Toothpaste 2000 - "Catch 22" cd  (Parasol)
It's amazing how easily Frank & Donna can write catchy pop songs. They've released over 150 songs in the last 20 years (both as Toothpaste 2000 and Cowboy & Spin Girl), and they just keep getting better. Sure, the songs aren't epics with deep lyrics; in fact, they're the exact opposite - usually between 2-3 minutes long, with very simple and catchy melodies and standard lyrics (sung by both Frank & Donna equally) about very typical pop topics like life, love and candy. So what if it's not an original formula - it's lots of fun! Just look at the first few Ramones records! There just aren't many bubblegum pop bands like this around anymore. In fact, Dressy Bessy is just about the only one that comes to mind, and they're actually a pretty good comparison for Toothpaste 2000, as are the Vaselines and the Kinks. There are times when the songs on this record stray from the formula a bit, and to be honest, I find myself losing interest when that happens; "There's Not Something Wrong" is a good example of this, with its trudging rhythm and almost angst-y lyrics. I think the album could've been a bit shorter, though. 22 songs (almost an entire hour) is a bit of an overkill, especially since I find that there are more uninteresting songs on this record than there were on their others. Still, though, there are songs on here (like "Crying In The Morning", "There's Always Something Going On" and "High Life") that now rank in my favorite Toothpaste 2000 songs!   MTQ=18/22

Toulouse - "New Points New Lines" cd  (Grimsey)
I liked their first lp, "The Way The City Stretches", but it didn't grab my attention much, honestly. This cd, however, is totally catchy. Not catchy, as in catchy melodies, but the sound is something that completely gets in your head and is very different than anything else you've heard lately (unless you've recently been listening to old Pere Ubu or XTC lps). I think infectious is more the word I'm looking for. Let me try this: the inside of the sleeve contains a story of two girls in a large modern city, and is so heavily footnoted, it's practically two stories at once. Reading it with any kind of coherence is impossible. Listening to this cd with any kind of coherence is impossible. Nobody makes music like this anymore. This seriously is a very different sound than what I usually listen to, very post-punk sounding. In fact, it's very different than their first lp (though their Tinseltones 7" makes more sense now with this added hindsight). I quite like it - the guitars are harshly strummed (almost hit), there's a very punchy bass sound, the drums rarely play a straight beat, and the vocals (mostly Jamison, though Aden sings on a few songs) are quite punky, too. And the lyrics reflect the getting-lost-in-a-large-city feel of the whole record. Really, I'm at a loss for words.   MTQ=10/10

Tourister - "Clutching Your Cardigan" 7"  (Home-Aid)
First release from this new Pittsburgh, PA indiepop band. They remind me a bit of the Vehicle Flips or the Bunnygrunt songs that Matt sings. Bouncy songs with slightly amateurish boy/girl vocals. Pretty fun, but not essential.   MTQ=2/4

Track A Tiger - "Woke Up Early The Day I Died" cd  (Future Appletree)
This is one of those albums that quietly and subtly sucks you in. I put it on, and what started out as background music slowly moved its way to the front as the music glided on. And on the second and third listen, I found yet more that I liked. The music is best described as sleepy and a little atmospheric (thanks in part to the sparse production style), reminding me a little of Low, especially with the male/female vocal harmonies heard in many of the songs. But there are also a handful of peppier songs, like the Mendoza Line-ish "Flood" and "Happy", that keep me from drifting off completely. This is a very pleasant listen and a strong debut, to boot!   MTQ=8/9

Track Star - "The Chord" 7"  (Omnibus)
What's this, the first new Track Star songs in four years? Well, it's about time! I've heard the A-side played live a couple times, and was really hoping it would be released very soon. Quick and catchy pop tune with the feel of their previous stuff, but not as noisy. The b-side, "Green To Gold", is an equally short acoustic song, that is really quite lovely. Not much else I can say here, except that this is an amazing 4½ minutes, and I am now looking forward to their next album even more (if that was possible), though we've still got four months to wait yet. The sleeve is pretty funny, too - I like the "alarmed bird telling others of a fallen comrade" motif.   MTQ=2/2

Track Star - "Lion Destroyed The Whole World" cd  (Better Looking)
Okay, so I've been madly in love with Track Star for a few years now, and have been awaiting this album for about that long. I don't think I have to tell you that this is brilliant, because you probably already know. They've been playing these songs live for quite a while (which makes sense, as they haven't played ANY old songs the last few times I've seen them), so it's very good to finally hear them on record. "Amy, Tell Me Why" has been a favorite each time I heard it. The band's sound is more subdued than before - fewer loud guitar freakouts. In fact, there are some acoustic guitars on here, as well as electric and acoustic piano. Also gone is the two-guitar, no bass sound - now it's guitar & bass, with Wyatt & Matt switching off. Every song on here is great, from the totally rocking "Pretty Close To Nothing" to the half acoustic/half electric "Goodbye To The Dream". The b-side to their last single, "Green To Gold", is on here, but in a full band version (though still quiet). Alicia Poundsign even sings backup on "The End". Wyatt is probably one of my favorite vocalists around right now - he can sing softly like no other... The only shame about this record is that it's only 30 minutes long! With five years since their last album, you'd think we could have more songs!   MTQ=11/11

