what Dalley has against, I don't know, "Finding Nemo" or Depeche Mode, especially considering his own ep contains liberal use of programmed samples, but I'm trying to take him at his word. Like yourself, Aries, Dalley likes to set himself apart from everybody else. Unlike yourself, maybe he needs to be part of a group in order to truly stand out.

Taurus {April 20-May 20}
Whether it's a dazzling sunset or the hottie at your favorite espresso stand, it's easy for you to get blinded by beauty, Taurus. It's enough to make your eyes sting and water sometimes, isn't it? Seattle four-piece the Glasses get blinded repeatedly on their debut ep, Sunbreaks—by wished-for girls who never arrive, by the anger in a lover's quarrel, or by the "orange eye in the sky" itself. With a jangly guitar sound that evokes early Built to Spill fronted by Quasi's Sam Coombes, the Glasses make pop music with a refreshing sweetness and confidence. In "Last Stand in the Final Scene," the Glasses assert that "you can't push the pushover this time," and it's clear that the band will stand up for itself. Hardly the shoegazing type, the Glasses aren't afraid to look up, stare straight ahead, and play their songs to the sun. And Taurus, if it makes your eyes tear up a bit, you can always blame it on the bright light.

Gemini {May 21-June 21}
Jealousy. You're above that sort of thing. Yah, your friends are moving into houses while you're still scraping by to pay your apartment rent, and they're driving back to the burbs (like Maple Leaf and West Seattle) while you're riding the bus home from work. How do you keep the bile at bay while the 8 lurches across Denny Way? Listen to Fist Fights, Hot Love the debut cd from Seattle's supercharged garage/punk quartet, the Earaches. Gifted purveyors of short-blast hi-energy rock, the Earaches profess their love for the Stooges, the MC5, the Oblivians, and Dead Moon (among others) in their blister-hot songs. From lead-off salvo "Bust Out!" to the last-call closer "Just Wanna Rock 'n' Roll," the cd grabs and throttles you like a drunk brawler in the Monkeypub. Every three-chord, lo-fi band knows that the industry is sick with the 'garage band craze' right now, but the Earaches are smart enough to realize that they don't need to get on superhero movie soundtracks in order to testify. Album highlight "I Used to be a Loser" sums up the Earaches' don't-give-a-fawk stance: "now I just relax and enjoy the ride." Long after the Vines and the Hives are forgotten and the White Stripes are shilling cell phones, the Earaches will still be bashing out the hits, content enough just to be making music. Oh, and you probably won't ever be able to afford to buy a house either, Gemini. So, just relax and enjoy the ride.

Cancer {June 22-July 22} You need a fashion makeover this month, Cancer—a clever one that you can pull off by mixing and matching stuff that's already in your closet. While you're playing dress-up, listen to "District Sleeps Alone Tonight" (Sub Pop), the latest ep single from the Postal Service, for mash-up-style epiphanies. With a melody that recalls Liz Phair's "Canary" and a bass line borrowed from the Human League, the album version of "District" almost seems too comforting and familiar to truly conjure the detached loneliness that the song's lyrics describe. Enter the remix. DJ Downfall melds a corkscrew Manchester-style bass line and a crazy sped-up hi-hat to give his version a jarring, intense new heartbeat. Meanwhile, ace DJ John Tejada down-twists "Such Great Heights" to a slo-mo drawl and layers some distorted synth washes for maximum cough syrup effect. A hushed, spacious cover of the Flaming Lips' "Suddenly Everything Has Changed" rounds out the ep—in the same way your 80's Winger pin works perfectly with your Fred Perry running jacket. You look great, Cancer, let's go out!

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Your rock and roll astrological forecast, featuring The Postal Service, All Girl Summer Fun Band, The Earaches, Statistics, and more.

100 words, erm... 848 words about seven bands!

three imaginary girls — Tue, 20 May 2003 07:00:00 +0000

16 May 2003

"Broadcast Oblivion, Visqueen, the Fitness, Cex, the Postal Service, Lloyd's Rocket and Johnny Marr and the Healers. {April-May 2003}"

Once again, we saw more bands play than we had time to write about. We attempted to adhere to our 100 words per article practice, but also, we've fallen off the minimalist wagon a bit. So we bring you: 848 words about seven bands. Yeah, yeah... just hush up and read 'em!

