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