Tramplini - "Hallo, Mazie! EP" cdep  (Sniegaklubs)
We've been getting lots of great Estonian pop lately, but here's a fine EP from neighboring Latvia (possibly my first record from that country). Their sound is generally slow and sleepy, similar to Mojave 3, Majestic 12 or Starflyer 59 (and other non-numerical slowcore groups); even when they do turn up the volume on "Tas Pats", the mood is still languid and hypnotic, a la Stereolab. To match the dreamy mood, the sound is layered (but not too densely) with organs and synths, with piano, glockenspiel and trumpet embellishments here and there. The lyrics are all in Latvian, so don't expect to be singing along (ditto on the liner notes, but now I know how to say drums in Latvian!), but the predominantly male vocals (with occasional female backing vocals) fit the music quite well. I wasn't too into the closing instrumental, "Millennia", but apart from that, this is a nice and gentle EP!   MTQ=4/5

Transport Assembly - "Improbable Songs" cd  (Broken Twilight)
On paper (and by that, I'm referring to the press kit), this album didn't look all that interesting; though I grew up on the abstract indie/art rock of bands like Sonic Youth, Polvo, et al in the '90s, I haven't really found a band in that style that I've liked in a long time (actually, that Zoppo record from a few years ago was pretty awesome). And if you ever start describing something as "post-rock", that's a good way to get me to quickly tune out. But, of course, there are exceptions to every rule, as I liked this record within minutes of putting it on. Despite starting with a song called "Tra La La", don't expect any happy-go-lucky tunes here - though you can still find some surprisingly melodic moments in songs like "Vanity Forcefield", "Space Age Polymers" and "Lexicon Industries" (with the latter two nicely juxtaposing melodic choruses with atonal verses). A three-piece, many of the songs have a somewhat sparse sound, reminding me a lot of New Radiant Storm King, with the band using noise as an occasional element rather than a constant backdrop. Not all of their experiments work, like the two brief interlude pieces and the dull "Chancellor Bandicoot", but it's still an interesting record.   MTQ=8/12

Tree Fort Angst - "Last Page In The Book Of Love" cd  (Foxy Boy)
This band existed for a few brief years in the early 90s, releasing some singles and appearing on a whole lot of comps. Shortly after their demise, they released the 20-song retrospective disc, "Knee Deep In The Rococo Excess", on Bus Stop. Now that cd is out of print, so they've re-released it with new liner notes, and ten new bonus tracks, many of which are previously unreleased! Though the original 20 songs are maintained in the same reverse chronological order as the Bus Stop cd, the ten additional tracks don't seem to be. The band was a guitar/bass/drum three-piece from Maryland, led by Terry Banks, who had previously been in St. Christopher (way back when they were still good) and is now in the mighty Saturday People, with a stint in Glo-worm along the way. Not surprisingly, many of the songs here sound remarkably similar to the Saturday People - perfect pop with very jangly guitars, akin to the sound of early Postcard Records with some Sugargliders mixed in. This album is chock full of short and simple, pleasant pop songs - the vast majority of the thirty songs here are under three minutes long. Most of them are great, too, with a few duds here and there (never did like the trippy sound in "Drunk On Your Senses"..., and a few of the earlier tracks aren't too exciting). Overall, though, there's so many great songs on here that it's surely worth picking up.   MTQ=24/30

Treebeard - "Someone Lost The Map Of France" cd  (Regicide)
I've gotta say, this is the coolest packaging for a cd I've ever seen. Not the actual sleeve or anything, but when you put this in your computer, it has an interactive offline website, where you can read all about the band, watch four videos (good quality ones, I might add) of songs from this record, print out stickers, read lyrics for the songs, and it even comes with a top-quality mp3 version of the record! Not bad for a self release, the fifth from this French-Canadian band (third full-length). What about the music? Really good, actually. They play loud, melodic indie rock in the vein of Superchunk, Thrush Hermit, Husker Du, and the like. Vaguely emo-ish, the music is mostly upbeat, and the songs are mostly nice and short - the whole 13-song record clocks in at just under 39 minutes. Sometimes the vocals get a little too emo-ish (like on "Distribute The Coasters" and "Slow Descent By Degrees"), but not too often, really; and even still, the songs are excellent - the chorus on the latter is perfect. The record starts off a little slow, with the instrumental "1975/76 (Images)", but picks right up with hits like "Taste The Earth", "The Complications", and "Everything Is Beautiful", to name but a few. Taking over two years to complete, this band has put a lot of hard work into this record, and it really does show.   MTQ=10/13

Treetops - "What's The Matter, Baby?" cdep  (Cavalier)
Debut ep from four guys from Melbourne, Australia. These six songs remind me a lot of the Byrds-meets-Love pop sound of the Tyde, Beachwood Sparks & Bomb Pops. They also have quite a bit of Teenage Fanclub; the middle part to "Castaway" sounds very similar to "God Knows It's True", and "Feel It" would've fit perfectly on the "Howdy!" record. Jangly guitars (sometimes acoustic, sometimes electric), with a subtle Hammond organ and of course, lots of vocal harmonies. A very good introduction to this band, and I'd definitely like to hear more from 'em!   MTQ=6/6