Broadcast Oblivion
{4.22.03 at the Sunset Tavern}

I'd never heard of Broadcast Oblivion before catching them opening for Visqueen at the Sunset Tavern. My observations? 1) These boys don't take their rock lightly 2) This should be no surprise as the band consists of band members from Scared of Chaka and the Murder City Devils 3) Frontman/vocalist Cisco has the largest mouth I've seen sing since that "Love in an Elevator" video and 4) Cisco needs to brush up on his Journey skills ("those crazy nights, I do remember, in my youth...").

Keep your eyes peeled for a Phil Ek'ed debut CD in an indie-record store near you...

Visqueen
{4.22.03 at the Sunset Tavern}

"Suddenly we were fine with it that way"

You know how TIG always loves us some Visqueen. After the erratic night of music at the Showbox, I fled to the comforts of Ballard (more specifically, the packed-to-the-gills Sunset Tavern) for the consistently amazing talent of Flotard, Warnick, and Hooker. As always, they positively rocked. The highlights: it was Ben's 30th birthday, Rachel said both "booger" and "cock" into the mic, Rachel dedicated "You Were the Sun" to Kurt Bloch (of the Fastbacks), Kim... was cool, as always... and you know what else? Visqueen has gotten far too popular to play so small a venue...

The Fitness
{5.01.03 at Crocodile}

"gianni versace or joanie loves chachi — some say"

The Fitness. I love this band. Any girl who can convincingly rhyme "haute couture clothes" with "brand new nose" deserves to be revered for her pop-goddess sensibilities. With obvious nods to old-wave Vogue, the Fitness whined and pouted and cooed and snooted their stylie way thru the set — all trashy-flashy and oh-so culture icons — some say. Frontwoman Brie strutted that stage with a slightly fake (including accent) "la-tee-da" Justine Frischmann sensuality, put on with hand firmly on hip and tongue lightly in cheek. Or wait — strike that, reverse it...

Oh yeah — as if they could be more petulant — they went on to cover the Ramones' "Beat on the Brat." Oh yeah? "Oh yeah." Did I mention, I love this band?

Cex
{5.01.03 at Crocodile}

Initially, the fact that I had a lively Fitness recap conversation in a comfortable booth in the back of the bar resulted in my deciding to forego the Cex portion of the show. That plan quickly changed when Ryan came back to the booth with the photo to the right on his digital camera and said "You've got to go see this!" Not one to question such a statement I darted to the stage. But, Cex (aka Ryan Kidwell) had taken to the dance floor. Sweaty and only in his red running shorts and Reeboks, he electrified the room with his one of a kind mix of a quadshot caffeine buzz, anti-suburbia-style lyrics and ADD. Live, he had the message of a Desaparecido-Conor Oberst with the delivery of an early Eminem that I've been looking for... and he ended the show with one of the most darling quotes ever, "I'm also really normal if you want to talk to me. I love you. Bye."

The Postal Service
{5.01.03 at Crocodile}

"When we kiss then they're perfectly aligned"

They covered Phil Collins.

The Postal Service — everyone's favorite indie-come-electronic superband, featuring Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard, Dntel's Jimmy Tamborello, and for tonight's show, Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis — Sub Pop-signed, about to become bigger than God, the Postal Service — ended their set by covering Phil Collins' "Against All Odds." They even broadcast clips of the film in the background during the song. Ben dedicated it as, "A tribute to English men with male-patterned baldness."

I think it was the greatest thing I've ever seen.

Lloyds Rocket
{5.08.03 at Chop Suey}

"Bringin' me down, down on the ground"

Lloyds Rocket represents an endurance of the rock — the pummel of two wailing guitars, the pound of the drums, the roar of that voice. If only I'd been wearing a bra, I might have flung it on the stage. Slight tangent: speaking of "bringin' me down on the ground," I must again note the number of folks I witnessed trip or outright fall on those newly-installed levels at Chop Suey. Nothing says "rock and roll" like knees-hitting-the-ground while keeping drink in the glass.

Ooh, remember how last time I said the Rockets were all hottie black-hair-dyed rocker guys? Go check them out on Ryan's Lloyds Rocket page. Nummy!

Johnny Marr and the Healers
{4.30.03 at Graceland}

"He is the magic"

Raise your hand if you loved the Smiths and never got to see them play live!

As much as I yearn to fulfill my live-Smiths-show needs, Johnny Marr and the Healers are no nostalgia band. For better or worse, I heard not a remnant of "How Soon is Now" echoing in the brilliant songs from their Boomslang release. Johnny was the magic — wooing both his guitar and his audience with endearing banter throughout the set.

