Blank Tapes Release “Coast to Coast” Video, Embark on Tour
Pop Press International faves The Blank Tapes have released a new video via Filter for track “Coast to Coast” from their forthcoming full-length Vacation, out on May 14th on Antenna Farm Records. Directed by…
Reservations Release EP, Celebrate with Show on April 13
Austin’s Reservations is a band fronted by Jana Horn, who began writing songs as a solo project. After recorded with Paul Price of Good Field, the band added Jason Baczynski and Alán Uribe, both…
Brazos Compiles Mixtape, Announces NYC Residency
We’re big Brazos fans here at Pop Press International. The band has a ton going on in advance of the May release of Saltwater on Dead Oceans. Streaming now is an incredibly eclectic mixtape compiled…
New Track: Dark Dark Dark – “What I Needed”
At the center of the new track from Dark Dark Dark are the soulful vocals of Nona Marie Invie. This is a common feature of the lean, nonchalant pop of this indie pop outfit….
Foxing Quarterly Releases 2nd Issue Tonight at The Parish
The Austin-based literary journal Foxing Quarterly will release its second issue in a an event co-sponsored by indie press Write Bloody. The journal’s inaugural edition impressed the indie-lit world with the top notch writing it showcased as…
Lana Del Rey Covers Leonard Cohen’s “Chelsea Hotel No. 2”
Pop chanteuse Lana Del Rey has released a video and cover of Leonard Cohen’s impeccable “Chelsea Hotel No. 2.” The video features dark, stark shots of Del Rey singing into a microphone and…
Video: Phosphorescent – “Song for Zula”
It’s no secret that we adore Phosphorescent here at Pop Press Intl. We gave their newest effort Muchacho a ‘Pop Press Picks’ status and wrote about two of their sets at SXSW. This week…
New Track: Hausu – “Leaning Mess”
The Pacific Northwestern cities of Seattle and Portland were in the front seat of the vehicle that drove 90s alternative and indie music to new heights, which gives those cities a unique ability…
Radiation City Shares “Foreign Bodies” Ahead of Animals in the Median LP
Radiation City is on the shortlist of bands I’m bummed about missing at SXSW. Not only does the new single from their forthcoming LP sound great, but their live show was recommended to…
Mikal Cronin Shares “Weight” from Forthcoming LP
We were impressed with Mikal Cronin’s set when we caught him at SXSW this year, and we’re looking forward to the release of his new album, MCII, in May on Merge Records. The first single…
Marnie Stern Releases Video for “Immortals,” Announces Tour
Yesterday we ran our review of Marnie Stern’s excellent new record Chronicles of Marnia, which dropped last week on Kill Rock Stars. Today, Stern released a video for album track “Immortals.” Cinematically stunning,…
Stream: Telekinesis – Dormarion
Michael Benjamin Lerner is the creative force at the center of Telekinesis, and he will soon drop his third full-length. But before Merge Records releases the album next week, you can stream the…
Album Review: The Cyclist – Bones in Motion
The Irish producer known as The Cyclist has already received a wide variety of accolades for his upcoming LP, Bones in Motion, due to his innovative style of experimental electronica. It’s lo-fi variety…
New Track: Joanna Barbera – “Tempt Me”
Joanna Barbera creates smoky folk rock in the vein of Sharon Van Etten and Neko Case. As a follow up to last year’s debut Carnival Beginning, Barbera will be releasing her sophomore album Forget this…
The Strokes Release B-side, Album Comedown Machine Out Today
Today, The Strokes release their 5th studio album, Comedown Machine. Along with that, the group has released “Fast Animals,” a B-side for album single “All the Time.” The B-side’s title plays on the fact…
Album Review: Marnie Stern – Chronicles of Marnia
Blending the organic and near-magical finger tapping style of guitar playing prodigy Marnie Stern has mastered with staccato vocal bursts, Chronicles of Marnia begins sounding almost experimentally synthetic. As stated, it is not….
Album Review: Julian Lynch – Lines
The general consensus amongst those familiar with the longtime work of experimental folk artist Julian Lynch is that his fourth full album Lines is a more focused effort than previous ones. Having not…
Pure X Shares New Song, Announces Tour
Those enigmatic and reclusive boys Pure X have shared “Someone Else,” another song from their forthcoming LP Crawling Up the Stairs, which is due out May 14th on Acephale Records. As ever, the track…
New Track: Hospital Ships – “Come Back to Life”
Jordan Geiger has been an integral and stalwart member of the music community for years, fronting the band Minus Story and playing in Shearwater. His newest project Hospital Ships has announced a new…
Album Review: The Strokes – Comedown Machine
The trouble with releasing a universally lauded debut album is that you’ll forever be measured not only by its greatness but also by its particular qualities. In this way, how “good” either the…
Free Press Summer Fest Returns with Killer Lineup, Stream Tracks from Performing Artists
In response to Austin’s enormous SXSW, Austin City Limits, and Fun Fun Fun festivals, Houston is carving out a name for itself by hosting its own outstanding festival in the heart of downtown….