Trembling Blue Stars - "Alive To Every Smile" cd  (Sub Pop)
After seeing this band live the other night, I appreciate this record a lot more. I gave this a couple spins in the past few weeks, but I never really fell in love with it as a record. There are no standout hits, like "Letter Never Sent" or "For This One" were for me in the past. That's not true, "The Ghost Of An Unkissed Kiss" is pretty close to a perfect pop song. But its perfection (like the rest of the record's) is more subtle. Not like subtlety was ever difficult for Trembling Blue Stars... This isn't too different from the other TBS records in style. The sound is a lot fuller, and the record sounds really nice, with a warmer sound overall. And of course, the lyrics are all about failed relationships (take the first line to "Ammunition", for example, "So we'll just be the greatest couple that never were..."). I've heard that the full band plays on the album, complete with live drums, though there are still drum machines on a couple songs. "With Every Story" sounds like it was taken straight off of the Cure's "Disintegration"; well, except for the vocals. Basically, though, this is another beautiful, heartbreaking record from one of the masters of the beautiful, heartbreaking pop song.   MTQ=9/11

Trembling Blue Stars - "A Certain Evening Light" cd  (Shinkansen)
This disc handily compiles the non-album tracks from all seven of the Trembling Blue Stars singles and EPs (except for one song, but I'll let you do your own legwork to discover which one), most of which have been sold out at the label for a while. In fact, this is the first time a few of these songs even appear on cd. And rather than treat it like a singles comp, the songs have been sequenced in an order that makes more sense than chronology, which just makes this feel more like a regular album. The A-sides from the singles are featured near the beginning of the record, though it's not like you can tell their b-sides apart from the singles - they're both of equally high quality. "She's Always There", "A Slender Wrist" (a great upbeat tune, reminiscent of "Coach Station Reunion") and "Though I Still Want To Fall Into Your Arms" are all just as wonderful as "Doo-Wop Music", "The Rainbow" and "Abba On The Jukebox" (the latter two of which are presented here in their single versions). As an added bonus, their sole compilation contribution (exclusive, that is), "Christmas & Train-Trips & Things" from the Shinkansen Christmas EP, is included here as well as a hidden track.   MTQ=15/18

The Trolleyvox - "The Karaoke Meltdowns" cd  (Transit Of Venus)
This group from Philadelphia has apparently been around for quite a few years (with a couple albums behind them already), but I've only just been introduced to them recently with this record. Like so many of their Philly counterparts, they have their hand dipped in the dream pop pool, sometimes sounding a bit like the Black Watch (back when J'anna sang). Occasionally they'll veer slightly into psych or rock territories (with varying results), but most of their songs have a more Byrdsian jangle to them, frequently using acoustic guitars and clean electrics. Sometimes, the songs (like "I Know That You're High" or "Deep Blue Central") have a '90s-era college rock feel to them, similar to the Sundays or Madder Rose, thanks to Beth's vocal style and the acoustic-based sound. At other times, though, I can hear a strong vocal resemblance to Rose from the Snow Fairies, making a song like "A Summer Without You" sound like a less-overtly twee version of her band. A couple uninteresting songs aside, this is quite a pleasant album.   MTQ=9/13

Owen Tromans - "Korea EP" cdep  (Sacred Geometry)
This simple two song EP is a teaser for Owen's forthcoming album "Hope Is A Magnet", and it does a good job at making me want to hear more from him. The title track is the stronger of the two, reminding me of something from the first Snow Patrol record (back when that band was interesting), though the flip, "Light It Up", is also quite catchy. The music (particularly the b-side) has a bit of a Brit-pop tinge to it, but avoids the pitfalls (clichéd music, whiny vocals, insipid lyrics...) made by all those irritating groups topping the charts over there these days.   MTQ=2/2

Owen Tromans - "Hope Is A Magnet" cd  (Sacred Geometry)
I was introduced to Owen Tromans via the two song teaser EP for this album a few months ago, so I'm glad to get to hear the rest of the record. Both of those songs are on this album, but were actually not very representative of its sound, as there is quite a bit of folk and country influence on this record that was not evident on the sampler. "Cuckoos Over Cradley" is an instrumental finger-picked guitar piece, while the stark and somber "The Last Word On The Sunshine Girls" and "Hey Moon" remind me quite a bit of Scud Mountain Boys. Both of the EP songs are highlights, as are "Ghosts" (which falls in a similar vein to those) and "Levitate Me Judith", which is acoustic-based (even featuring a brief bouzouki solo!), but still quite rollicking!   MTQ=7/10

The Trouble Dolls - "Sticky" cd  (Half A Cow)
Though the band has been kicking around New York City for a few years, they've been keeping to themselves, recording music, but not releasing it. That is, until now. This is the band's first album (after releasing a single for "I Don't Know Anything At All" last year), and it's a very nice batch of short and catchy pop songs in the vein of Fuzzy, Redd Kross & the Lemonheads. The band has a position of keeping songs under three minutes long and albums to eleven songs (both of which I heartily agree with), so it comes as no surprise that this album is only 28 minutes long. Recorded with help from Mark Bacino, the songs are a mixture of power pop & bubblegummy pop, with both male and female lead vocals (though the girl's voice in "7:05" is just a little too high-pitched for me). Unfortunately, there's also a bit of an element of bad, girl-folk alternative in a few songs, like "Marcelle" and "Meeting On The Side", which I really don't like at all. Luckily, they don't fall in that rut very often, which makes much of this album a fun and enjoyable listen!   MTQ=7/11

