Christopher Anthony 
2013 was like a walk down memory lane for many music fans as big records like Nirvana’s In Utero (TFN Review), The Breeders’ Last Splash (TFN Review), Pearl Jam’s Vs., The Smashing Pumpkins’ Siamese Dream, and Radiohead’s Pablo Honey all turned 20 years old. There were also some lesser known albums that turned 20 this … Read more
Los Campesinos! No Blues Wichita / Turnstile Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Los Campesinos! find the right balance between youthful energy and aging wisdom. Album Review: Sometimes familiarity in music is a good thing. Sure I always like to see progression in artists over multiple albums and years but sometimes changing the formula can also … Read more
The new Gap Dream is now up for PRE-ORDER at Burger Records HERE. The glow-in-the-dark vinyl is limited to 500 copies.
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings are set to return to the road for a full North American tour this Spring. This is the band’s first full US tour in over two years. The tour kicks off with a hometown show at New York’s Beacon Theatre on February 6. Special fan pre-sale begins November 12th … Read more
You can now watch a new video for Shearwater’s “I Luv The Valley OH!,” the leadoff track from Fellow Travelers. The clip, directed by Branan Edgens and designed by Kahn & Selesnick, stars band leader Jonathan Meiburg as one of two astronauts stranded after a crash landing in an unfamiliar world. Fellow Travelers, Shearwater’s new … Read more
Jus Post Bellum Oh July Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Jus Post Bellum tell a historical story of war that is hard to turn away from! Album Review: I know that the indie neo-folk sound has been in the spotlight this past year with bands like The Lumineers, The Civil Wars, the Avetts and those … Read more
La Luz It’s Alive Hardly Art Records [2013] Fire Note Says: La Luz’s debut is full of surf rock surprises. Album Review: Surfy rock from the Pacific Northwest? Sign me up! The all-female Seattle four piece, La Luz have just released their debut, It’s Alive, and it is a very modernized surf record by heart … Read more
Elephant 6 collective mainstays Elf Power have a new video for their somber psych-folk tune “Darkest Wave.” The visuals are a little on the psychedelic side as bandmembers’ faces overlap and blur in and out of focus. Good indie stuff!
Into It. Over It., the solo endeavor of Chicago songwriter Evan Weiss, has announced a 2014 headline tour with a full band in support of the recently released album Intersections, out now on Triple Crown Records. Upcoming tour dates below. JANUARY 23 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry 24 – Lawrence, KS – Jackpot … Read more
Captured Tracks will be reissuing the first three full lengths from seminal Lincoln, Nebraska post-punk trio, For Against. Originally released by Independent Project between 1984-1990, these releases will see their first vinyl appearance in over 20 years in a deluxe edition limited boxed set. Remastered by Words on Music (by Marc Ostermeier of Should), the … Read more
The featured track today is from Dayton, Ohio’s Smug Brothers. The group has a new EP coming out next month titled Strictly Triggers on Gas Daddy Go! Records. You can now hear the first track, “They Are Fluid,” below from that release. The Smug Brothers are veterans of the Dayton scene and once again feature … Read more
Widowspeak The Swamps EP Captured Tracks [2013] Fire Note Says: The Swamps EP from Widowspeak primes you for their next LP. Album Review: We heard from Widowspeak back in January this year with the group’s sophomore record Almanac (TFN Review). That album saw the group pair down to a duo and for me, although minimal, … Read more
Joyful Noise Recordings have the new limited edition album from Jorma Whittaker available for pre-order! Jorma will be his first solo-release since his 2001 debut on Secretly Canadian. The album is only released on vinyl, with 500 hand-numbered copies on “yellow halo” vinyl (aka yellow / black color in color), and all purchases include an … Read more
So I couldn’t get all of my thoughts together on the passing of music pioneer Lou Reed last week so I thought it best to remember and capture his spirit by re-shaping The Fire Note Weekly Top 10. As always we try to steer new and old fans of music towards things we like and … Read more
Pre-order the upcoming double LP reissue of Sufjan Stevens’ album Illinois on Red & Green Vinyl with a digital download included. This exclusive pressing from Newbury Comics and Asthmatic Kitty Records is limited to only 1000 pieces and will be released on December 10. You can pick up a copy HERE.
Last night on their way back to their native Seattle from a show at Boise’s Korah Shrine, rising surf band La Luz were in a severe accident that totaled their van, destroyed their gear, and incurred injuries to the band members. As a result, they’ve been forced to bow out of their remaining tour dates … Read more
Here is the new Thao & The Get Down Stay Down’s video for “The Feeling Kind”. Directed by Morgan Wise, the video features Thao and some friends on the new span of the Bay Bridge in Thao’s home city of San Francisco. The video is also the first film production ever allowed to shoot on … Read more
Connections Body Language Anyway Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Body Language continues Connections catchy lo-fi formula! Album Review: Columbus, Ohio’s Connections once again embrace their lo-fi roots here and hopefully don’t mind that every article on the band always links them with Guided By Voices. This happens of course for several obvious reasons as Body … Read more
Here is the first video from Ty Segall’s latest solo album, Sleeper (TFN Review), released a few months ago on Drag City Records. This video broadcasts the song’s edgy paranoia all across the little big screen, and not even Ty Segall himself is spared by this monster vision. Look out – “The Man Man” is … Read more
Smiths legend Johnny Marr has thrown his support behind them, John Robb has named them the best new band in Manchester and having stared in Dr Martens current advertising campaign, Manchesters The Minx have announced their new single, (Can You Find) My Head?. This UK band has some well deserved hype as they have The … Read more
Mutual Benefit Love’s Crushing Diamond Fat Possum Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Mutual Benefit release a spectacular sounding debut! Album Review: I love it when a debut hits all the right notes from the start. That is the way I feel about the proper debut from Mutual Benefit, Love’s Crushing Diamond. The record does not … Read more
White Fence is the featured band on the inaugural release of the Live in San Francisco series from Castle Face Records! White Fence played two nights in a row at Amnesia and Castle Face captured the magic. There is a limited ultra clear vinyl that includes an alternate, lenticular cover, available at Castle Face HERE. … Read more
Ty Segall has turned into one of the busier artists around and before the year is out you can add Gemini to the list. From Drag City: “Gemini begat Twins. Gemini + volumes = Twins. In other words, Gemini is the Twins demos, recorded between 2010 and 2012 by Ty Segall and Eric Bauer. Some … Read more
You heard about Painted Palms on Friday in our Fire Track feature and now you can pick up their limited vinyl release of 300 white copies. For their debut full-length Forever, the duo pairs classic pop structures with modern electronic production to create instantly memorable melodies that show no sign of their virtual patchwork beginnings. … Read more
What are you doing late tonight? How about a little Dismemberment Plan on your tube! The band will be playing “Daddy Was A Real Good Dancer” off their first record in 12 years, Uncanney Valley (TFN Review) as well as “Invisible” as a web exclusive.