Track Review: “Home” – Friends
Earlier this month Friends gave us a glimpse of what to expect on their debut full-length Manifest! with “Mind Control”. Now we’ve got the second single: the drum heavy break-up anthem “Home”. Accompanied…
Dan Deacon Announces New Album
Dan Deacon released the first preview of his new album America. “Lots” will appear on the 9-track album set to be released on August 28 via Domino Records. We wonder how it will…
Twin Shadow to Premiere New Video in Times Square
If you live in New York City or plan on visiting soon, make sure to catch Twin Shadow on June 18 in Times Square. The video for “Five Seconds”, the first single from…
tUnE-yArDs Taping at Austin City Limits
Before Merrill Garbus set foot on the Austin City Limits stage, the crowd anxiously awaited what they knew would be a powerful performance. Since the release of her first album BiRd-BrAiNs in 2009,…
Read an Excerpt from Mark Baumgarten’s Book – Love Rock Revolution: K Records and the Rise of Independent Music
City Arts magazine has made available on their website an excerpt culled from two chapters of Mark Baumgarten’s forthcoming book about K Records, Love Rock Revolution: The Rise of K Records and Independent…
Track Review: “No Hope” – The Vaccines
England’s The Vaccines are beginning to reveal details about their impending sophomore effort. It will be called The Vaccines Come of Age and will be released on September 3rd. Lead singer Justin Young has…
Video: M83 – “Reunion”
The new Fleur & Manu directed M83 video follows the same thematic appeal that the previous video for “Midnight city” did. The story is something like a combination of The Matrix and the…
Track Review: Blood Diamonds feat. Grimes – “Phone Sex”
Canada’s Blood Diamonds (aka Mike Tucker) teamed up with Grimes (aka Claire Boucher) to create a clubbed out pop tune that prominently features Boucher’s delicate, high-pitched vocals. The artwork for the cover of…
Poor Moon Announces Album, Single For Download
Fresh on the heels of a former Fleet Fox releasing one of the best albums of the year and only two months after the release of their EP Illusions, Poor Moon, comprised of two…
Fixers We’ll Be the Moon Stream
Fixers’ debut album will drop on June 4 but you can preview it now via Soundcloud. Drawing inspiration from a wide array of influences (from Brian Wilson to Animal Collective), Fixers’ We’ll Be…
R.I.P. Doc Watson
North Carolina folk legend Arthel “Doc” Watson has passed away at the age of 89 after a fall. Watson had a vast knowledge of traditional American music and, in 1988, founded Merlefest- an…
Stream Big K.R.I.T.’s Live From the Underground
Big K.R.I.T has been making waves in hip-hop since his 2010 mix tape K.R.I.T. Wuz Here. His long-awaited debut album, on which he is credited for producing and writing his own material, is…
M.I.A. Signs to Roc Nation
Jay Z’s management company Roc Nation tweeted “the nation just keeps growing” with a photo of M.I.A.’s new artist page. Rihanna, who is also a part of the team (alongside Santigold, Shakira, Mark…
Pau Wau Records Hosts Boat Party for Sleep Good’s New 7″
One of the more difficult headlines I’ve written in recent memory, this event encapsulates so many awesome aspects, it’s impossible to compact them into a digestible few words. Sleep Good is releasing a…
Track Review: “Always” – Summer Camp
We previously wrote about the first glimpse of UK duo Summer Camp’s new EP Always, out July 10th on Moshi Moshi, when they revealed the track “Life.” Now, we’ve been blessed with another…
Track Review: “Black Faces” – Childish Gambino
Donald Glover must not sleep. “Black Faces” is his fourth track in as many weeks. What’s more is that the song continues the trend of standout hip-hop styling, with Glover’s fast-paced and fresh…
Film Review: Moonrise Kingdom
Once again Wes Anderson invites us into one of his fantastic worlds, his seventh feature in a 16-year career: Moonrise Kingdom. The film fits perfectly into his oeuvre; featuring all of the familiar…
Free Press Summer Fest In Houston This Weekend
After steadily increasing attendance by 15,000 each year since inception and hosting alumni such as Girl Talk, Yeasayer, and Sharon Jones, this year’s Free Press Summer Fest promises to be the biggest and…
Ana Fernandez – Real Estates and Other Fictions
The work of San Antonio artist Ana Fernandez is stark and realistic, imaginative and surreal. In 2011, Fernandez described her art to the online Latino-focused magazine Gozamos.com as “naturalistic and realistic with elements…
Father John Misty, Har Mar Superstar, and Dana Falconberry Live at the Mohawk
I’ve had the Father John Misty record on repeat in my car since I first listened to it about a month ago. It is, without question, one of my favorites of the year….
