New Single by The Owls!

Finally after over three years the Minneapolis band The Owls lets everyone in on what they have been up to. The Owls have three songwriters (sometimes four) and have finally finished their debut album "Daughters and Suns". The song we have posted here is written and sung by Maria May and opens with the prettiest harmonies. It is a charming piano song that reminds us of the heart aching hit song from the EP "Air" but a bit more playful. The Owls are the best at what they do, amazing harmonies with beautiful pop production. Brian Tighe, Allison Labonne also have their equal share of songs on this 14 song album. It has taken three years to get here so don't rush let The Owls seep into you. The Owls album Daughters and Suns will be released Oct 23rd and the cd release show is scheduled for Nov 8th at the Cedar Cultural Center.

The Owls "Peppermint Patty"

New Tullycraft Single!

We are very excited to announce a brand new Tullycraft song for download. "The Punks Are Writing Love Songs" is off the new album "Every Scene Needs A Center" which is due out Oct 23rd. Tullycraft have a cd release show planned on Oct 18th at The Crocodile with The Math and Physics Club and Patience Please. "Punks" is the lead off track to the band's upcoming album. I love the new Tullycraft and one of the reasons is the variety of styles and sounds on the record. It is a lengthy 14 tracks long and will surely not disappoint all the fans who have been waiting since "Disenchanted Hearts Unite". "Punks" has a huge hook and lends to fist pumping "hey"s. Corianton Hale of Tullycraft designed the JPEG to go along with this free download. Stay tuned to for a free download from The Owls later this week.

Tullycraft "Punks Are Writing Love Songs"

Hola Mexico!

After I married Molly, we risked possible hurricanes to spend a week in paradise known to some of you as the state of Quintana Roo or more commonly as the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. It was an amazing experience as for one I have never really had a relaxing vacation before. We spent hours watching the tide come in and catching up on our novel reading. We encountered sea turtles, spider monkeys, and countless number of crabs. We didn't really experience much of a music scene other than the cover band that played fairly late outside of our hotel room on the Isla de Mujeres. We did however bring the ipod and speakers and played my favorite mexican indie pop band Hello Seahorse! On their website they have 4 acoustic versions of some songs from their album available for download. I will post a link to one of their songs sung in English "Lost Cause Heart". They have their cd available everywhere via CD Baby and Itunes. I can't think of another mexican indie pop band but lets hope they are starting a trend.

Happy Birthday!

This is a photo of Mark. He and I run Magic Marker Records. This photo of Mark is when he had a beard and before he started riding his bike everywhere. I have known Mark since my junior year in college at Indiana University. We both worked at WIUS , the college radio station. Mark once had Bunnygrunt play his house with his friend's ska band whose name I am forgetting right now. In even bigger news is Mark is moving back from California back to Oregon very soon! I am so happy to have Mark back. Either way today is Mark's birthday and I am making a post about it. Happy Birthday Mark! I will include the fantastic video from Altered Images of "Happy Birthday". All so fantastic. As Mark may point out it was my birthday yesterday as well. Happy Birthday Mark ! I hope you are having a fantastical day!

Magic Marker Curt gets married presses 7"

On September 1st, 2007 I Curtis Kentner married Molly Anderson. It was truly the happiest day of my life. All our friends and family came to Portland, Oregon and had a grand ol' time talking, dancing, eating, drinking, and laughing. So many people helped make this such a special day and we love them all. To commemerate the occasion Molly and I asked Ricky of The Galactic Heroes and Dave from BOAT to collaborate to cover the Trogg's song "With a Girl Like You" for our first dance. We also asked Katy Davidson if she would cover the Zombies song "This Will Be Our Year" for Molly to walk down the aisle to. Here are those two songs for your enjoyment. We also had them pressed onto a 7". Depending on demand we have some left over. I will send them out for the price of shipping. Oh yeah this photo is from the photo booth that Ricky built himself. Amazing.

Just paypal me your request at info@magicmarkerrecords.com

In the US or Canada $1.50
Rest of the world $2.50

MANHATTAN LOVE SUICIDES - KEEP IT COMING

Here is an update. The 7" singles were found. It turns out the British government wanted to hang onto them long enough to keep us guessing. So they are available in the UK as well as in the US. Here we have an actually video for an upcoming single that is due out in October on Lost Music Recordings.

where are the 7"s?

So we pressed 500 7 inch single/eps with The Manhattan Love Suicides. Featuring a new version of "Kick It Back" and 3 others including the song the Ronettes never recorded but should have "You'll Never Get That Guy". It is a fantastic piece of wax. A must to add to your collection. I sent half of the copies to Leeds to The Manhattan Love Suicides 3 weeks ago. They had an upcoming gig with And You Will Know Us By... they were hoping to have the hot new single for sale. It didn't show up in time for the gig. In fact we don't know where they could be. We only pressed 500 and are now down to 250. This could become quite the collectible if not found. I could have written the address wrong but I don't think I did. If that happens they would get sent back and I would not only have to pay to get them back but pay to then send them back to the UK. I mean 7"s are a money losing product anyway but this could be a wash. Well anyway I hope where ever they are they are safe and not broken or underwater. I will keep you updated.

DEAR NORA - Weird Cactus

Why wouldn't Katy tell me she made a video? I am not really sure. Anyway she made this video while on tour with Darren Hanlon who is playing in Portland tonight at the Mississippi Studios. Darren was quick to draw attention to this amazing piece of video made with a $10 budget in Meekathara a remote part of Western Australia.

Bears hit Portland

Last night I was treated to the fantastic sounds of all a things a midwest pop band, Bears. Charlie from the band let me know they were coming to town and I am glad he did. Bears on the recordings are breezy, pleasant pop in an Elliott Smith meets The Lucksmiths but live they were very energetic and upbeat even including a Hall and Oates cover. I know I missed out on seeing Ladybug Transistor across town but I have seen them before and felt rewarded for trying something new. They have a week or so left on their tour so please go see them or buy cd. Here is a song off their self released ep that came out earlier this year.

Bears - Those Years

Zombie Kid Likes Turtles

"All right you're a great zombie" so genius in its simplicity.