Another new igDana theory: Johnny is pioneering the return of "Blank and the Blank" band names. Surely the world has grown weary of THE bands (as in, The Vines, The Vells, The Hives). Bring back names like the Huey Lewis AND the News, Katrina AND the Waves, and Echo AND the Bunnymen of 20 years ago! I feel a revivalist movement, and Johnny Marr and the Healers are heading it... but in nomenclature only. If you want the Smiths-sound, you've gotta fork up the $75 a ticket next time Morrissey comes back, or go listen to Hatful of Hollow again.

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A live show run-down featuring reviews of performances by Broadcast Oblivion, Visqueen, The Fitness, Cex, The Postal Service, Lloyds Rocket, and Johnny Marr and the Healers.

AstroPOP! for May 2003

chilly c — Thu, 01 May 2003 07:00:00 +0000

Imaginary rock and roll astrology CD reviews by Chilly C for May 2003

Taurus {April 20-May 20}
You're feeling quite a bit, I daresay, licentious this month, Taurus. I feel it. You feel it. Your friends feel it (and trust me they don't want to feel it). How do you assuage this lust? Um, grab the bull by the horns, so to speak, and listen to Sweden's latest export — Caesars' glorious garage-rock comp CD 39 Minutes of Bliss (Astralwerks). The bouncy farfisa and scratchy vocals of breakout single "Jerk It Out" is wink-wink dirty just like your bad dreams, and you'll be feeling better in no time. And the sputtered Buzzcocks-inspired come-on "Let's Go Parking Baby" might even give you some new pick-up lines, so you won't have this loveless problem again. But if you do, Caesars have a song for that as well: "Out Of My Hands." No matter what, they got you covered for the month.

Gemini {May 21-June 21}
Your dual nature can make you totally schizo sometimes, Gemini, but really, who really cares whether it's Castor or Pollux that shines brighter? Take a cue from The Electric Version (Mint/Matador) by New Pornographers The country drawl of Neko Case meshes flawlessly with the Hollies-inspired harmonies of Newman/Dahle/Thurier et al. Here's a group that knows how to play to each everyone's strengths, and their unity-through-diversity puts the 'power' back in power-pop. The lyrics are baffling at times — but you can't take the schizo completely out of the Gemini, can you? Fast and kinetic, direct hits like "The Laws Have Changed" are infectious like SARS. Touch me, twins, I'm sick.

Cancer {June 22-July 22}
I've had it, Cancer. I can't listen to you complain about your freaking job any more. You whine and mope about the crappy pay, the unfulfilling work, the weird smell in the employee lunch room — but never once do I hear you talk about what you're going to do about it. Some advice? Listen to the new self-titled cd by Tart (Smartgirl). You'll never hear Tart whine about their job — especially because their job is to write scorching, breathless anthems for everyone's inner revolutionary. "Keep Breathing" urges us to get outside and feel the air, "Don't Forget" insists that we "live with purpose." With screams and slippery twin guitars derived from the hallowed Tucker/Brownstein tradition, Tart conjure a world where indignation isn't an end in itself — it's a means to healthy self-improvement. And they rock. If listening to this cd doesn't get you up off your ass, Cancer, I don't know what can help you.

Leo {July 23-August 22}
Talent? Creativity? Ambition? You've got it all in spades, Leo. That's no surprise. What is surprising is the fact that the rest of the world hasn't caught on to how great you are yet. Yet. Until then, you are the best-kept-secret of the select few. The Libertines know exactly how you feel. Up The Bracket (Rough Trade) derives an equation that's equal parts Clash, Supergrass, smokes, and Guinness, and the Libertines tear through the 14 songs on their debut's stateside release with a shrug and a sneer that belies their world-domination impulses. "Death On The Stairs" is brilliant in its false indecisiveness — "so baby please kill / oh baby don't kill me." "Time For Heroes" is far less uncertain: the Libertines know it really is time for heroes. And that's you, Leo: coming out of that phone booth in the cape and tights. Talent! Creativity! Ambition! It's your world, now go save it.