Austin Psych Fest Commences Next Month with Stellar Lineup
The Black Angels, Deerhunter, Clinic, Os Mutantes, White Fence, DIIV, Tamaryn, and Besnard Lakes are just a few of the names that occupy the extensive and excellent lineup Austin Psych Fest has in…
Album Review: Brandt Brauer Frick – Miami
When I read about Berlin group Brandt Brauer Frick’s music, described as “techno with the technology,” I was dutifully intrigued. Optimistically anticipating some sort of new-found instrumental techno magic, I plugged my ears…
New Track: Caveman – “Where’s the Time”
In advance of their impending, self-titled, full-length album out April 2nd on the excellent Fat Possum label, Caveman has released the song “Where’s the Time.” The band has already shared “In the City”…
Video: Generationals – “Put A Light On”
For “Put A Light On,” the second single from Generationals’ upcoming album Heza, the band has released a video that celebrates their hometown of New Orleans to the tune of their echoing, jangly…
Video: Wolf People – “All Returns”
Stalwart record-releasing force Jagjaguwar will issue British group Wolf People’s new album Fain on April 30th. The group has previously released track “All Returns” from that record, and have now issued a video to accompany…
Video: Telekinesis – “Ghosts and Creatures”
In advance of the bands forthcoming album Dormarion, Seattle-based indie-pop band Telekinesis have released a video from their song “Ghosts and Creatures.” The album drops on April 2nd from Merge Records, but the piano-driven…
New Track: Sonny and the Sunsets – “Dark Corners”
Culled from the forthcoming LP Antenna to the Afterworld, out in June on Polyvinyl, Sonny and the Sunsets’ new song “Dark Corners” is an aptly titled tune. Stretching out over five minutes, the song…
Video: Pop Press INTL.’s SXSW Day Show w/ Dog Bite and Good Field
We’re pleased to bring you footage of each of the 14 bands that played our SXSW Day Show at the New Movement. We picked the bands because we love each of them, but…
Album Review: Carmen Villain – Sleeper
It could be the obvious fact that both are foreign women who have been professional models, but I think the connections between quintessential pop chanteuse Nico and up and coming songstress Carmen Villain…
Album Review: André Obin – The Arsonist
Boston electronica artist André Obin, who has been large on the touring scene for almost five years, opening for acts like M83 and Washed Out, has finally dropped a full-length album this week. His…
The National Release Album Tracklist and Artwork for Trouble Will Find Me
On May 20th/21st, The National will release their new album Trouble Will Find Me through 4AD. After a series of widely praised records, the most recent being 2010’s High Violet, the band has become one of…
The Twelve Best Performances at SXSW 2013
For those of you who like reading something earnest and thoughtful, we wrote this post right here. However, if you just want the quick and dirty SXSW recap, you’re in the right place….
SXSW 2013: Final Thoughts and Reflections
Without question, this was the best SXSW I have ever attended. I hope you’ll forgive me for moving past a simple list of the best things I saw, and bear with me for…
The Woolen Men – The Woolen Men
I have to confess sometimes I do not understand the lo-fi movement. For me listening to a song recorded on antiquated equipment is like watching a movie on an old television–it won’t ruin…
Future Bible Heroes Announce Partygoing, Share New Song
Future Bible Heroes is just one of the several projects developed by Stephin Merritt, who has seen his greatest notoriety from his band The Magnetic Fields. Future Bible Heroes has announced that they…
Vampire Weekend Austin City Limits Taping
Austin City Limits has built a legacy on the shoulders of outstanding musicians, namely country/folk legends and particularly those from Texas. However, as a true reflection of the diverse Austin music community, the…
SXSW Day 5 feat. Smashing Pumpkins, The Sword, Dog Bite, and Pageants
The final day of SXSW came extraordinarily early for me. While others might have gotten a late start, allowing themselves to sleep in to ease the exhaustion, Pop Press International’s first SXSW day…
In Memoriam: Jason Molina
Independent music lost an incredible force last weekend when Jason Molina passed away at age 39. It drives me a little crazy when death is carted around the internet casually as news, so…
Album Review: Phosphorescent – Muchacho (Pop Press Pick)
The sun peeks over the desert horizon with soft yellow blinks and floods a tiny Mexican bar where a disheveled drunk sways, shirttails untucked, shuffling on a concrete floor, mumbling a mournful and…
SXSW Day 4 with Flaming Lips, Kendrick Lamar, and Phosphorescent
After hustling all morning to get some photos up and edited of day three, I made my way down to Sidebar where DC vs. Austin, hosted by Pop Press International and Side One…
Full Coverage: SXSW Day 3 with Flaming Lips, Alt-J, and Solange
We already brought you outstanding coverage of SXSW 2013 days one and two as well as photos from SXSW day three. We’re back with full coverage of the third day and will follow…
SXSW Day 3 feat. Flaming Lips, Alt-J, DIIV, and Solange
For extensive writing about SXSW days one and two, click here and here. We’re swamped planning for our two day parties: one at Sidebar today and the other at The New Movement tomorrow….