Psychedelic Light & Sound Plans to Inundate East Austin
On June 17th, a small collective of working musicians devoted to all things psychedelic will launch a plan to dominate East Austin with light and sound. The event, which will take place at…
Preview Marissa Nadler’s The Sister
Folk songstress Marissa Nadler’s new album is due May 29 through her own label Box of Cedar Records. The Sister is a companion piece to Nadler’s 2011 self-titled album, both of which were…
Video: “This Summer I’ll Make It Up To You” – Caged Animals
Caged Animals is set to release This Summer Ep on June 11 via Lucky Number Music. The title track of the EP, “This Summer I’ll Make It Up To You”, has Vincent Cacchione…
Track Review: “To Be Young” – Two Wounded Birds
The song is catchy from the beginning with its isolated notes of shimmering surf-pop. “To Be Young,” the new track from the UK’s Two Wounded Birds is shiny, upbeat, and a perfect track…
Video: Jaill – “House with Haunting”
The new album from Jaill is only a few short weeks from release, and the band has made available a new video for their song, “House With Haunting.” The video makes a persuasive…
Track Review: “Navajo” & “Black Hill Smoke” – Ponderosa
Ponderosa has announced that their new album will be called Pool Party and will see release on July 31st of this year. So far, two cuts from the album have been made available….
Blondie/Devo Tour
Be still my beating heart! Legendary groups Blondie and Devo will do a brief tour together along the Pacific coast this September. Devo’s website claims more dates will be added so keep your…
YACHT cover The Velvet Underground
YACHT recently released a cover (on Acid) of Brigitte Fontaine’s classic “Le Goudron” as a new single. Now, we have the single’s b-side in the form of The Velvet Underground’s “I’ll Be Your…
Video (NSFW): “We Might Be Dead By Tomorrow” – SOKO
SOKO has directed a new video in support of her album full-length, I Thought I Was an Alien. “We Might Be Dead By Tomorrow” follows colorful images of female lovers in their home…
Track: “Speed the Collapse” – Metric
Metric’s upcoming Synthetica, their fifth studio album, is due out June 12 via Mom + Pop and Metric Music International. Emily Haines describes the record: “SYNTHETICA is about staying home and wanting to…
RTB2 and No Future Live at Frank
Frank is becoming one of our favorite places to catch a show. Being able to show up early to chow down on a Chicago style veggie dog with a side of tasty waffle…
Track Review: “Perfect Ten” – Jaill
In a little less than a month, Jaill will issue their new full-length Traps on Sub Pop. Preceding that release is “Perfect Ten” The track is a perfect example of the pop single. It…
Sleigh Bells Release New Video, Diplo Remix
Sleigh Bell’s new video for the hard-hitting “Demons” features footage from several recent live shows in Omaha, Oklahoma City, Dallas, and Houston. The video, directed by Sleigh Bell’s own Derek Miller, and co-directed…
Yeasayer Announce New Album
Yeasayer will release a follow-up to 2010’s highly acclaimed Odd Blood, Fragrant World is due out August 21 through Secretly Canadian. The first preview of the album comes in the form of “Henrietta”,…
Video: “Never Wed an Old Man” – Mairi Morrison and Alasdair Roberts
Two months after the debut of Urstan, Mairi Morrison and Alasdair Roberts have finally released the first, and perhaps only, promotional video in support of the album. Urstan features Morrison (from Isle of…
Utopiafest Announces Initial Lineup
If all of the commotion and clamor surrounding ACL already has you worked up and knotted in stress, the folks over at Utopiafest have the perfect antidote: a small, carefully curated festival in…
Merge Announces New Supergroup Featuring Britt Daniel, Dan Boeckner, and Sam Brown
Just today, Merge announced the existence of a new band, Divine Fits, comprise of indie-rock superheroes Britt Daniel (Spoon), Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade) and Sam Brown (New Bomb Turks). The trio have already…
ACL Festival Announces Lineup
Austin City Limits has announced the lineup for their three day music festival, which will be held October 12-14 this year, and boasts one of the most impressive line-ups in recent memory. Headliners…
Track Review: “A Troubled See” – Girls Names
Girls Names’ sound has shifted a bit since the release of their debut album a year ago and it’s all for the better. The group has just dropped a digital version of “A…
Niki & The Dove Schedule First US Tour
Sub Pop’s Niki & The Dove will finally make it to the US in support of their debut full-length, Instinct, due out August 7. The group will support Twin Shadow on his fall…