Virgo {August 23-September 22}
You want me to tell you what's wrong with you? First off, what makes you so sure I was going to say there was something wrong with you? This defensiveness doesn't become you, Virgo — especially since you're usually the first to parlay your prettiness right into the lap of denial. But looks aren't everything. Evan Dando can tell you that — one minute he was the ultimate alt-pop pinup boy, the next minute he was nowhere. And I don't need to tell you which of those minutes lasted eight years. Dando's first-ever solo cd Baby I'm Bored (Breath Of Salt Water/Bar None) is certainly a step in the right direction. Luckily the title isn't the only thing that's both clever and self-depreciating. The songs are classic Evan: aw-shucks narcissistic, tuneful, and oozing with his curious appeal — like your mom confessing her crush on your prom date. A few songs are sluggish from too much sleep, but "Stop My Head" bounces with well-earned caveats like, "don't listen to me or anybody else / listen to yourself." Did you hear that, Virgo? There's nothing wrong with you.

Libra {September 23-October 22}
I'm only an astrologer, Libra, I can't analyze your dreams. What I would do for you, though, is this. I'd videotape your dreams, and then, when you woke up, I'd play them back for you — with the volume turned all the way down, and with The Very Best of Daryl Hall & John Oates (RCA) playing instead. Your dream begins when a wealthy heiress ("Rich Girl") invites you to a party. A hottie at the party hands you a drink and winks ("One On One"). Then your paramour admits to having watched you from afar all night ("Private Eyes"). Meanwhile, the heiress runs off, leaving you in charge of her estate — but only if you get that law degree you've been thinking about ("Adult Education"). Jeez, this all matches up perfectly! But remember, Libra, I'm no analyst. So I can't tell you what any of this means. I don't feel the need to give such secrets away.

Scorpio {October 23 - November 21}
Scorpio, you're all about keeping in touch this month. How do I know this? The almost fanatical obsession with checking your email inbox every 45 seconds. Sure, you've sent e-mails to everyone you know. And sure, your personality is tide-influencing in its magnetism. But other people have their own lives to lead. So while you're staring at the empty screen, put The Postal Service's excellent release Give Up (Sub Pop) in your D: drive. Jimmy Tamborello's sweet synth loops will calm you down and lift you up. Ben Gibbard's breathy vocals are truly lighter-than-air — which makes the most sense when he's singing about waving from "Such Great Heights." By now you should notice that most of the songs here are about missing someone far away, scheming to get your sweetheart back, or building a fantasy world in which only you and your lover live. Ok, you can wake up now. Your inbox is full!

Sagittarius {November 22-December 21}
Friends look at your latest changes in style like you're bananas, Sag, but I know the truth. When you spend time with the gorillas, you think differently about so-called 'normal' society when you return. Ask Dian Fossey — or Damon Albarn. The Blur frontman's 2000 field study with giant video screens, cartoon monkeys, and Dan the Automator was life-changing in exactly the same way your own personal transformation has been lately. Just-released Think Tank (Virgin) is certainly not your Parklife-era Blur: the digitized voices, tribal drumming, and heavy synths testify to the (now Graham Coxon-less) band's 'new direction.' But "Out Of Time" has the weariness of 96's "The Universal," and the acoustic loop of "Good Song" is resigned and self-aware like Parklife's "To the End." Like you've been trying to tell your friends, don't think of it as a reinvention. There are now just more ways you can be you.

Capricorn {December 22-January 19}
Once again, you've gotten yourself in way too deep: massive debt, juggling a complicated lovelife, not calling your parents very often. Run Baby Run (Buttermilk) by Seattle's RC5 provides a perfect soundtrack to your manic downward spiral. A 5-song blast of white-hot punk-rock fury, this CD is perfect accompaniment for running between restaurants where you've got different dates waiting for you, or for blasting into the receiver when creditors call you. I'm not going to ask you to change, Cap — you're too set in your ways to allow that, but still — not calling your parents is pretty lame. In "Gotta Weekend," the RC5 may be talking about everything they're gonna do on Saturday night, but even hardcore punks call their mom on Sunday morning.

Aquarius {January 20-February 18}
Photo album nostalgia is a warm, fuzzy way for us to look back and assess our own history. But you're a thin-skinned sort, Aquarius, so once you catch yourself in 1992's haircut you wanna just cry and close the book on your past. As sensitive as you are, you should definitely give a listen to the Hardy Mums retrospective Us Chickens (Miller Street). Finally compiled on one cd after years of limited-edition cassette-only releases, these songs from Morristown, New Jersey's greatest band will finally get you to see that the past can really be a wonderful place to visit. The kitchen beat of the lo-fi "What's the Equation?" still delights, the creepy bossa nova of "Hey Girl" still causes shivers. But it's the unreleased tracks that tell us the most: "Get Out While I Still Can" shakes with fever, and "Brussel Sprout (We Are The Turnstiles)" is a surreal masterpiece. Now wipe away your tears, Aquarius. You need to make peace with your past, yes. But, no, you don't have to live there all the time.

