The Terrordactyls 'self-titled' album

The Terrordactyls are Michael Cadiz and Tyrel Stendahl. Michael was born in Baltimore, MD. Tyrel is from Tukwila, WA. They met on Vashon Island where they both attended classes at Vashon High School. They did several multimedia projects together and played music, four-square and capture-the-flag with their friends until it all eventually merged into what is now The Terrordactyls.

'…the Terrordactyls' sound is charming and wee, quite possibly created in a bedroom littered with Christmas lights and funny art posters...There are no sonic explosions here, but the music is super-cute nonetheless'(Megan Seling, The Stranger).

'Everything The Terrordactyls do is Wonderful.'(Megan Seling, The Stranger)

'…I'm honored that you decided to cover my 'Long Live The Party' song, and I enjoyed your version very much. I could've never imagined the arrangement you recorded, and I was delighted at the effect. Again, thank you… No matter what, let's all continue to make music and enjoy every moment of this process that is life. Never let down and long live the party' (Letter from Andrew W.K.).

'The duo spin a web of clever lyrics, catcy sing-a-longs and goofy instrumentation…their communist inspired, love tortured sound could be the hottest thing since Yikes! Pencils' (Jaron Berliner, The Vox).

'When the opener nails its performance, there is an odd electricity that runs through the room, and it was certainly there when the Terrordactyls left the stage. Their head-swaying songs, filled with out-of-tune kazoo harmonizing and a plinking toy piano, were almost the pinnacle of the whole show. With the lightheartedness of a child and the lyrical earnestness a grandfather might have, Terrordactyls resembled old friends weaving tidy, ephemeral songs around a campfire, especially during the song 'Fall.''(Rob Bergquist, The West Coast Performer)

Here are three reasons to love the Terrordactyls' 80.5% Magic EP: (1) The cover boasts a scribbled and not-to-scale pie diagram, where the quirky little pop duo from Olympia breaks themselves into seven parts-2 percent music, 4 percent dinosaurs, 3 percent fighting bears, 3 percent coffee, 5 percent greed, 5 percent being real, and 80.5 percent magic. Apparently, as a whole, they total 102.5 percent. They're that magical. (2) On the inside of the CD's cardboard sleeve is a picture of the handsome young men, Tyrel and Michael, playing with plastic dinosaurs. One of them, I think it's Michael, seems to be trying to bite the head åoff a Tyrannosaurus rex. Or maybe it's an Allosaurus. (3) The music-acoustic pop with a little twee attitude-is just as good and charming as the packaging. Case in point: The song 'Melaena,' a slow tune about a birthday girl who's not having a good time, contains the line 'Melaena, what's the matter? Birthdays make you gladder not more sadder'(Megan Seling, The Stranger)

'The Terrordactyls have finally released a full-length, and the packaging, just like their tender and simple bedroom pop, is utterly adorable. The CD case is, in fact, a mini pop-up picture.

I'm listening to the record for the first time right now, so I can't give you a complete and whole-hearted review of the disc, but it's more of what the duo did on their previous EP 80.5% Magic. That's fine with me, I like what they have going.

Right now a stand-out track is 'Zombie Girl.' It starts with a chorus of kids enthusiastically yelling 'Yay!' and turns into a love letter to a girl who literally 'tore out my heart' and 'ate my hand.' There are gentle la la las throughout, and the proclamation that Zombie Girl is the 'most awesomest girl in my school.' They also speak a little French in there, but I took German in high school, so I have no idea what they're saying.

I also like 'Devices,' a duet featuring Kimya Dawson-'You lift me up way into the clouds!' 'You keep my feet firmly on the ground.' 'I feel like I'm floating each time that we kiss.' 'I beg of you, don't drift too far for your hugs I will miiiiss.'

It's so sweet.

If you're curious, you can download the whole kazoo, xylophone, and handclap-filled record for free at the band's website. Ten bucks, will get you the real deal with the cute pop-up CD sleeve. And if that's not enough, a measly extra two dollars will win you a hand-drawn and customized turkey picture:

I'm not saying it's gonna change the world or anything, but U2 aside, who does that anymore?'(Megan Seling, The Stranger)

After high school, Michael moved around the United States and France for a while studying the classical guitar, until he finally settled down in Olympia to finish his degree at The Evergreen State College. Tyrel has been studying fine arts, design, animation and music at Evergreen as well.

They play shows.

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The Terrordactyls - self-titled