True Love Always - "Torch" cd  (Teenbeat)
Okay, I'm new to the TLA scene, but I picked this up after seeing them live, and just being amazed by their great songwriting, melodies and playing. And I'm not disappointed, either. While I can't compare it to their first two records, I can say that this is a very good record with crisp, clear production. These guys remind me a lot of Honeybunch at times, with their smooth vocals and jazzy chords. Or, at times, Versus without distortion; especially when they get a bit more frantic. Either way, this record could easily win over any fan of pop music.   MTQ=11/11

True Love Always - "Spring Collection" cd  (Teenbeat)
This is a collection of the True Love Always singles, as well as various compilation tracks and other unreleased gems. Well, really, every TLA song is a gem, if you think about it. They're probably one of my favorite "indiepop" bands today - the clean guitar sound, very professional playing, and soft male vocals are everything that I like. If you miss Honeybunch, then you will completely embrace this band and their sound. Of course, as this is their fourth full length release, you probably already have! And surely, you'll have this band's original singles, like their first single, "Mediterranean", which comes in that construction paper cut-out sleeve, or the "Take Me Over" 7", which came sealed in a mailer with a filled out customs form & a stamp. If you don't, then this is a vital release for you. Even if you do have all the singles (including that very limited Rover 7") AND all the compilation tracks these guys have done, this is essential, as it's got four previously unreleased tracks, including their cover of R.E.M.'s "Tongue" that was supposed to appear on the (apparently) aborted tribute cd on Kindercore, and studio versions of their three covers (Roberta Flack, Earth Wind & Fire & Containe) they frequently play live, recorded especially for this collection. The only missing tracks are "My Shit", the b-side to their "Secret Scenes" 7", and their tracks from the Teenbeat 2000 sampler, "I'm Ready Now". Regardless of those omissions, this is an amazing collection, and just barely enough to tide me over until their next full-length.   MTQ=17/17

True Love Always - "Clouds" cd  (Teenbeat)
This is the fourth full-length album (fifth, if you count the "Spring Collection" singles comp) from our much beloved True Love Always; and the first with their new bass player, Tony Zanella. Musically, it doesn't sound that much different than their prior album, "Torch". Not to say that this is a carbon copy of their last record, but rather that it sounds like a normal progression and the band hasn't made any drastic changes to their sound in the last two years. You still have John's gentle voice and strummy guitar, Matt's syncopatic (and occasionally manic) drumming, and lots of ba-ba-ba's. There does seem to be a little more energy in the songs, though, and Evelyn Hurley has over more vocal duties on a few songs, both with lead and backing vocals. I guess the only major difference is in the album's packaging - the theme carried by their last four cds has been broken! The packaging is still quite nice, though, with one of those cardboard slipcases Teenbeat has been fond of lately. Oh, and a rather silly quicktime movie is included, too!   MTQ=11/11

Tse Tse Fly - "s/t" cd  (Pehr)
This is one of those many bands that existed for a period of time, released some absolutely amazing records, then disappeared without anyone noticing they were there in the first place. Well, I noticed 'em, and it seems as if I'm not the only one. Pehr Records has put together this collection, which includes their debut 10" record ("Duckweed Smuggled Home", originally released in 1992 on Ablution Records), their first 7" ("Fox Under Diesel", released on Morpheme Records in 1993), and four previously unreleased tracks. The sleeve, however, has very minimal artwork, offering no information except the song titles and the band members' names. Their primary claim to fame, isn't their music, but the members. Three members of this band went on to join the Wedding Present at various times; Paul Dorrington in 1992 (he was an original member of Tse Tse Fly, though he left the band before their first record), and Jayne Lockey & Simon Cleave around 1996. Their sound is based as much on the frantic trebly bass, as much as it is on the squally guitars. The vocals alternate between boy & girl (often in the same song). You've seen me compare Seafood & Spraydog to this band; now's your chance to hear the original! Sadly, the label was unable to include the band's two singles on Cherry Red, due to licensing problems.   MTQ=19/19

Tugboat - "All Day" cd  (Library)
When I got this band's first single, I thought it was nice dreamy pop music, but nothing too special. Then I got this cd, and was quite surprised to find a cache of really good upbeat pop songs! The first few songs on the disc are quite varied, going from the catchy sound of "Next Year's Words" to the atmospheric "Self-same" to the acoustic "Northern Spiral Arm" to the beautiful harmonies and warm sound of "Don't Care, Really". The songs are full of pretty boy/girl harmonies like this. But then, on the sixth song, it switches gears to the longer (and kinda dull) dreamy songs, and it kinda takes a while for the record to pick up again. But it does, and the last third of the record is just as good (and varied) as the first (with a cover of Magnetic Fields' "Love Goes Home To Paris In The Spring" thrown in for fun). Musical points of reference? Well, I always hear these guys compared to Galaxie 500, which I guess is right for the middle songs, but for the others, I'd say the Bats, Pale Saints, and Cat's Miaow (especially in "Pause And Effect", which if you just heard the first 15 seconds of, you'd swear was the Cat's Miaow!).   MTQ=10/14