Pisces {February 19-March 20}
Spring is here and you've got a fierce jones for the wanderlust. I can't really blame you for not being able to sit still, Pisces. You're finally coming out of your winter doldrums — you deserve to be scanning the horizon for grander opportunities. Ok. First of all, you're going to need some good music for your upcoming road trip and couch-surfing epic. Check out the Femurs' self-titled cd (self-released) — one-man-band Rob Schaeffer feels just like you do: restless, wistful, and looking up and down the I-5 corridor for that perfect place to crash. Catchy indie-pop songs like "Betty's Been Gone" and "Last Train to Memphis" steal the right stuff from the Ramones (the fake English accents!) and the Pixies (those four chords that go together perfectly). Even if you don't hook up with anyone on your trip, you won't feel alone with this CD.

Aries {March 21-April 19}
You come to me for advice, Aries, and I'm going to be honest. So sit down, because what I'm going to tell you — well —the truth is, most of your friends think that you're a little 'out there.' Loco. Hella nuts. But you know, I'm listening to You Are Free (Matador) by Cat Power, and I'm beginning to wonder whether your friends are the ones with the problem. Cat Power's Chan Marshall has certainly been accused of havin' the crazies before, but the songs on this lovely, introspective CD give me a glimpse of a mind that is nothing but sound (ok except for letting Eddie Vedder sing on your record but that's just me). I hear you, Aries, when I hear the forlorn "Shaking Paper," and I hear you in the hypnotic "Speak For Me." You come to me advice, Aries, I'm going to be honest. Don't listen to your friends, don't listen to me. You're doing just fine on your own.

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See what's in the stars -- and the record stores -- for you for May 2003. Includes reviews of the Libertines, Tart, New Pornographers, Caesars, Hall & Oates, and more!

Best of 2003: Top 10 Imaginary Albums of the Year

three imaginary girls — Fri, 03 Jan 2003 08:00:00 +0000

The top ten releases of 2003 as voted on by you, our imaginary readers!

#1 The Postal Service — Give Up (Sub Pop)
Winning our imaginary best of 2003 by overwhelming majority, the Postal Service gorgeously blend the electronic delicacy of Dntel with the effortless vocal bliss of Ben Gibbard (plus stellar girlie cameos from Jenny Lewis and Jen Wood).
{official website} * {buy it} * {tig review}

#2 The Shins — Chutes Too Narrow (Sub Pop)
The sophomore effort from James Mercer et al lived up to lofty expectations and was well worth the two-year wait for this crystaline, poppy, Kinks-esque songwriting masterpiece.
{official website} * {buy it} * {tig review}

#3 Death Cab for Cutie — Transatlanticism (Barsuk)
Oh that Ben Gibbard; look at him go, with two of the three top spots in our 2003 countdown! Death Cab offers yet another amazing blast of indie-pop perfection.
{official website} * {buy it} * {tig review}

#4 Radiohead — Hail to the Thief (Capitol)
Radiohead always evokes adjectives like "sonorous," "transcendent," "aware" and overtly in the case of their latest release, "politically infused." We're only sorry we don't have a live review because we couldn't bear to see them at the White River (Clear Channel) amphitheatre.
{official website} * {buy it}

#5 Outkast — The Love Below/Speakerboxxx (La Face)
As our wise friend Ollie Byrd said, "Outkast has a song out called "Hey Ya." It's the most exciting pop rock song since "Smells Like Teen Spirit" in 92, which was the most exciting pop rock song to come along since the sumptuous "Welcome to the Jungle" in 87." Amen!
{official website} * {buy it}

#6 The White Stripes — Elephant (V2)
Jack and Meg White have dazzled once again with their evolved blues-infused songwriting as well as their flawless peppermint aesthetics.
{official website} * {buy it} * {tig review}

#7 The Long Winters — When I Pretend to Fall (Barsuk)
For the second year in a row, John Roderick has created a darkly hook-and-harmony laden disc of metaphorical, wisely dysfunctional romantics. Just like us.
{official website} * {buy it} * {tig review}

#8 Yeah Yeah Yeahs — Fever to Tell (Interscope)
Yeah Yeah Yeah's blend the fashion focus of Dale Bozzio and the Cha Cha with a primordial yowl and that missing bass guitar, so key on so many trio releases this year.
{official website} * {buy it} * {tig review}

