Tullycraft's first single came out when I was fifteen. Played heavily on WPRB Princeton, "Pop Songs Your New Boyfriend's Too Stupid To Know About" was the start of MY long and damning relationship with indie pop. Yet, like the boy in that 1995 single, Tullycraft has made me worry I was too stupid to know about the bands they were singing about. My love for them has been a combination of sheer adoration and joy coupled with a nervousness that I was missing the joke -- maybe I too, in the words of the album's title track "Lost in Light Rotation," never took the time to learn the slang that we speak or the slogans on the t-shirts. Yet when the message is all wrapped up in harmonies and power chords, I forget my fear for love of bouncing and singing along.

Tullycraft’s vision of twee was something both sweet and cynical, a cuteness belied with dirty jokes, and both obscure references and snide comments about other bands. Don’t you dare try to tell me they’re all about ukuleles and bunny rabbits and cuddly wuddly love songs! The hearts in their songs are often broken, the best times have already past, and computers don’t even exist as a way to keep in touch with friends.

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We have been lucky enough to get a sneak listen to the new BOAT album, Dress Like Your Idols, releasing March 22, 2011 on Magic Marker Records and it rocks our sloppy pop socks off. If the album's cover art didn't give it away, the album is an aural thumbing through their personal record (and cassette tape) bins, paying homage to their influences with blatant Pixies references ("When Frank Black Says (No. 14 Baby)") and sly Pavement croons (as in "Kinda Scared of Love Affairs"). The collection of pop songs prove they are ready for prime time. They are still experts in the friendly quirk pop genre, but this time the expertly recorded songs burst with a swagger confidence (confi-pop?). And one Long Winters' inspired track, "Landlocked" even features guest vocals by John Roderick.

In true to analog BOAT cardbaord cutout form, the band has put together a special limited edition cassette gift for the first 100 pre-orders of this, their fourth studio album. The cassette features demos from Dress Like Your Idols and covers (click through to see track listing and video).  Plus the b side will feature a D. Crane mix-tape.

I can't wait to see what tricks and treats the band has up their sleeve when at their album release show at the Tractor Tavern on Friday, March 25 (with Pickwick and Concours d'Elegance).

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We here in imaginary land don't do a very good job of keeping our love for local chest pounding indie popsters BOAT a secret. Their TOPPS EP was at the top of my favorite releases of last year, and both imaginary Liz and I put 2007's Let's Drag Our Feet quite high on our best of '07 lists. And now, with a full length almost out entitled Setting the Paces, we can hardly contain our excitement, which is why we're happy to present you with this fabulous BOAT package!

One lucky imaginary reader will get:

- One CD or LP of their new full length Setting the Paces

- One BOAT t-shirt in whatever size you want

- Two tickets to their cardboard stage cut out filled 21+ CD release show on October 22nd at Neumo's with the Pale Pacific, Sirens Sister and The Special Places (Jenny and Corianton of Tullycraft!)

- and... one custom piece of art made by the fabulous D. Crane of BOAT (he could illustrate any kind of history you wanted!)

So come with us, you'll win! Just e-mail tig@threeimaginarygirls.com with the subject "LatelyI'veBeenOnMyBack" (all one word please!) by Wednesday at 9am for your chance to win! Period, backslash, colon, it's that easy! Just be sure to include your full name, especially if your e-mail address is imaman@whenigrowup.com.

 

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We here at imaginary headquarters can keep a secret. Especially when we don't want to believe it's true.

As the band disclosed on their blog, Tullycraft's last live Seattle performance will be this Saturday at the TIG Top of the Croc show. For those interested, Tullycraft's last live show (at least for a long long long long time) will be at the San Francisco Pop Fest in May.

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By the looks of the video, Hello Seahorse could easily pass for a classic Swedish indie-pop band who record their video in the Pacific Northwest. But, no, they recorded their most excellent US debut in Mexico City, MX and a handful of songs on their album are song in Spanish.

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You better hope gas prices stay low until February! Portland's fantastic Magic Marker Records just announced their anniversary show! And it's amazing!

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Turns out Roderick had a few questions of his own for BOAT...

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If Chevrolet called and said they wanted you to design a "J-Rod," what would it look like?

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Seattle indie-pop band (and TIG faves) Tullycraft are preparing to take their infectious sugar-sweet jangle-pop on the road and over to the East Coast.

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I know that you've probably already spent your savings on extravagant gifts for your many friends and relations this season, and Magic Marker knows it too! That's why they're offering some new additions to your local pop collection digitally for zero dollars!

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