P.W. Elverum & Sun Announce the Anacortes Unknown Music Series #1
After last year’s annual What the Heck Fest, Phil Elverum of Microphones/Mount Eerie/D+/K Records fame announced that the festival would not be continuing into its 11th year. Instead, he and fellow D+ member…
Album Review: Mount Eerie – Clear Moon
Prolific songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Phil Elverum has donned both the monikers Mount Eerie and The Microphones as recording aliases over the years, also tampering with the spelling of his own given name…
Renegade Craft Fair 2012
Renegade Craft Fair, one of the most renowned arts & crafts marketplace events, invaded the Palmer Events Center in Austin over the weekend of May 19th and 20th. The third annual Renegade Austin featured…
The Donkeys Live at ND
Twang emerged as the operative theme of the evening Wednesday at East Austin’s ND, where a well assembled bill of complimentary artists delivered successive solid sets to a room of devoted fans. Paul…
Track Review: “Rusty Chains” – Perfume Genius
Mike Hadreas (Perfume Genius) has been performing “Rusty Chains” during his live sets for months now and included the track as a bonus with his album, Put Your Back N 2 It, on…
Kanye West Premieres New Film at Cannes
Kanye West’s short art film, Cruel Summer, will premiere at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival on May 23 in Cannes, France. The seven-screen experience was created by DONDA, West’s do-it-all design company named…
Album Review: Beach House – Bloom
With Bloom, Baltimore’s Beach House has achieved the pinnacle of musical accomplishments, issuing what is arguably the finest record of the year so far, and is likely to remain so. However, Bloom is not…
Video: “Breakfast (Syrup)” – Kreayshawn
A year after releasing the single and video that made her famous (and earned her a $1 million record contract), Kreayshawn has dropped “Breakfast (Syrup)” featuring 2 Chainz. Kreay, in vintage lingerie, hosts…
Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb passes away
Just days after the death of a disco queen, Bee Gee Robin Gibb has passed away. Gibb spent the last few years of his life battling cancer. He was 62 years old. The…
Arcade Fire & Mick Jagger Perform “She’s A Rainbow” & “Ruby Tuesday” on SNL
For an all-out, pull-no-punches SNL season finale blowout, Mick Jagger acted as host and musical guest and performed songs with Arcade Fire, Foo Fighters, and Jeff Beck. In the final scene, Arcade fire…
Ruby Fray and Briana Marela at Wardenclyffe Gallery
This past Sunday marked Ruby Fray’s first show since Emily Beanblossom moved her project from Olympia, Washington several thousand miles to Austin, TX. Having been here for four months settling in, the artist…
R.I.P Donna Summer
The “Queen of Disco” Donna Summer, age 63, has died following a battle with cancer. Summer began as a backup singer for Three Dog Night in the early 70’s and went on to…
Track Review: “Life” – Summer Camp
When Summer Camp’s Welcome to Condale was released last year we barely heard a peep about it. Six months later and it seems the band is finally picking up speed as I’ve been…
Video: “Mind Control” – Friends
“Mind Control” is the first single from Friends’ long awaited debut LP, Manifest!, out June 5. Director Hir Muria removes the group from their signature homemade, 90’s-inspired videos by hurling them even further…
Album Review: Maps & Atlases – Beware and Be Grateful
Maps & Atlases have been a slowly productive quartet throughout the past half-decade, releasing a handful of EPs and only one full-length, Perch Patchwork (2010). Now, the group brings us their sophomore LP…
Video: Feist – “Cicadas and Gulls”
“Cicadas and Gulls” is a fantastic track from Feist’s critically acclaimed album Metals. But just now, she has made available a video comprised of a live street performance of the song, backed by…
Dirty Projectors Announce Album Details
Following the simply outstanding debut mp3 “The Gun Has No Trigger” from their forthcoming LP, Swing Lo Magellan, The Dirty Projectors have made available more details regarding the album and its release. July…
Video: “House” – Kindness
Kindness’ new music video for the song “House” is brilliant on so many levels. At the start, Adam Bainbridge waxes philosophical about the cultural importance of pop music and then elicits some help…
Track Review: “1904” – The Tallest Man On Earth
Though The Tallest Man On Earth’s new album, There’s No Leaving Now, has been announced for some time, today marks the first sounds released from the record that will follow on June 12th….