Tugboat - "s/t" cd  (Egg)
Here's another retrospective disc from Egg Records, this time from Tugboat - not the Australian Tugboat from a few years back, but the project from Mike & Cameron, the two main songwriters from Toronto's Change Of Seasons (who have already been rereleased on this same label). Recorded in 1993/94, the release is essentially broken up into two parts; the first six songs have been released (five as a 1993 single on the Pop Goes On label and the sixth on Elefant's Galaxie 500 tribute), while the last five songs are previously unreleased. Overall, the sound is somewhat similar to their previous band, in that it's fairly moody in tone (reminding me a bit of the Servants at times), but it's also generally louder and more in tune with the sound of the time, with reference points including My Bloody Valentine, Dinosaur Jr and Pavement (especially in the latter five songs). Many of the songs (from both halves) also really remind me a lot of Seam. The songs themselves range from upbeat and catchy (like "Smelly Ears" and "Crash & Burn") to slower Neil Young-ish territory ("Play The Part"), and from soft spoken ("Underground" and "Not Going Anywhere") to really loud ("Up & Down" and their Galaxie 500 cover, "Cold Night"). Another good band rescued from obscurity by the fine Egg label!   MTQ=9/11

Tullycraft - "Twee" 7"  (Little Teddy)
If you've ever liked Tullycraft, then you'll like this single. Even though it's their first new release since 1998's "City Of Subarus" (not counting the singles comp released in 2000, as there was hardly any new material on it), it doesn't sound the least bit different at all. The A-side is "Twee", a sequel of sorts to their classic "Pop Songs Your New Boyfriend's Too Stupid To Know About", as it name-drops as much as possible in 3½ minutes, full of speedy guitars and do-do-do's, though it still isn't quite as catchy as "Pop Songs...". I remember hearing that song for the first time live a few years ago, but it's good to see it finally released on record. Not sure if it'll be on their upcoming lp, "Beat, Surf, Fun", but the b-side is previously released. It's their cover of the 6ths' "Falling Out Of Love (With You)", from the Cher Doll "Something Cool" compilation, as well as their singles comp. It's nice to see this band is still around, and that they haven't changed a bit in all these years...   MTQ=2/2

Tullycraft - "Beat, Surf, Fun" cd  (Magic Marker)
Well, Tullycraft are back. It seems like they've been gone forever, though it's really only been about four years. But so much has happened in that time, that it seems that a lot of newer popkids don't know about these guys. Well, who do you compare the legendary Tullycraft to? They're the reference point for a lot of comparisons I make! Fun indiepop with playful lyrics and a bouncy jangly sound. This record isn't too different than their previous output, except that Gary isn't in the band anymore, and their old second guitar player, Harold, is back in. Plus Chris from Incredible Force Of Junior is a full-time band member (well, he has been for a while, but this is the first release with him). The album starts off with the A-side from their last single, "Twee", an instant classic along the lines of "Pop Songs Your New Boyfriend's Too Stupid To Know About". Though there are a few more slower songs this time (it seems), like "Glitter & Twang" and "I Kept The Beach Boys", there are definitely a ton of new favorites here, including "Wild Bikini" (which I've enjoyed from their rare live shows), "Cowgirls On Parade", and the super-catchy Benji Cossa cover, "Knockout". Other points of interest are: the (playful?) jab at Orange Cake Mix ("...does the world really need another Orange Cake Mix song..." - ouch!) and Sean's continuing fascination with writing songs about Christine, ND...   MTQ=11/12

Tullycraft - "Disenchanted Hearts Unite" cd  (Magic Marker)
Tullycraft have been around for about a decade (including a brief hiatus or two), yet they manage to both retain and improve on their classic indiepop sound with every release. This record is no exception, and is easily as enjoyable as the preceding "Beat, Surf, Fun". There are loads of instant favorites on this record, including "Stowaway", "Rumble With The Gang Debs" and "Our Day In Kansas". The lineup is the same as the last record (except they've added Jenny Mears as a fulltime member and she sings backup on almost every song, with good effect), so the sound is also quite similar, with playful and (mostly) upbeat pop songs with Sean's distinctive vocals and witty and occasionally biting lyrics (so, what's he got against the mod revival, anyways?). And, in true Tullycraft fashion, they nick a bit from other bands here and there, like the loose cover of a BMX Bandits song (retitled "Molly's Got a Crush On Us") and the chorus of a Jam song in "Girl About Town", although to be fair it's actually a cover of a Helen Love song (another band known to toy with the idea of originality). Heck, they even seem to rip themselves off - listen to the background vocal melody at the beginning of "Polaroids From Mars" and you'll hear the same melody from "Stowaway". The only song I wasn't too fond of was "Fall 4 U", both for its out of tune backing vocals (not Jenny, but Jen) and because it was just boring. Still, apart from that song, this record is as fun and exciting as all of their other records, so you know it's good - unless you have no sense of humor, that is!   MTQ=11/12

