Christopher Anthony I am not sure what your current relationship is with the emo punk genre but I will tell you that it is having a quiet comeback. Some of it is being driven from the label Tiny Engines that released quality records from The Hotelier and Somos last year. Well, June 9th you can add Kent, … Read more
Swiftumz Everybody Loves Chris Melters [2015] Fire Note Says: Swiftumz offers up a diverse record that will surprise you with each turn. Album Review: There is something to be said for doing your own thing. Chris McVicker, a.k.a. Swiftumz, has been doing just that since his 2011 debut full length Don’t Trip. After releasing a … Read more
Faith No More Sol Invictus Reclamation Recordings [2015] Fire Note Says: Faith No More remind you of their relevance. Album Review: Do you know the definition of relevant? Relevant means to bear upon or connect with the matter at hand; pertinent. This one word always surfaces when a band like Faith No More reappear on … Read more
Froth Bleak Burger Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Froth find the pop between the fuzz! Album Review: The psychedelic rock train is really hard to slow down right now as West Coasters Froth have just delivered a sophomore album in Bleak that is another shining moment for the genre. There is only so much you … Read more
Let’s start out by saying that I think La Luz will be one of the bigger indie surprises in 2015. The Seattle surf-rock female foursome had an excellent debut with 2013’s It’s Alive and after hearing today’s fire track, “You Disappear,” I have a heightened anticipation for their sophomore effort Weirdo Shrine due out August … Read more
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have a new album coming out and its release looks nice. The original artwork for this record is a canvas divided into four quarters, with each distinct quadrant bleeding into the next. It has been blown up to 24″ x 24″ and made folding sort of mock gatefold, with … Read more
Best Coast California Nights Harvest Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Best Coast does not stray too far from the catchy formula. Album Review: Sometimes third albums put artists in weird places. You have your introducing debut, avoid the sophomore slump with either more of the same or pushing your artistic boundaries and then where do … Read more
Fuzzy psychedelic rock! That is what Froth is all about and you can hear it for yourself on the group’s first single from their forthcoming sophomore record, Bleak. “Turn It Off”, will make you imagine a dusk beach fire with the waves crashing in and the clouds slowly passing by in the background. Froth has … Read more
Ryan Adams Live At Carnegie Hall PAX-AM [2015] Fire Note Says: Two night live set will not disappoint fans. Album Review: Ryan Adams live used to be “watch and see” because Adams might do something nuts like kick someone out of the show, walk off the stage, go into a rant and then go into … Read more
Mac McCaughan Non-Believers Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: First solo record from Superchunk and Merge Records founder Mac McCaughan. Album Review: It is really hard to believe that 2015 brings us the first solo record from Mac McCaughan. As founder of Superchunk, Portastatic and Merge Records, Mac has always stayed extremely busy so there … Read more
I can’t believe this one is still available but like all good things it probably will be gone soon. This is Warm Soda’s third LP, “Symbolic Dream”. The colored vinyl is Half Mustard Half Ketchup with splatter and available now. You can pick up a copy HERE.
T. Hardy Morris is back with a new single off his upcoming release Hardy & The Hardknocks: Drownin On A Mountain Top. The record is due out June 23rd via Dangerbird Records and is highly anticipated around here after his excellent 2013 solo debut Audition Tapes. Check out the new single below. T. Hardy Morris … Read more
Today’s Fire Track, “New Hobbies,” is from Brooklyn band Fort Lean which will see their debut album, Quiet Day, release June 23 via Ooh La La Records. The single has a delivery strength of a Gaslight Anthem but if you dive deeper into the new full length (which you can hear at their website) you … Read more
The Splits II Dirtnap Records [2015] Fire Note Says: The Splits take no prisoners on sophomore album II. Album Review: Helsinki’s Splits have just arrived on the US shore with their sophomore album, II. The record is a care free 70’s punk ride with a complete in your face attitude that never lets up for … Read more
Michael Rault Living Daylight Burger Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Michael Rault delivers a strong record to the modern garage rock crowd. Album Review: Are you tired of the whole modern garage rock revival scene? Me neither! Enter Toronto guitarist/songwriter Michael Rault to the club and his Burger Records debut Living Daylight. Each artist in … Read more
It has been five years since Sufjan Stevens released The Age of Adz (2010), so it is no surprise that there is some hype for his latest full length, Carrie & Lowell, which is due out next week via Asthmatic Kitty. The album is a return to Stevens’ earlier sounding work, which was more intimate … Read more
I can never turn down catchy power pop so featuring Milwaukee’s The Midwestern Charm today was a no-brainer. The band’s newest record, Growing Pains, actually was released last year but the group recently signed to Texas Is Funny who’s given the album a re-release this week. “Can’t Stand It” leads with its somewhat nasally vocals … Read more
Van Dale Van Dale Fleeting Youth Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Van Dale screams 90′s indie rock with its unkempt vibe but that is the appealing part. Album Review: Columbus, Ohio’s Van Dale have a very indie back-to-basics sound and that is exactly why you won’t want to put the record down. The band’s self-titled … Read more
Captured Tracks is still one of my favorite labels but as their roster has grown I think some of their early core sound has been somewhat overshadowed. Great albums from Beach Fossils, DIIV and Wild Nothing highlighted a break out period for the label and reissued to the world the classic indie-alternative meets new wave … Read more
The new record from Juan Wauters, Who Me?, is up for pre-order over at Captured Tracks. This Special Edition Version comes on Colored Vinyl and includes a Bonus 7″! His 2014 record, N.A.P. North American Poetry, sold out so if you like Juan you might think about picking this one up sooner than later. The … Read more
Penicillin Baby is a psych-pop band out of Nashville, who mix fuzzy surf-pop melodies, pounding bass and rhythmic drums. Did that grab your attention? If so, then you will want to check out their single “Stick It Out,” either from the soundcloud stream or their new video below. What makes this band appealing is all … Read more
On May 5, 2013 The National collaborated with Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson on A Lot of Sorrow, a durational performance presented as part of MoMA PS1’s Sunday Sessions. Kjartansson, who often uses repetitive performance to explore collective experience and emotion, invited The National to play their three-minute, twenty-five second song “Sorrow” live on stage, repeatedly … Read more
They Might Be Giants’ new studio release, Glean, will be out April 21st. The SPECIAL DIE-CUT VINYL EDITION will not be in print for ever. While it is not a limited edition per se, it is a custom printing. The whole in the center reveals the inner sleeve to provocative and gruesome effect. Per TMBG … Read more
Fleeting Youth Records keep releasing quality music and Philadelphia’s Loose Tooth is next on the plate. You can hear what I am talking about with the band’s second song, “Skinny Chewy,” from their forthcoming debut album, Easy Easy East, set to release on 4/21. Loose Tooth Facebook Fleeting Youth Records
We really could not get enough of Ex Hex’s debut record last year as Rips landed number 5 on our Blazing Top 50. Rips’ twelve songs definitely delivered a lesson on what it takes to create a great rock album. Now you can watch the trio of Mary Timony, Laura Harris and Betsy Wright have … Read more