Track Review: “Let Me Dream If I Want To” – Obits
Obits, a band comprised of indie-rock all-stars from bands such as Drive Like Jehu, Edsel, and Pitchfork, have released a new single on SubPop, who also released the band’s first two full-lengths. The…
Track Review: “Sirena” – Tara Jane O’Neil
Tara Jane O’Neil’s first solo material since 2009 comes on the K imprint in the form of a 7” single in the International Pop Underground series. The A side, “Sirena,” a tribute to…
Album Review: I Break Horses – Hearts
I Break Horses are upfront about their influences. They list My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive and Jesus and Mary Chain on their website and are signed to Cocteau Twins’ Robert Gutherie’s Bella Union label. …
Where It’s At Is Where You Are Singles Club
No, not that kind of singles club. The newest 7″ to be released by will feature 3 songs by Tally Ho!, the covers project of Rose Melberg (The Softies, Tiger Trap) and Larissa…
New Gold Panda Single
Today Gold Panda digitally released a new single, Mountains I Financial District, via Ghostly International. Vinyl copies will be available on June 12th. The two tracks are said to be influenced by modern…
New Lace Curtains Track
Yesterday a new track from Lace Curtains (a project of Harlem’s Michael Coomer) was posted over at Gorilla vs. Bear. “High Fantasy” is the first track to be released from Coomer’s forthcoming album…
Preview Mount Eerie’s Clear Moon
The first of two new albums by Phil Elverum’s Mount Eerie project is being streamed today over at NPR. The 11-track release was recorded in Elverum’s church-turned-studio, located in Anacortes, Washington, using analog…
Animal Collective Announce New Album
Baltimore’s electro-psych group Animal Collective will release Centipede Hz this September via Domino Records. Song titles include, “Moonjock”, “Today’s Supernatural”, “Rosie Oh”, “Applesauce”, “Wide Eyed”, “Father Time”, “New Town Burnout”, “Monkey Riches”, “Mercury Man”,…
Film Review: The Dictator
Long before Sacha Baron Cohen became renowned as Borat and then pushed boundaries even further as Bruno, he was luring notable personalities into bewildering conversations as British rapper Ali G. In every case,…
Album Review: Father John Misty – Fear Fun
Over the past six years, Josh Tillman has directed a quietly prolific career, releasing seven albums while holding down responsibilities as the drummer of the wildly successful band Fleet Foxes. Tillman’s eighth album…
Album Review: Craft Spells – Gallery EP
In 2011, California-native Justin Vallesteros released his debut album, Idle Labor, under the name Craft Spells. Craft Spells is one of many bedroom solo projects to recently join the ranks of New Wave…
Track Review: “Underground” – Broken Water
The new single “Underground” from the Olympia noise trio Broken Water comes to us a little over a week before the release of, Tempest their third effort, and first for Seattle’s Hardly Art label….
Olympia’s Broken Water Announces Tour, New Song
Olympia noise rock outfit Broken Water has announced a string of dates throughout the western United States surrounding the release of their third effort, Tempest, which drops on May 29th on Hardly Art…
Tennis Live in Austin at the Parish
Austin loves Tennis. Evidence: the absolutely packed house of attentive fans at their show this past Tuesday at the Parish. And Tennis loves Austin. Evidence: they were just here for SXSW (second year…
Shannon Stephens: New Album, Tour, Video
Ashmatic Kitty’s Shannon Stephens will release her third full-length, Pull It Together, on May 22. Stephens teamed up with friends to create an 11 song bluesy, indie rock album with lyrics influenced largely by the…
Track Review: “Care of You” – Shannon Stephens
Shannon Stephens’ dropped a new single from her third full-length, Pull It Together, today. The album is due to be released on May 22 via Asthmatic Kitty Records, after which Stephens will embark…
Bonnie “Prince Billy to Release New EP
This summer Drag City will release an EP of new versions of classic Bonnie “Prince” Billy songs. Will Oldham has been working with Ben Boye, Van Campbell, Emmett Kelly, Danny Kiely, and the…
Video: Bonnie “Prince” Billy – “I See a Darkness”
Drag City released a new video yesterday in support of a new Bonnie “Prince” Billy EP being released this summer. The EP, titled “Now Here’s My Plan,” will feature six new versions of…
Track Review: “The March” – 2:54
Songstress sisters Colette and Hannah Thurlow have released another song in advance of their forthcoming, eponymous album, but you won’t find this b-side among the tracks when it drops later this month. “The…
Video: Grimes – “Nightmusic”
Grimes has just released the new single from her second full-length album, Visions. “Nightmusic” was directed by John Londono (who you might recognize as the director of Grimes’ “Crystal Ball” video) and showcases indie…