#9 The New Pornographers — Electric Version (Matador)
Vancouver's New Pornographers explode with infectious helium harmonies, catchy hooks, and Neko Case's matchless vocals. Every track is a stand-alone hit for your 2003 mixtape.
{official website} * {buy it} * {tig review}

#10 The Decemberists — Her Majesty the Decemberists (Kill Rock Stars)
Their songs are the "Lost Archives of the true beginning of rock & roll." They've created their own brand of songwriting that blends "the storytelling of folk through the rhythm of the sea shanty and regularly incorporating instruments like the upright bass or the accordian."
{official website} * {buy it} * {tig review}

Best of 2003: Top 10 Local/Northwest Imaginary Albums of the Year

three imaginary girls — Fri, 03 Jan 2003 08:00:00 +0000

Since the top five on this list all also appear on our Top 10 overall imaginary albums of the year list, we've added some Honorable Mention local bands!

#4 The Long Winters — When I Pretend to Fall (Barsuk)
For the second year in a row, John Roderick has created a darkly hook-and-harmony laden disc of metaphorical, wisely dysfunctional romantics. Just like us.
{official website} * {buy it} * {tig review}

#5 The Decemberists — Her Majesty the Decemberists (Kill Rock Stars)
Their songs are the "Lost Archives of the true beginning of rock & roll." They've created their own brand of songwriting that blends "the storytelling of folk through the rhythm of the sea shanty and regularly incorporating instruments like the upright bass or the accordian."
{official website} * {buy it} * {tig review}

#6 The Divorce — There Will Be Blood Tonight (Fugitive)
Not only can these fellows do killer buttrock karaoke and holiday cover songs, but the Divorce are also mature songsmiths in their own right. This, their debut album, rocks with edgy evolved melodies and catchy lyrical hooks, and their live performances makes us swoon. These guys are destined to be superstars.
{official website} * {buy it} * {tig review}

#7 Visqueen — King Me (Blue Disguise)
Visqueen is an indie-rock braintrust: sassy, infectious Rachel on guitar and vocals. Iconic, superhero Kim Warnick on bass. Sweet, brainy Ben on drums. And together they create a powerpuff of perfect indie-rock that is exactly what the world needs now.
{official website} * {buy it} * {tig review}

#8 The Thermals — More Parts Per Million (Sub Pop)
The Thermals have united the traditionally battling East and West coasts in harmony. Combining the smartest parts of the recent New York retro revolution with the infectious evergreen Berkley punk chronicles, they've taken created an sum that is far greater than its parts.
{official website} * {buy it} * {tig review}

#9 The Dandy Warhols — Welcome To The Monkey House (Capitol)
Ok, ok... it doesn't FEEL like they're a local band, but "the best britpop band from Portland" is well, from Portland. Sure, they're sexy, and wordly... and their most recent album was co-produced by Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran... but I am confident that they spend hours in Powell's Books just like the rest of us.
{official website} * {buy it} * {tig review}

#10 The Lights — Beautiful Bird (Bop Tart)
As one wise imaginary girl once said, "The Lights' raw jangly antagostism broiled my ears, provoked my imagination, and moved my writing pen to metaphor." This grindingly dissonant debut is a modern punk-garage-rock masterpiece.
{official website} * {buy it} * {tig review}

Honorable mentions...

Other amazing local bands who topped your lists...

Wonderful, "God Bless Our Pad"
Damien Jurado, "Where Shall You Take Me?"
Menomena, "I Am the Fun Blame Monster:
Exploding Hearts, "Guitar Romantic"
The Minus Five, "Down with Wilco"
Downpilot, "Leaving Not Arriving"
The Malinks, "Can't Shake Last Night"
United State of Electronica, "Demo EP"
Anna Oxygen, "All Your Faded Things"
The Fitness, "Call Me For Together"
Heather Duby, "Come Across the River"
The Slender Means, "The Slender Means"
The Gossip, "Movement"
Heather Duby, "Come Across the River"
All Girl Summer Fun Band, "2"
Kinski, "Airs Above Your Station"
Amy Blaschke, "Self-Titled"
I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in The House, "Put Here to Bleed"
Ms. Led, "Afternoon in Central Park"
Blue Sky Mile, "Blue Sky Mile" EP
Dolour, Surburbiac
Slo-Mo Rabbit Kick, "Bass Monster Lives in the Bass Forest"
A-Frames, "2"
The Dead Science, "Submariner"
The Joggers, "Solid Guild"
The Ruby Doe, "Dream Engine Blue"
Sushirobo, "The Light Fingered Feeling of Sushirobo"

Since the top five on this list all also appear on our Top 10 overall imaginary albums of the year list, we've added some Honorable Mention local bands!