Tullycraft - "Every Scene Needs A Center" cd  (Magic Marker)
Sean told me a while back that this record would be a concept album of sorts, but I'm not really sure how that could be, when he really only ever writes about three things - indiepop, crushes and pop culture (frequently combining multiple aspects in each song). These topics are all touched on here, of course, but I guess he is branching out into writing about (but thankfully, not in) other musical styles, with several of the songs being loosely and specifically about goths and vampires. Heck, he even has an indiepop-bashing song, taking swipes at Blueboy and Red Sleeping Beauty in "Bored To Hear Your Heart Still Breaks", and then there's the rather cruel dig at Mates Of State in "Clique At Night Vandals", but I guess it wouldn't be a Tullycraft record without at least a few snarky comments and observations. Musically, this record is a bit more subdued than usual (including one of the album's best songs, "The Secret History Of Devil's Paw"), with a couple unusually long songs, making this their longest full-length yet, at nearly 48 minutes! But of course, there are plenty of typically upbeat and memorable songs to be found here, like "The Punks Are Writing Love Songs", "Georgette Plays A Goth" and the live favorite, "If You Take Away The Make-Up (Then The Vampires They Will Die)". Overall, it's not my favorite Tullycraft record, but it's still a fun listen...   MTQ=12/14

Tupelo Honeys - "Salute You" cd  (Quince)
The debut album from this Swedish bother/sister duo starts off with so much promise. I mean, the first two songs - a pair of sunny tunes that can probably best be described as "life-affirming" - are almost worth the price of admission alone. Combining the infectious joy and positive energy of the first couple Cardigans records, they would make anyone get excited and take notice. Unfortunately, that's when the album buckles under the pressure of matching its perfect start, though that's not to say that there are no other good songs on here (as that would be untrue). The next two songs are quite good and catchy (kind of reminding me of the Concretes in places), and though the next couple are slower and more introverted, they grew on me after a just a couple listens. The rest of the album proper, however, is both uninteresting and even bad in spots ("In Her Sphere" and "The Return Of The Weeping Man" got a bit too alt-poppy for me). I say album proper, as this Quince issue features a pair of bonus tracks not found on the original version on West Side Fabrication, and both songs are good with "And She Cried Out Loud" almost reaching the heights achieved at the beginning of the record! I do wish the rest of the album had been in the same league as its first two songs, but I'm just happy to have even gotten to hear them in the first place.   MTQ=9/13

Turn Around - "s/t" cdep  (no label)
This is the debut release from a Seattle band that I've not yet heard of (though I'm the first to admit that I don't get out much). From the first track, "Don't Stand", it seems a bit alt-country-ish from the start (particularly due to the gruff vocals, I think), but when the tempo picks up and the farfisa kicks in during the chorus, it completely changed the mood (and my mind) of the song. The rest of the disc's songs are acoustic-based, but the following "Hardly Knew Your Name" is more folky than country-influenced. The band's sound kind of reminds me a lot of the Shins, especially with the use of the organ. In fact, the last song (the quiet "California") sounds like it could've fit on that band's last record. This is a good start, and I'd be interested to hear more from this group again.   MTQ=4/4

Jen Turrell - "Hand-held Songs" cs  (Popgun)
Clocking in at under 8 minutes, this tape has four quiet acoustic songs recorded live onto a hand-held tape recorder (hence the title). From the look of it (a very attractive cover with heart-shaped map cutouts, of Seattle, even), you'd imagine it had a travel theme, and you'd be right. These songs are about driving, getting lost, and finding (and losing) love. A definite winner!   MTQ=4/4

Jen Turrell - "Honesty And Apologies" cdep  (Red Square/Dutch Courage)
This is Jen's (Rabbit In Red, Boyracer) first solo release, and it's full of sad, sad songs. Jen is backed by her mom on the harp (which really adds a lot to the sound, though at first I thought it was just a guitar), as well as Chris, Harrison & Trevor from the Love Letter Band on drums, cello, organ, ukulele, banjo, and other assorted instruments. They, too, add a lot to the sound, as I don't think I'd like this as much if it were just guitar with vocal accompaniment all the way through. Only "Hello Love" contains drums, but the cello plays on almost all of the songs. As I said, the songs are really somber, and Jen's voice is very soft and fragile, practically apologizing in every song (the title, "Honesty And Apologies" is a pretty true representation of the lyrics). At times this reminds me of the Rose Melberg solo lp. I'm also thankful that this is so short (just over 15 minutes), as anymore of this, and I'd be depressed for the rest of the day...   MTQ=5/5

Jen Turrell / Iditarod - "split" 7"  (Dutch Courage)
This is the first in a series of split 7"s on Dutch Courage Records, pairing up the lovely Jen Turrell with the odd Iditarod. Jen's songs are her usual very quiet and somber tunes, both featuring her mom on harp and her friend, Jesse, on violin. There are two songs from Jen here: "Witch Hunt" is a waltz-y tune, and "Bird Hunting" is very beautiful, as well. On the other side are two songs from the Iditarod, a band I know very little about. I really didn't like the first song, "Weaker One", which though it has a cool moving bass line, also has a bunch of odd noises. It builds up, getting louder for four minutes, but without actually going anywhere. Their other song, "Larry", is pretty nice; a lo-fi acoustic song reminding me of Linda Smith. As with most Dutch Courage releases, the packaging is quite handsome, with good thick brown paper and good thick blue vinyl.   MTQ=3/4