SXSW Day 3 Field Report from Chris Witte
I’m running on three hours of sleep, I’ve hardly changed my clothes, my shoes are worn through, my feet blistered, my car was towed, and still I’m having an absolute blast here in…
SXSW 2013 Day 2 Highlights feat. Nick Cave, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, & Youth Lagoon
As opposed to the more than a dozen bands I saw yesterday for day one of SXSW, I only saw eight bands yesterday, but I might trade seeing those eight for all the…
SXSW Day 2 Field Report from Chris Witte feat. Toro Y Moi and Ra Ra Riot
So yeah, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were like, yeah, great, and other big names were abound on the SXSW scene last night, but I secretly pity anyone who didn’t at least stop in…
SXSW Day 1 Field Report from the Mohawk by Chris Witte
Heralding the start of an animated week of world-class musical festivities, Mohawk began its South by Southwest run last night with an enticing line-up of exciting bands that included a special guest appearance…
SXSW 2013 Highlights Day 1 feat. Local Natives, Body Parts, and Social Studies
By the end of the first day of SXSW, it’s always hard to believe that there are four more left. In part, because of how many amazing artists you’ve seen, miles you’ve walked,…
SXSW Preview and Interview: Social Studies
Social Studies just about stole the night when they played a recent Austin set with buzz bands like Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Foxygen. Their closing song “Terracur” captivated the room as much as…
SXSW Interview and Preview: Brass Bed
When we caught Brass Bed opening for Shearwater last month, we were more than impressed. We were able to get in touch with the band for a brief interview in advance of their…
Colleen Green Streams Sock It To Me, Plays SXSW
Colleen Green has released two outstanding, lightly distorted pop songs in as many months. Now, as the release of her new album for Hardly Art Records approaches, you can stream the whole thing…
Album Review: Wild Belle – Isles
Anytime a band appears on the scene and almost simultaneously announces a major label debut, it’s fair that the music-loving public approaches with skepticism. Wild Belle is one such band. The group, whose…
Album Review: The Mary Onettes – Hit the Waves
Toiling on their sound for the last thirteen years, the Swedish dream-pop quartet The Mary Onettes have perfected the art of eighties nostalgia with their latest album Hit the Waves. Its near-forty minutes…
SXSW 2013 Best Bets: Showcases and Day Parties
Many SXSW attendees, including myself, constantly bounce around during SXSW, and have no problem running across town and waiting in a few lines to see a ton of different bands. These kind of…
SXSW Preview & Interview with The Blank Tapes
California’s The Blank Tapes create fuzzy beach hits with just enough grit ad quirk to keep the songs affecting and distinct. The band has garnered a tremendous amount of buzz leading up to…
Album Review: The Men – New Moon (Pop Press Pick)
“Won’t you slip on by my side, and drive through the countryside?” Nick Chiericozzi asks in the first line of “Open the Door.” The easy pace and acoustic guitars that open New Moon…
Interview and SXSW Preview: Dana Falconberry Talks Tour Slop
If you’ve read this blog much in the past year, it would be hard for us to conceal the fact that we love Dana Falconberry. Leelanau, her most recent effort, was an outstanding record not…
Hundred Visions Video “Where Do I Sign” + SXSW Shows
Austin’s Hundred Visions has quickly become one of the most talked about bands in town. It’s easy to see why–the band creates high raw, high energy post-punk full of hooks, and in a…
John Vanderslice to Self-release Two New Albums
Alt-folk artist and sound engineer extraordinaire John Vanderslice has plans to self-release two new albums this year. The first, Dagger Beach, will consist of new, original material while the second will be cover of…
Album Review: Herbcraft – The Astral Body Electric
With monikers like “Herbcraft” and “Astral Body,” you know it’s going to be time to darken the room, light some incense candles and roll out that yoga mat for some deep meditative experiences….
