New Tracks: “1000 Leather Tassels,” “Mr. Mister” – The Blank Tapes
San Francisco’s Blank Tapes draw on 60s pop and psychedelia for their new songs “Mr. Mister” and “1000 Leather Tassels.” The organ of the former recalls songs by the Zombies, but the reverb laden…
Video: Damien Jurado – “Kalla Hus”
Earlier this year, Damien Jurado gave fans the gift of an amazing new album, Maraqopa, released by Secretly Canadian. Just in time for the holidays, he has given us another one: a video…
Interview: Mirror Travel on Their New Record and Falling in Love with Marfa
Pop Press International recently had the privilege of exchanging emails with Austin’s Mirror Travel in advance of their upcoming show as part of New Year’s Eve’s best bill, the No Play Music sponsored…
Sonny Smith Unveils New Song from 100 Records Project
During an artist’s residency at the Headlands Center for the Arts in Sausalito, CA Sonny Smith, of Sonny and the Sunsets, began the enormous project of creating 100 fictional records for 100 fictional bands….
Band Spotlight: Love Inks
Today, we’re calling attention to one of this city’s best bands–a band who has some amazing accomplishments under its belt. Love Inks has shared the stage with young, fresh acts such as YACHT…
The Babies, Deep Time, & GALPALS Live at the Mohawk
The Babies’ Our House on the Hill was one of the most underrated records of 2012. Employing no-frills, straightforward rock ’n’ roll, it surpasses albums that take themselves too seriously or focus too…
New Track: “Year of the Glad” – Marnie Stern
Marnie Stern possesses a reputation as a serious guitar player who can shred with the best of them and who creates songs that are densely layered barrages of sound. However, the first single…
Matador’s Iceage Prep You’re Nothing
Matador Records recording artist Iceage have prepared their sophomore album entitled You’re Nothing, which will be released on February 19th. This young group from Copenhagen released their debut LP New Brigade on Matador,…
New Track: “I Fell in Love with a Feeling” – Nightlands
Nightlands have a new album called Oak Island due out on Secretly Canadian on January 22nd. Though we’ll have to wait a few more months for that, today they’ve given us the two-minute…
New Track: “Heaven” – Popstrangers
New Zealand pop outfit Popstrangers have released a video for the song “Heaven” from the forthcoming album Antipodes out February 26th on Carpark Records. The gritty, ticking verses open up into shimmering choruses…
New Track: “Younger Days” – Mount Moriah
Mount Mairah will release Miracle Temple, their second album, on February 26, 2013 via Merge Records. The group has released the first track, “Younger Days.” The country-leaning folk pop floats by easily with memorable…
Austra at Work on New Album, Announce Tour with The xx
Domino recording artist Austra has announced that they are in the process of working on a follow-up to last year’s critically acclaimed album Feel It Break. Along with this news comes the announcement…
Video: Dirty Projectors – “Offspring are Blank”
Dirty Projectors have released a new video for the track “Offspring are Blank” from their phenomenal album, Swing Lo Magellan, which was released by Domino earlier this year. The video, directed by the…
Video: Ruby Suns – “Kingfisher Call Me”
We already wrote about “Kingfisher Call Me” when the Ruby Suns announced their album and made the track available for download. Now, the band has released a video for the track. To accompany…
The Best Albums of 2012
Welcome to Pop Press International’s list of the best albums of 2012. There are a few things we have to confess to you before you read further. Let’s cut right to the chase….
New Track: “White Noise” – Black Books
Just in time for Christmas, we’ve been given an exquisite present: a new dark dream pop track called “White Noise” from Austin’s Black Books. We had an opportunity to see the band when…
Phosphorescent Announces New Album, Shares “Song for Zula”
I’ve been a Phosphorescent fan since I first heard “Salt and Blues,” the first track on their debut LP. It has been a great pleasure to watch the band change and evolve over…
New Track: “Jean’s Waving” – Amor de Dias
Merge Records artist Amor de Días has released a new single, entitled “Jean’s Waving” in advance of a forthcoming full-length, The House at Sea, which will see release on January 29, 2013. The laid back…
Track: “Ghosts Behind” – Phone Tag
Brooklyn’s Phone Tag dropped their self-titled LP on Dutty Artz in September to nearly unanimous if limited critical acclaim. We’re just now being turned onto the group that is fronted by Gryphon Graham…
New Track: “If We Were Banished” – Radar Brothers
Yesterday, Merge Records announced the release of a new Radar Brothers record, entitled Eight (it’s their 8th album), and also shared the first single, “If We Were Banished,” from the forthcoming LP. The track…
Mountain Goats Live at Emo’s
Oh, the cathartic joy of a Mountain Goats show. Let’s be honest—the Mountain Goats, whether recorded or live, simply aren’t for everyone. Highly literate, dark, comedic acoustic pop built on the most ferociously…
Show Preview: No Play Music New Year’s Eve at Cheer Up Charlie’s
Every time a big event day comes around (Fun Fun Fun and ACL weekends) or there’s an epic mini-festival of a tour kickoff or record release, it seems that the Sour Notes always…
New Track: “Swimsuit” – Cayucas
Recent Secretly Canadian signee Cayucas has released a second single entitled “Swimsuit.” We mentioned the track when we wrote about the band’s first single, “Cayucos.” This new single is every bit as infectious…
of Montreal and French Horn Rebellion Live at Mohawk
A live performance by of Montreal has come to be synonymous with visual spectacle, and the group’s performance at the Mohawk on Tuesday night furthered this association with outlandish stage antics and dramatic…
SXSW Announces Next Round of Bands!
Although Christmas is right around the corner, the music lover’s Christmas, South by Southwest is still a few months away. However, today we have been blessed with the glory of another announcemnt of…
Cave Singers Announce New Album, Share “Have to Pretend”
The Cave Singers have announced that they will release their new full-length, Naomi, on March 5 via Jagjaguwar. Members Pete Quirk, Derek Fudesco (Pretty Girls Make Graves, Murder City Devils), and Marty Lund…
New Track: “Empty Promises” – Cass McCombs
Formerly available as only a B-side from the “Bradley Manning” 7″ single, released on Domino earlier this year, “Empty Promises” has now been released for streaming. How does McCombs so excellently balance steady pop…
Album Review: Memory Tapes – Grace/Confusion
Memory Tapes, the recording project of Dayve Hawk, releases its third album, Grace/Confusion, today on Carpark Records. Hawk sharpens his skills even further on this album, effortlessly blending and moving between vastly divergent…
Sufjan Stevens Live at Emo’s Austin (Photos and Recap)
Employing the outrageousness of a confetti cannon, inflatable pink unicorns, tinsel trimmed boots, Christmas trees, a plethora of lights, Superman capes, and feathered headdresses draped in balloons, Sufjan Stevens and his backing band…
