Old Traditions, New Standards is probably Crayon and Tullycraft leader Sean Tollefson’s best album. All 12 songs are charm-packed, hook-heavy, twee pop creations. The players are energetic, Tollefson’s vocals are confident, and the songwriting presents no misfires. Pat Maley’s clean, crisp production gives each song exactly the right spark and feel. With subject matter encompassing superheroes, scads of other indie bands, visits to the seashore, Dollywood, and sweetness, it’s safe to say that the cuteness factor of the album is off the charts. That doesn’t mean the songs don’t rock out. Jangling shambolic guitars, smart arrangements, and an infectious sense of fun mark the album for twee classic status. Highlights include the tale of hang-ups and problems for “Superboy and Supergirl,” the tale of young “Josie” who wants to be in a legitimate punk rock band, and “Pop Songs Your Boyfriend’s Too Stupid to Know About.” The latter song is about as fun as a song can be, as Tollefson tells a girl that he and she share a love for Neutral Milk Hotel and Halo Benders and that her new boyfriend can stick to Green Day and the Breeders. The song is a little valentine to indie bands and fans in the know. Tullycraft’s playing is so good throughout the album that they even suggest the the Velvet Underground on “Dollywood.” Delightfully fun and never overstepping its welcome, Old Traditions, New Standards is one of the best twee punk-pop albums of its time. – Tim DiGravina, All Music Guide

“Tullycraft’s first record features many indie-pop classics including “Pop Songs Your New Boyfriend’s Too Stupid To Know About,” which ranks in the top 3 All-Time Best Indie-pop songs.” – Mr. Darla

Old Traditions, New Standards is an absolute classic masterpiece indie-pop record originally released in 1996 on the wonderful Harriet Records label of Cambridge, MA., and the Little Teddy label of Munich, Germany.

In the year Old Traditions, New Standards was released, Tullycraft recorded more than an album’s worth of songs, which were released touch-n-go via a number of cornerstone independent labels including Cher Doll (US), Little Teddy (Germany), Wurlitzer Jukebox (UK), Blackbean and Placenta Tape Club (US), and 100 Guitar Mania (Japan). Most of these releases, on 7″ vinyl, and a few indie pop compilations more or less sold out. They were then collected and reissued on The Singles, a compilation CD, along with a reissue of Old Traditions, New Standards CD by Darla in 1999.

All of the songs on the Old Traditions, New Standards album (and many of the other tracks on this 2xLP) were recorded entirely, or in part, by Pat Maley at Yoyo Studio in the Capitol Theater, downtown Olympia, WA between 1995 and 1999.