Austra Announces Album, Shares Track “Home”
Art pop group Austra is all set to release a new record, Olympia, on June 18th via Domino. It has been two years since the release of their last album, Feel It Break, and since…
Interview & SXSW Preview: The Tontons
Houston’s Tontons are taking SXSW by storm, playing a slew of shows and appearing on high profile bills with bands such as Dawes. We are pleased to have the band playing the Pop…
Video: Brazos Performs “How the Ranks Was Won” Live at Braund Sound
Famed Brooklyn studio Braund Sound has released an excellent live recording of Dead Oceans artist Brazos performing “How the Ranks Was Won,” the lead single from their forthcoming album Saltwater. As a bonus, you…
Streaming Now: Phosphorescent – Muchacho
We adore Phosphorescent. A Hundred Times or More, their debut dropped when I was in college at a time when alt-country and folk rock were exploding within independent music. I have been hooked ever…
Streaming Now: Wild Belle – Isles
We’ve brought you a couple of videos from sibling duo Wild Belle over the past few months. The group will drop their debut LP Isles next week and you can hear the whole thing…
Album Review: Suuns – Images du Futur
On Images Du Futur, Montreal’s Suuns use the umbrella of experimental psych-pop to deliver ten songs that all feel like a different take on the same genre. The tracks explore post-punk, psych-rock, experimental, and dub…
New Track: Yellowbirds – “Young Men of Promise”
Yellowbirds have released an outstanding new pop song that channels 60s psych-pop greats The Zombies. “Young Men of Promise” will be featured on the bands upcoming full-length album Songs From The Vanished Frontier, due…
New Track: Smith Westerns – “Varsity”
I remember hearing Smith Westerns faraway, garage track “Diamond Boys” some years ago. The band has changed a lot, and they sound as solid as ever on their new song “Varsity,” from their…
Shannon and the Clams Sign to Hardly Art, Share Track “Rip Van Winkle”
It’s only March, and the amount of times I’ve written ‘Hardly Art’ and ‘pop gem’ in the same post is criminal. Shannon and the Clams will be bringing their 50s pop-infused, garage-leaning tunes…
SXSW Preview: Good Field
From right here in Austin, TX, Good Field is one of the bands Pop Press International is most excited about right now. Their excelent debut album was just released last month, and the…
Album Review: The Cave Singers – Naomi
On their fourth studio album (second for label Jagjaguwar), The Cave Singers move in new directions not just from preceding albums but from much of indie music as a whole. The songs that…
Album Review: Bill Baird Spring Break of the Soul
Spring Break of the Soul (Pau Wau Records), a full double LP, is a substantial undertaking by psych-pop artist and Austin-native Bill Baird. Spanning seventeen tracks and clocking in at an hour’s time,…
New Colleen Green Track “Heavy Shit,” SXSW Appearances
Previously, Colleen Green shared the upbeat surfy track “Time in the World.” Now, she’s given us another pop gem in “Heavy Shit,” with its distorted guitars and quick synthetic drums. Colleen Green’s Sock…
Pop Press International and Side One Track One Present Austin vs. DC at Sidebar Friday March 15th
Pop Press International is teaming up with Side One Track One and No Play Music to bring you another SXSW day show at Sidebar on Friday March 15th from 12:00PM-6:00PM. The Austin vs….
Album Review: Good Field – Good Field
Good Field’s self-titled debut consists of 11 songs of tight indie-pop that integrates folk, psych, and pop without feeling pigeonholed. God, it feels good to see a band just doing everything well without…
25 Must-see Bands at SXSW 2013
SXSW 2013 starts this weekend with film, and music follows next Tuesday, which is almost impossible for us to believe. All this week, we’re going to bring you content regarding the nation’s best…
Album Review: Youth Lagoon – Wondrous Bughouse (Pop Press Pick)
This is the feeling of weightlessness. Youth Lagoon possesses some intangible quality that sends the soul soaring, that permeates the chambers of the heart through auditory channels, evoking airy wisps of memories. Indeed,…
Frank Smith Shares “How Many Ways” Ahead of New Album
We couldn’t be more excited about the new record from Austin’s Frank Smith (not a guy but a band), fronted by Aaron Sinclair. Frank Smith has been one of Austin’s most stalwart bands…
The Lonely Life Screening w/ ((sounder)) and GALPALS Afterparty
The event last Thursday that took place at both the Scottish Rite Theater and the Mohawk had so many great things going on it was difficult to process it all. Primarily, the event…
Album Review: Helado Negro – Invisible Life
There are ghosts in the stereo, and it won’t be long until they are rattling around inside your skull, carting your mind off to vast grey, Latin-tinged dimensions—at least that’s the case if…
Small Black Announces New Album, Shares “Free at Dawn”
Small Black has announced their new album Limits of Desire, set for release on May 14, 2013 via Jagjaguwar. On the album’s first single “Free at Dawn,” delicate mix of synths and guitars…
New Track: Akron/Family – “Until the Morning”
We’ve already reported about Akron/Family’s new effort Sub Verses out April 30th on Dead Oceans. Now, another outstanding cut has been made available from that album. “Until the Morning” represents an excellent rendering…
Baptist Generals to Release New Album on Sub Pop
Man, it feels like years since I’ve heard the Baptist Generals. I remember a great show in 2003 with the Mountain Goats back when Austin’s venue The Parish was The Mercury. At any…
