Album Review: Pure X – Pure X
Pop Press International
by Eric Braden
3y ago
Pure X’s fourth record, their first in six years, has arrived. The eponymous titling of the record is fitting, not only because this feels like a new start for the band, but also because the record exudes a hard-earned sense of perspective. “I forgive myself for how I hurt myself,” goes one line in “Hollywood,” for instance—and the contentment is a good look for them. Their most emotionally mature album, Pure X is, not coincidentally, also the band’s best album overall, period. Throughout their career, Pure X has put out music of a consistently woozy, sunburnt nature. Their songs have always ..read more
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Black Lives Matter: 5 Austin Artists of Color to Support Today on Bandcamp
Pop Press International
by Bryan Parker
3y ago
Black Lives Matter. And we all must first reflect deeply, listen carefully, research widely, and then do everything we possibly can to dismantle the systemic racism present in almost every aspect of current society so that our reality better reflects the fact that BLACK LIVES MATTER. Pop Press INTL. has been planning a return to activity in the recent months, but it has never been more clear that even with the (very) small platform we have, it’s more important than ever to speak up clearly in the face of racism and oppression and to insist on change in American society. So, we didn’t see any r ..read more
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Interview: of Montreal’s Kevin Barnes On Hope, Happiness & The Creative Process
Pop Press International
by Lukas Truckenbrod
3y ago
This Saturday, of Montreal comes through Pittsburgh on tour in support of their new album, Ur Fun, out now on Polyvinyl. The album captures the group’s journey into dance-friendly indie-rock, heavily influenced by ’80s synth pop, while maintaining the eclectic collage of chord changes, lyrical references, stylistic left turns, and studio wizardry Kevin Barnes is known for. Joining them will be Lily and Horn Horse and local Pittsburgh group Chariot Fade, who’ve been steadily releasing singles and making waves with their new project. We spoke via phone with Barnes last month about his ..read more
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Live Photos: Sun June Album Release at Spider House Ballroom
Pop Press International
by Bryan Parker
3y ago
Last Thursday night at Spider House was one of those nights when you know you’re witnessing something special. The show had that combination of great bands on the bill (Julia Lucille and daphne tunes), headliner Sun June supporting an outstanding new album, and a crowd including some of Austin’s noteworthy music purveyors (like tastemaker Tyler Andere and The Chronicle‘s Kevin Curtain). Sun June also used the show as a launching point for their first proper tour, which heads out to the West Coast before swinging back through Austin in early July and heading to the East Coast. The band hit ..read more
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Win Sun June’s New Album Years on Vinyl; Album Release Show Thursday at Spider House
Pop Press International
by Bryan Parker
3y ago
It’s release week for Austin indie pop quintet Sun June! On Friday, the band births their debut album, Years, out on Austin label Keeled Scales. The record thrives on airy vocals and slow-burning arrangements with nuanced shifts that evolve impeccably. Sun June will celebrate the release with a show this Thursday night at Spider House Ballroom, headlining a bill that features daphne tunes and Julia Lucille as openers. Which is great news for attendees, who’ll be able to grab the record before anyone else. Even better news, is that you have a chance to win a copy of the record, just by heading ..read more
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Loma’s Live Performance Transfixes Hometown Crowd on Two Occasions
Pop Press International
by Bryan Parker
3y ago
Loma just happened. As contrary to manufactured as imaginable, the band came to exist after Cross Record and Shearwater toured together and discovered they loved making music together as well. Shearwater’s Jonathan Meiburg started taking week-long trips out to a ranch in Texas where Dan Duszynski and Emily Cross were living at the time. The songs just got recorded. The record just happened to get put out by Sub Pop, one of the country’s premier indie labels and the home of Shearwater. It just unfolded organically. These were just people taking one small step after the next. So, when the band p ..read more
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Japanese Breakfast and Snail Mail’s Magnetic Mid-Week Show at Scoot Inn
Pop Press International
by Bryan Parker
3y ago
In Austin, great shows come and go, and almost any night of the week presents an opportunity to see outstanding live music. But occasionally, a show generates enough magic that it feels special, even in a city flooded with quality performances. Last Tuesday at Scoot Inn felt pivotal, as Japanese Breakfast and Snail Mail played magnetic sets that crystalized immediately in the consciousness of attendees. C3 purchased the Scoot Inn last summer, and after extensive renovations, it feels like the venue is finally starting to realize it’s potential for housing mid-tier touring acts on the precipice ..read more
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Marfa Myths Kicks Off Fourth Installment This Week
Pop Press International
by Bryan Parker
3y ago
A double exposure of Sheer Mag and Marfa’s night sky as seen from El Cosmico; photo by Bryan C. Parker Since the single day event collaboratively planned by label Mexican Summer and art space Ballroom Marfa back in 204, Marfa Myths has grown with each installation. This weekend, from Thursday to Sunday, the festival’s holds its fourth annual event under the Marfa Myths moniker (fifth, including the inaugural Mexican Summer Festival). Each year, the event brings in an impressively diverse and rare roster of artists who seem to share a similar affinity for making sonically adventurous or aesth ..read more
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Japanese Breakfast and Snail Mail Play Scoot Inn Tuesday, April 10
Pop Press International
by Bryan Parker
3y ago
Atmospheric, indie-pop band Japanese Breakfast, the project of Michelle Zauner, stops in Austin tonight for a show at Scoot Inn — just one date on an extensive tour that will ultimately traverse the U.S. and Europe over the course of six months. Which means a good chunk of the Western world gets the opportunity to see one of indie music’s most exciting musicians and songwriters. Even with the plethora of critical acclaim garnered by each Zauner’s first two albums, she remains understated as an artist, quietly releasing one of the best albums of the year in both 2016 and 2017. Her work constant ..read more
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Broken Social Scene Brings Anthemic Pop to Stubb’s Friday, March 23
Pop Press International
by Bryan Parker
3y ago
I couldn’t be more thrilled that Broken Social Scene is having a quiet resurgence as one of indie-rock’s most respected outfits. The years between each of the band’s albums has grown successively. First a year, then two, then three, five, and seven. While I hope that trend goes back the other way, for now, I’m considering us all very lucky, because Hug of Thunder is a triumphant, phenomenal album. It’s full of restrained yet lush arrangements and the band’s usual cathartically soaring build-ups. Though it received high praise from a plethora of outlets, it seemed to fly under the ra ..read more
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