LAKE Announce Spring Tour, New Releases
Those who adore sugary pop band LAKE have much to look forward to in the coming months as the band has just announced two new releases and a west coast tour. After spending…
Track Review: “Dust Devil” – Mission of Burma
Beginning in 1979, Mission of Burma quickly achieved notoriety in the underground punk scene, only to disband four short years later. 2012 marks the 10th year since the band reunited after almost two…
Youth Lagoon Announce Tour with Father John Misty
After finishing a string of dates opening for Death Cab For Cutie, followed by a brief rest, Trevor Powers will take his recording project Youth Lagoon out for a headline tour in July, supported…
The Vaselines Announce US Tour Dates
Sub-Pop has just announced that long-time and much-loved band The Vaselines will embark on a small tour in the US this summer. It’s been two years since their last visit to the states,…
Track Review: Chain & the Gang – “Surprise Party”
Ian Svenonius’ (of Weird War and The Make-Up) newest full-time project, Chain & the Gang, is set to release a new album, In Cool Blood, on July 10 via K Records. K describes…
Album Review: Reptar – Body Faucet
It isn’t often anymore that I encounter a band with fans as enthusiastic as Reptar’s, and if you’ve ever attended one of their live shows, you know why. Graham Ulicny (guitar and vocals),…
Twin Shadow Announces Tour
Twin Shadow has a new album coming out on July 10. Confess is being released on 4AD and is rumored to be written about the aftermath of a motorcycle accident. In support of the…
Album Review: Toro Y Moi – June 2009
June 2009 is a retrospective of songs recorded around the same time as Toro Y Moi’s acclaimed debut Causers of This. The assemblage of ten tracks feels like anything but a collection of…
Preview Beach House’s Bloom
A week before it’s release, Beach House’s Bloom is being streamed over at NPR. Though it doesn’t stray too far from their typical brand of chamber-pop, Bloom is still an exciting and refreshing listen. Band…
Marmalakes EP Release Party
From the moment I walked through the heavy wooden doors of the Scottish Rite Theater, it was obvious that Marmalakes’ EP release party for In Arnica would not be a standard affair. I…
Grimes Remixes… Herself
When Grimes’ Claire Boucher visited BBC Radio 1 recently she recorded a new version of “Vanessa” that is closer to how she performs the song live. We love how the piece maintains it’s…
Beloved Author Maurice Sendak Dies
The literary world has lost another great today, Maurice Sendak died from complications of a stroke at age 83. His classic children’s book, Where the Wild Things Are, became an ever-lasting and award…
Redd Kross Sign to Merge, Announce Shows
Big news! On August 7, Merge will release Redd Kross’ first new rock album in 15 years, Researching the Blues. Band member Steve McDonald says of the songs he and brother Jeff wrote,…
Video: Tennis – “My Better Self”
As the shot opens, Alaina Moore, Patrick Riley, and James Barone, along with two back-up dancers/singers, stand on stage, shrouded in darkness and fog. Thus begins Tennis’ new video for “My Better Self,” directed…
Allo Darlin’ with The Wave Pictures and No Future Live at the Mohawk
Accolades are in order for whoever put together the bill at Austin’s Mohawk this past Tuesday night. Each band complimented the others perfectly, sharing enough common ground to provide a bridge from one…
Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys Passes Away
Adam Yauch (aka MCA) of the Beastie Boys has passed away at the age of 47. The gangly adolescent turned political activist was diagnosed with cancer in 2009, resulting in canceled appearances and…
Carefully Crafted Cocktails at Péché
Travel along 4th to Austin’s warehouse district and you will find Péché, an absinthe bar where careful craft is emphasized both in the impressive cocktail list and comforting European fare. Though the towering…
The Importance of the Paris Review
The Paris Review proudly stands as one of the last bastions of literary journals delivering notable literature and artwork. The quarterly publication began in 1953, founded by George Plimpton, Peter Matthiessen, and Harold…
Track Review: “Creeping” – 2:54
“Creeping,” the new track from UK sibling duo 2:54, preceding the May 28th release of their eponymous debut on Fat Possum, is a song in two mirrored acts. In act one, steady distorted…
Reptar – “Three Shining Suns”
Athens, Georgia’s electro-pop outfit Reptar released a new video yesterday- “Three Shining Suns” is from their debut album Body Faucet, released on Vagrant Records in the US and Lucky Numbers Music in Europe….
The xx Announce 2012 Shows
After taking the entire year of 2011 off, The xx have finally booked a stream of 2012 European shows. It looks like they won’t be stopping by Paris so I’ll miss them this…
