Three Imaginary Girls - Shane Tutmarc and the Traveling Mercies

Best of 2008: Top Northwest Releases of 2008 Readers' Poll Winners

three imaginary girls — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:08:31 +0000

Upset. The word of the our 2008 Best Northwest Releases of 2008 Readers' Poll is upset.

With the Fleet Foxes winning readers and critical polls alike, who would've thought they wouldn't get top honors in our humble little Northwest poll? But they didn't -- they placed a distant second to New Faces, another debut record from some very talented, very young Northwest fellas.

We had other surprises as well, with unsigned newcomers such as Hey Marseilles, the Kindness Kind, and Kaylee Cole cracking the top ten, beating out Northwest heavyweights such as Death Cab for Cutie. We did not expect that. And we love it when you surprise us, dear readers.

We imaginaries like to champion the up-and-comers from the Northwest, and our results indicate that you do as well. We think you all also have fabulous taste, as always. Thanks to everyone who participated in our poll. We couldn't be more proud or thrilled to present the top 50 winners on your behalf...

Winners of the TIG Top Northwest Releases of 2008 Readers' Poll:

50. Michael Vermillion - Last Night on Earth {info}
49. Jared Mees and the Grown Children - Caffeine, Alchohol, Sunshine, Money {album review}
48. Destruction Island - Destruction Island Preaches the New Wilderness
47. Boy Eats Drums Machine - Booomboxxx
46. The Apple War - Alarm Bell City {live show review}
45. The Hungry Pines - Golden You {info}
44. Hypatia Lake - Angels & Demons Space & Time {info}
43. All Girl Summer Fun Band - Looking Into It {live show review}
42. The Dandy Warhols - ...Earth to the Dandy Warhols... {info}
41. By Sunlight - By Sunlight
40. Blue Scholars - Butter and Guns {info}
39. Parenthetical Girls - Entanglements {album review}
38. Your Heart Breaks - Love is a Long Dark Road
37. Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Sunday at Devil Dirt {info}
36. H is for Hellgate - Come for the peaks stay for the valleys {info}
35. Andrea Wittgens - In The Skyline {info}
34. Common Market - Black Patch War {album review}
33. Colin Meloy - Colin Meloy Sings Live! {album review}
32. Chris Walla - Field Manual {album review}
31. Head Like a Kite - There Is Loud Laughter Everywhere {album review}
30. Lake - Oh, the Places You'll Go
29. BOAT - Topps {info}
28. 31 Knots - Worried Well {info}
27. Gutter Twins - Saturnalia {album review}
26. Moondoggies - Don't Be A Stranger {info}
25. Mark Pickerel & His Praying Hands - Cody's Dream {album review}
24. Tea for Julie - The Sense in Tying Knots {album review}
23. Central Services - Central Services Presents... The Board of Education! {info}
22. These Arms Are Snakes - Tail Swallower & Dove {info}
21. Speaker Speaker - Call It Off {info}
20. Sera Cahoone - Only As the Day Is Long {album review}
19. Dutchess and the Duke - She's the Dutchess, He's the Duke {live show review}
18. The Saturday Knights - Mingle {album review}
17. Throw Me The Statue - Moonbeams {album review}
16. Helms Alee - Night Terror {live show review}
15. Natalie Portman's Shaved Head - Glistening Pleasure {live show review}
14. Death Cab for Cute - Narrow Stairs {album review}
13. Voyager One - Afterhours in the Afterlife {album review}
12. Shane Tutmarc and the Traveling Mercies - Hey Lazarus {album review}
11. Black Nite Crash - Array {info}
10. Damien Jurado - Caught In The Trees {album review}
9. Blitzen Trapper - Furr {album review}
8. Grand Archives - Grand Archives {album review}
7. Hey Marseilles - To Travels and Trunks {live show review}
6. Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead {album review}
5. Man Plus - Hungarian Suicide Songbook {album review}
4. The Kindness Kind - The Kindness Kind {info}
3. Kaylee Cole - We're Still Here Missing You {live show review}
2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes {album review}
1. New Faces - Two Years {album review}

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Upset. The word of the our 2008 Best Northwest Releases of 2008 Readers' Poll is upset.

Hey Lazarus!

Chris Estey — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:25:25 +0000

7.3

shanetutmarc08jun.jpg

Shane Tutmarc comes from a very musical family, one that I would be eager to write a graphic novel about for its decade-spanning trend of genre-innovation. Usually when critics are considering the work of an artist, they tend to treat their work as if it's created in a vacuum, and don’t factor in the nature and nurture behind the inspiration. But Bud Tutmarc brought Hawaiian guitar playing into Western Washington, pioneering in much the same way Tutmarc reinvigorated the Seattle power-pop love song at the turn of the century. These things just tend to be carried over generations.

It’s those two elements of love and genre-innovation that are what Tutmarc is all about. When he fronted the band Dolour he was one of my favorite songwriters about romance, never omitting the delightful details of a failing relationship or its battles with temptations, and the dark side of a powerful sensual connection. Over the next few releases Tutmarc experimented with homemade production, slick sounding Spectorish waves of gleam over dark oceans of doubt. A couple of barely-released records from the past couple of years showed the still very young man struggling to find the right musical voice for his thoughts (but not failing to drop song gems along the journey).

Shane Tutmarc & The Traveling Mercies is a family band on the roots-deep Hey, Lazarus! and it kind of sounds like a slightly updated version of the kind of family gospel-pop records you find in thrift stores. Songs with dazzling performances by gigging filial troupes who could easily flit between early rock, jazz, and all kinds of radio pop stylings. Featuring siblings Ryan, Brandon, and Paula on a variety of instruments, and Shane playing a whole bunch of instruments himself -- in songs like the swinging “Front Door’s Open” and the devotional “Honey I Choose You” -- the album calls back to another time, to the barely told story of rock and roll, the story of late-night garage composing and performing.

Like Elvis Costello still loving his father Ross MacManus so much and playing out with him, with Tutmarc, the joy is found not in ‘rebellion’ but in the sweet transcendence of the connections we have, through blood and play. The great wordplay is still here about haunts making us feel haunted; the poetry is still easily on tap. The album has an occasional heavy religious side which might confuse people not versed in the roots genre, and Tutmarc’s voice isn’t quite as assured singing about green grass and summertime as it once sang about stolen kisses and other people’s drugs, but a few plays helps it settle right on in. Just like getting to know a new friend who seems very familiar, Hey Lazarus! is very cozy.

Tutmarc’s voice isn’t quite as assured singing about green grass and summertime as it once sang about stolen kisses and other people’s drugs, but a few plays helps it settle right on in.

Shane Tutmarc solo love tonight. Have Mercy!

Chris Estey — Fri, 30 May 2008 19:03:41 +0000

Don't miss Shane Tutmarc PLAYING SOLO tonight at the Rendevous' Jewel Box Theatre.

Flickr photo of the day: Shane Tutmarc and Star Anna

imaginary dana — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:51:23 +0000

Shane Tutmarc and Star Anna at the Easy Street Records International Record Store Day on April 18, 2008.

Tonight! A local show that should not be missed: Shane Tutmarc and the Traveling Mercies, PWRFL Power, Grand Hallway

ChrisB — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:35:04 +0000

While I do thoroughly enjoy both PWRFL Power and Shane Tutmarc and the Traveling Mercies, the band I'm most excited about is Grand Hallway.