When you think of Seattle's contributions to the indie rock world, a lot of bands come to mind: Death Cab for Cutie, Young Fresh Fellows, Modest Mouse, Silkworm, the Posies. And that's just a start.

One name that hardly ever gets mentioned is Tullycraft. In fact, when I recently sat down with Tullycraft's singer and songwriter Sean Tollefson and guitarist Chris Munford, they noted that nobody seems to even know they're from here.

If you aren't familiar, Tullycraft puts together a nearly platonic ideal of three-minute pop songs: catchy, funny, and intelligent in the most accessible way possible. In the 90s, college radio caught on to Tullycraft, and songs like "Pop Songs Your New Boyfriend's Too Stupid to Know About" and "Twee" became underground hits.

Chris and Sean were kind enough to meet me at a Ballard bar. Here are some highlights from that two-hour rambling conversation. As I sat down at the table with the first pitcher of beer, they were already talking about the new album…

By Matt Ashworth

Snowbell are recent transplants to the indie music hot bed of Olympia, Washington. Unlike the majority of that town’s current bands, who either play metal or punk rock, Snowbell play pop music, citing Belle and Sebastian, the Beach Boys and the Zombies as influences. “We do melodic, melancholy pop songs,� says singer/songwriter/guitarist Galilee. “There aren’t too many other bands doing that in Olympia right now.