Jen Turrell - "One Night The Stars Began To Fall And Would Not Stop" cd  (Red Square)
After several cdeps, cassettes, and singles on many different labels, this is the first full length record from Jen Turrell. And this is probably the most diverse thing she's released. Along with the quiet, gentle music she's known for, there are also upbeat songs like "Okay" and "Frankie's Song", as well as electronic-driven numbers, like "Dreams Of Drowning" and the opening "It's Possible". Heck, even when you think you have a song figured out, it turns around on you; on "Meteor Shower", it starts out gently with an acoustic guitar and electronic drumbeat, but halfway through, out comes the loudest distorted guitar like a massive electric shock! The variation among the songs actually helps quite a bit, especially since even though Jen's usual quiet acoustic music is nice, I've never been able to take that style of music in large doses (no matter who's playing it!). And even though Jen plays a wide variety of styles on this record, it doesn't sound disjointed or inconsistent. Quite the opposite, rather - this is definitely Jen's best release yet!   MTQ=14/15

Twelve24 - "Traveller" cdep  (Steady Cam)
Steady Cam has been a (purposefully) vinyl-only label since its inception a few years ago, but this release marks its first cd. And I'm glad it's a cd, as we would've missed out on some great songs, had this only been a vinyl single. This is jangly pop with a lot of county-ish influence. The music and vocals, remind me a lot of the Blake Babies, Annie Hayden, and the bands' Australian friends, Golden Rough. Though the songs are pretty mellow, the guitars often get louder in the chorus or solo, giving the songs more momentum.   MTQ=5/5

Twig - "Wentworth" 7"  (Cloudberry)
With a very successful and prolific year of releasing 3" cd-rs in limited quantities, Cloudberry Records quickly became the finest bedroom pop label in recent years. Now, with this inaugural vinyl release, they become a bonafide label, and finally release a record that more than a lucky few pop fans can enjoy! This is the second release from this Swedish band (having already appeared on one of the label's earlier 3" cds), and it contains a fine pair of pop tunes. They're both fairly similar in style, with a sound that reminds me of a somewhat modern Orange Juice or the early St. Christopher records (had they been remastered), with shades of Echo And The Bunnymen and the Bluebells, as well. The music is jangly with an obvious romantic feel, perfectly exemplified by Henrik's Morrissey-esque tenor. As for the packaging, it's blatantly obvious that Cloudberry is taking its cues from Sarah Records, with the insert modeled after that label's inserts, complete with a half page manifesto and duplicate catalog layout. There is one major exception, though: Sarah never individually numbered its records.   MTQ=2/2

Twig - "Life After Ridge" cd  (Plastilina)
We've already gotten a couple sample tastes of this band via a 3" cd and 7" on Cloudberry (two songs from which reappear here), but this album gives us the full range of the band and their influences. As we've already heard, the band's sound is firmly rooted in - one could even go as far as to say practically lifted from - the post-punk/pre-indiepop era of the early '80s in Britain that spawned (or at least nurtured) bands like Orange Juice, the Wake, Pale Fountains, the Bluebells and the Smiths, all of whom provided Twig with ample inspiration. But with these songs, I can also hear other influences from the day, including the Chameleons, the Commotions, early Tears For Fears, Prefab Sprout and even a bit of New Order. "Devil Talking To You" also adds a little bit of "Psychocandy" to the mix. But funny enough, I can't quite say that the songs sound dated, either, given the superior production quality. On the lp, the band might've stretched out just a bit too much; a couple of the songs ("Indigo" and "Dangerous Kind") clock in at around six minutes (though the former is forgiven for making those six minutes count), but the eight minute version of "At Work And At Home" (which contains its own built-in remix) really should've been saved for a 12" single b-side or something.   MTQ=8/11

The Twilight - "Tempest In A Teapot" cd  (no label)
Here's something funny - I threw this cd on before I peeked at the accompanying press sheet, and thought that they sounded a bit like Kiddo (particularly due to the vocals); as it turns out, the band is not only also from Cleveland, but has Kiddo's original drummer! The music on here mostly reminds me of middle-period Apples In Stereo, with a gentle and easy-going pop sound that rarely gets very loud; and when it actually does, it can either be quite effective (like the driving verses in the new wave-y keyboard-driven "Ambience In The Countryside") or sound very out of place (for example, the screaming vocals at the end of the otherwise calm "Walking Down The Street"). While there are some excellent songs on this disc, like "Zzzzz..." and "Apple Pie Suburbia", the album does occasionally drag a bit here and there, due to a samey feel among some of the songs. Also, although the songs all fit in the 3-4 minute range, a few of them still feel like they could've been shorter, even if by only a couple refrains. But even if it's not a consistently great record, it's still definitely a pleasant listen...   MTQ=8/11