Imaginary '02 Recap!

three imaginary girls — Wed, 01 Jan 2003 08:00:00 +0000

{And yes, we have included shameless promotion links to our affliated Insound and Amazon affiliate programs, where you can listen or buy. So sue us. Or buy something, and help us support our excessive web page habits...}

Best Releases:

Ooh ooh! I know! Dana's favorite three releases of the year are:

Pretty Girls Make Graves Good Health

Carissa's Wierd Songs About Leaving

The Long Winters The Worst You Can Do is Harm

Hey! I didn't say that! How did you know that?

Anyone who has been in your car knows. Hell, anyone who has ever read the site knows.

Oh god, am I *that* predictable? {don't answer that}. Geesh. She's right though, of course.

How about you, Liz?

OK. My favorite 2002 local releases are:

Tullycraft Beat, Surf, Fun

Carissa's Wierd Songs About Leaving

tHe drop Iceland

And my favorite 2002 Brit releases are:

Clinic Walking with Thee

South From Here On In

ballboy Club Anthems

Ooh yeah, I second the Clinic and South (and further nominate Clinic for the distinguished "Shortest show of the year" award, coming in under 40 minutes at their I-Spy show back in March.) And Doves The Last Broadcast. Mmmm, Doves.

Right. Back to me. My favorite 2002 New Yorker releases are:

Mooney Suzuki Electric Sweat

The Walkmen Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone

The Liars They Threw Us All in a Trench and Stuck a Monument On To (ok, so it was released in 2001 but re-issued this year... )

...and my favorite 2002 Scandanavian releases are:

Sondre Lerche Faces Down

Division of Laura Lee Black City

Cato Salsa Experience A Good Tip for a Good Time

...and my favorite 2002 Welsh releases are:

mclusky mclusky do dallas

Super Furry Animals Rings Around the World

um... Cinerama "Torino"

- ok... they aren't Welsh, but the Lostprophets (who ARE Welsh) opened up for Cinerama when saw them in July

Oh! And my favorite 2002 Nebraskan releases are:

Bright Eyes Lifted or The Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground

Desaparecidos Read Music/Speak Spanish

Bright Eyes A Christmas Album

You are out of control...

Most Extraordinary Live Shows:

My favorites...

Robyn Hitchcock Sunday night at the Croc followed by the omigod-fucken-amazing Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at the Paramount Monday night. Hot damn. Back in April (pre-TIG)

Pretty Girls Make Graves CD Release Party (w/ 764-HERO) at Chop Suey 6.13.02 (also pre-TIG)

Peter Paker & Aveo / The Malinks & Tullycraft — all in the same day — all free — all at the EMP.

Hmmm... my favorite live performances... this is so hard... can I break it down to local and non-local? I'll say it really quickly before igDana has a chance to stop me... first... local:

Scottish Men of Science / The Malinks / Yeek Yak Airforce , 11.14.02 at the Sit 'n Spin.

Hypatia Lake 8.17.02 at the Sit 'n Spin

The Long Winters / Carissa's Wierd 6.15.02 at the Paradox Theatre

And my favorite 2002 non-seattle-ite band music moments are:

Hives / Mooney Suzuki show on 5.31.02

Idlewild at T in the Park on 7.13.02

Bright Eyes at the Capitol Theatre, Portland on 10.17.02

Most Imaginary Moments:

Imaginary in Tablet!
Opening Tablet newspaper and finding that local artist – no, amazing local artist – Randy Wood had immortalized us, in comic form. I think we collectively took an entire trees worth of newspapers to send home to our Moms.

Imaginary on the Radio:
So I returned from my Spain trip and was spending a week with my folks in Florida, when I got an email from Marlene, telling me she had just heard (the ever-awesome) Sean Nelson talking about Three Imaginary Girls with (the ever-cutie) Drew Victor during his Audioasis. Sigh and pitter patter. What a thrill (and what a great welcome back into the country!)

