Monday, December 29, 2008

Twee Time's 2008 in Review

Favourite CD
Every Scene Needs a Center by Tullycraft (Magic Marker)

OK, so what if this came out in late 2007? MY year began with the fifth full-length indie-pop release from Seattle's Tullycraft, recorded entirely on analog tape. With tracks like "Georgette Plays a Goth" and "Bored to Hear Your Heart Still Breaks", Tullycraft continues to craft the best twee anthems. The album comes complete with inside jokes, name dropping, and their usual catchy guitar riffs. Every Scene Needs A Center is a celebration of love-lorn punks, goth waitresses, and "heavy metal heartbreak." I was immediately hooked. The album solidified my obsessive attachment to this band and its love for all thing Twee.


Happiest discovery
Me, Myself, and the Empty Soul EP - Sunny Summer Day (Letterbox Records UK)

Twee! From INDONESIA! Sunny Summer Day has been around for quite a while, but I only heard about them recently when I saw their video for "Emma's House" (The Field Mice cover) on YouTube and immediately fell in love. Their brand of pure perfect pop makes me so happy. Fans of Sarah Records and C86 will like this band and their jangle-pop sound.


Most thankful for
The Gruesomes CD reissues of Tyrants of Teen Trash and Gruesomania (on Ricochet Sound) because the needle on my old record player wore away, then my stereo tuner died and I can't listen to my vinyl right now.

Here's a video I took at their show at Café Campus on May 29, 2008:


Most memorable tune
"Homecoming" from the album Reality Check by The Teenagers (Beggars Xl Recording)

Even though the guys in this band aren't hot enough to completely get away with the lyrics to "Homecoming", the song is totally 1980s and damn catchy, so the Teenagers have made the list this year.


Favourite EP of 2007 that I only started listening to in 2008
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (Painbow)

pains

Take one cup of the Pastels, a dash of Black Tambourine, and two cubes of the Jesus and Mary Chain. Blend on low for one minute, heat it up and pour it all in a big bowl, then sprinkle a little My Bloody Valentine on top for flavour. Follow these cooking instructions and you've got New York's best indie-pop band right now.

Other stuff I listened to this year
Feels Like Mother Fuckers/Bekki-Anne 7" - The Nymphets (Psychic Handshake Recordings)
Distortion - Magnetic Fields (Nonesuch Records)
Vivian Girls - Vivian Girls (Mauled by Tigers/In the Red)
Spectrum, 14th Century EP - Final Fantasy (Blocks Recording Club)
First Frost - The Lucksmiths (Matinée)
In the Future - Black Mountain (Jagjaguwar)
Real Emotional Trash - Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks (Matador)
Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust - Sigur Rós (EMI/XL Recordings)
Looking Into It - All Girl Summer Fun Band (AGSFB Music)
Longstanding - Belleisle (Ships at Night)

On repeat: old favourites that stand the test of time
The Pastels - Sittin' Pretty
Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs
Velvet Underground - Loaded
Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde

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