The Twin Atlas - "Inside The Skate Scandal" cd  (North Of January)
I haven't heard much else from this band before, but this is apparently their sixth full length album! This is primarily the project of Sean Byrne (Lenola/Mazarin), along with Luke Zaleski. It's sort of soft folky pop, in that the songs are both subtle and gorgeously arranged. With the gentle, flowing guitars and smooth vocals, they remind me a bit of the Bomb Pops and Felt. Much of the time, the sound is atmospheric, with synths and reverb, but they accomplish this without being arty or dull. "Sound In Town" and the dreamy "Washing You Away" are just as enjoyable as the straight forward pop songs like "The Game Is Fixed" and "Walk Right Up". Plus the vibes in "Skyline" sound terrific. There's even an interesting take on the B-52s' "Legal Tender"! Only on the curiously titled "Don't Diss This Song" do they go off on a boring tangent, but otherwise, this is a wonderful little record...   MTQ=9/12

The Twin Atlas - "Sun Township" cd  (Tappersize)
Sean Byrne has been in a ton of bands, including Lenola, Mazarin and Matt Pond PA, but the Twin Atlas is his own project, along with Luke Zaleski. This is their fifth full length record since the debut in 2000, and it's a fine one. Like his previous releases, the music here is very gentle, usually with sparse arrangements involving acoustic guitars and keyboards - reminding me of the Red House Painters, a more atmospheric Beachwood Sparks or Teenage Fanclub covering Felt songs. The whole record clocks in under 30 minutes, meaning the songs are kept short and succinct, which is perfect given that this style of music too often leads to boring meandering - you won't find any of that here. Unfortunately, there aren't many songs that really stand out, either. Oh, there are some very pleasant numbers, like "Three Loves", "Come Inside" and the Clientele-ish "Evergreen", but none of them are all that memorable when the record is over.   MTQ=9/10

The Twin Atlas - "Magic Car Wash" cd  (Tappersize)
I'm a bit conflicted about this release, as the band intended this disc to be a "companion piece" to last year's promising "Sun Township" record, which basically means that it contains a bunch of throwaway tracks from that recording session. What's bothering me, though, is that amidst these instrumental interludes lie some truly stunning new songs, like "Open Scenes", "Fall Away" and "See The Lines", which rank among the band's best songs in recent years, and call to mind the Byrds, Felt and the Clientele. So what could've been a brilliant EP has been transformed into a really spotty album, simply by inserting a random 1-2½ minute long interstitial (ranging from pleasant but boring to just plain boring) between each genuine song. Damn, and I was just starting to really like this band...   MTQ=6/11

Two If By Sea - "Translations" cd  (Speedbump)
This is the first album from this group from Baltimore, and since it came out earlier this year, I'm really surprised that I haven't heard any hype about it. This band could easily be lumped in with those Factory/Joy Division inspired groups like Interpol and the Stills which were all the rage last year; though I think this record is actually more interesting than the debuts from those other two groups. The band combines electronics and loud guitars with angular rhythms and high energy, except they also remember to include some good songs and interesting melodies as well. Okay, there are a couple times when it seems the band gets too caught up in a dark mood (especially the singer's tenor voice), but there are some really fantastic and memorable songs like "Swords Or Pistols", "One Hundred Days" and "Contract" that make the album worth a shot.   MTQ=7/9

2 Out Of 3 Rule - "Really Elementary" cd  (no label)
You know when you hear a band you like, and you get a record from them that's over before you know it and you say "I wish that were longer!"? Well, the self-released debut from London's 2 Out Of 3 Rule is kinda the opposite of that. Though the band's sound is really nice and I do quite like them, twenty songs from them in 55 minutes just feels way too long. And it's not a case of not liking a bunch of the songs (which is the leading cause of a record dragging) or anything, but rather it's like when you see a band play live and they just keep playing and all you want to do is go home because you've got other stuff to do, but you stick around anyways because you really like them. I'd have to say that the main problem is that the songs don't have much variety to them; they're all minutely-varying degrees of jangly female-fronted pop that rests somewhere between the indiepop of the Hermit Crabs and the Arrogants and the gentle alt-pop of the Sundays and Juliana Hatfield's softer moments (though I'm especially reminded of Bilby, if anyone remembers them). Which, again, is quite nice, but a bit too samey over the course of an hour. But even though there's enough material for two records on this disc, they'd actually both be rather good records (with just a few scattered duds)!   MTQ=18/20

The Tyde - "Three's Co." cd  (Rough Trade)
As the title suggests, this is the third Tyde album, and I'd say it's my favorite to date (they've consistently been getting better with each release). The band haven't actually changed much since their last album - you'll still find a laidback pop sound that pulls equal influence from the Beach Boys, the Byrds and Felt in both their sunny style and sound. This is still the same band that influenced the likes of the Flower Machine and the Thrills (whose singer makes a guest appearance here). But even with their easygoing California attitude, there's still a fair amount of energy running throughout some of this record, especially in songs like "Do It Again", "County Line" and "The Pilot"; balanced with a few slower songs, like the cynical "The Lamest Shows" and "Aloha Breeze", which actually reminds me a lot of a Saturday Looks Good To Me ballad. As a "bonus", this domestic release adds a pair of remixes of album tracks that probably would've been better resigned to b-sides.   MTQ=10/13