Death Cab for Snooty
As you might recall, one of our pre-Death Cab for Cutie Bumbershoot performance activities was to approach a couple of guys in the beer garden who we mistook for two members of DCFC. Two months later a co-worker mentioned that he saw my picture on his friend's website. He sent me the link and low and behold, there we were, with the caption: These girls approached me in the beer garden. They thought--no shit--that I was "Ben" from "Seattle Indie Legends" Death Cab for Cutie. I always suspected I looked like a rock star. See, I told you they were snooty!

Best Live Cover Song:

Goddamnit I love it when bands throw in a good live cover! I am sure that now, while I'm trying to recall my favorite, I am inadvertently overlooking some really, really good ones. But this is what I remember at this point, in no particular order...

Saeta covering the Magnetic Fields' "Grand Canyon"

The Malinks covering Bell Biv Divoe's "Poison"

Loveless covering Dramarama's "Anything, Anything"

Robyn Hitchcock covering the Psychdelic Furs' "The Ghost in You"

Beck covering the Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize?"

Carissa's Wierd covering Morrissey's "Suedehead"

Sleater Kinney covering The Doors "Hello I Love You"

OK, so I had a hard time sticking with the limit of three...

OK I choose...

Earlimart covering Wire's "Strange"

Ryan Adams covering Bryan Adams' "Summer of '69" {hee hee} - sidenote: that Ryan Adams is out of control. First he's picking a fight with Rhett Miller, now with Jack White (White Stripes). I don't like this Noel/Liam Gallagher thing he's doing one bit.

M. Ward covering David Bowie's "Let's Dance"

Best to watch for in 03

OK, so at the risk of sounding incredibly predictable (again), can I just insert my vote again for:

Hypatia Lake, please? Thank you.

And as ever, Drew Victor and Passing Friends

... and Visqueen.

And thanks to a special imaginary friend, I have a an advance copy of this amazing up-coming on Sub Pop release called Postal Service. It's Dntel (aka Jimmy Tamborello) and Death Cab cutie Ben Hibbard on vocals. electronica CD (due out on Sub Pop this spring). It's dreeaamy good. As our representative of the indie-elektro community, Imaginary Boy Jason explained, "Jimmy and Ben worked on a track on Dntel's last album ("Life is full of Possibilites") and it appears they got along well enough to write an album together."

There, that's three (and then some). Liz, the rest is on you.

I second those, and wish to add:

Terror Sheets (first full length due out on Sad Robot, coming soon!)

Also, I know they're already signed and released, but I'm looking forward to hearing more from Okkervil River. Their 2002 release was on my top 10 list (but I was only able to list three here... the horror)

And another signed and released group, LA's Earlimart (who just rocked my little world opening for Rhett Miller this month).

Best Already Released International Album To Be Released in the US (and Immediately Purchased) in 03:

Ahh, this is easy...

Idlewild The Remote Part

Hoggboy Or8

Beth Gibbons Out of Season

Right. What she said. As I always say, never take an Imaginary Liz recommendation lightly...

2002 Sensations that We Don't Get

You know how sometimes there can be a band and everyone just loves it and you listen and are just like... um. Hmm. Now the Girls don't usually like to complain... but I have just two words to say. Coldplay. Yes, Coldplay. I don't get it. I didn't like "Yellow" and I haven't really liked anything since. I don't hate them... I just don't get it. I must be missing an essential chromosome on my Britpop gene helix. Oh well.

This might earn me a whole buncha indie-wrath... but I'm going to have to fess up to Ugly Casanova. Don't like 'em. I know, I know. Next thing you know I will confess my dislike for Sleater-Kinney and then it will all be over.

Best Three New Things Around Seattle We Wouldn't Want to Enter '03 Without

How many ways do we love this great city? But a few noteworthy mentionables...

Wireless internet access at the newly reopened Green Cat Cafe and Top Pot donuts.

Chop Suey, for great shows in our hood (read as: no need to park downtown)

Randy Wood sponsored One Night Only.

For awesome arty original clothes, Damsel Collective and Dumb Clothing

Karaoke at the Comet and Twilight Exit with Steve

Half price after 11pm Wasabi Bistro sushi.

And of course and most importantly, all of the readers, supporters, and contributors to Three Imaginary Girls. Ya'll better stick around for 03; it's gonna be the year to be imaginary...

Hey kids! It's the end of '02, so welcome to the first ever Imaginary Recap. Hold onto your seats kids, it's gonna be a bumpy year-long ride of favorite, in triplicate. Because the best things always happen in threes (ho ho ho...)

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