Moon Duo: Shadow Of The Sun [Album Review]

Moon Duo Shadow Of The Sun Sacred Bones Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Shadow Of The Sun has Moon Duo going for the groove. Album Review: Moon Duo’s Ralph Waldo Emerson inspired LP of 2012, Circles, was the first thing to put the group on my radar, offering up sprawling, acid-damaged, hypnotic jams that could … Read more

Endless Bummer: Vol. 1 [Album Review]

Endless Bummer Vol. 1 In The Red Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Sludged-out beach bums bring ferocious fuzz on Vol. 1. Album Review: As Endless Bummer‘s Vol. 1 seeps through the speakers, the question of quality never comes up. That‘s OK too, because LA‘s Endless Bummer never promise it. Recorded with friend Ty Segall in … Read more

The Black Ryder: The Door Behind The Door [Album Review]

The Black Ryder The Door Behind The Door The Anti-Machine Machine [2015] Fire Note Says: The Black Ryder applies new textures to vivid and cathartic philosophies. Album Review: The Black Ryder’s first LP Buy The Ticket Take The Ride sounds like an easy LP to love—but only if you’re not Pitchfork. Rolling Stone included Buy … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Thee Oh Sees – “Web”

In my humble opinion, Thee Oh Sees’ Drop LP was not their strongest effort. Having reviewed every single Sees LP since Putrifiers II—including Singles Collection Volume Three and the RSD 2014 Moon Sick EP—Drop’s 60’s garage theme was easy to spot, but the strength and consistency of their previous material was lacking. Well, if you … Read more

Axis: Sova: Early Surf [Album Review]

Axis: Sova Early Surf God? Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Early Surf puts the depth and nuance at your control. Album Review: Wand’s Ganglion Reef was one of my favorite albums of last year—our favorite garage rock prodigy, Ty Segall, hand-picked the band’s album for release (with help from Drag City Records) on his God? … Read more

Dream Police: Hypnotized [Album Review]

Dream Police Hypnotized Sacred Bones Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Mark Perro and Nick Chiericozzi of The Men debut new side project Dream Police. Album Review: I hate to admit it, but I’ve never heard an album by The Men. I am quite familiar with label Sacred Bones catalogue, though: Moon Duo, Psychic Ills, Amen … Read more

Grenades!?: Interrobang [Album Review]

Grenades!? Interrobang Self-Released [2015] Fire Note Says: Grenades!?’s debut is strong for a group stretching their legs for the first time. Album Review: It feels like the phrase “stretching their legs for the first time” is a bit of an exaggeration. There’s been quite a history between lead-vocalist/keyboardist Daniel Madero and Mike Patak Jr. From … Read more

Pond: Man It Feels Like Space Again [Album Review]

Pond Man It Feels Like Space Again Modular Recordings [2015] Fire Note Says: Tame Impala offshoot Pond returns only to blast back into space. Album Review: It’s interesting to think that 2013’s Hobo Rocket was recorded before Pond’s current release Man It Feels Like Space Again. While reviewing Hobo Rocket I said the album “speaks … Read more

Viet Cong: Viet Cong [Album Review]

Viet Cong Viet Cong Jagjaguwar Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Ruthless, cold, endearing, and machine-like, Viet Cong produce an impressive debut. Album Review: If Viet Cong is any indication of what Matt Flegel and Mike Wallace’s previous outfit Women sounded like then I wish I knew more. The project ended on a sad note, as … Read more

Jack White: Live From Bonnaroo 2014 [Album Review]

Jack White Live From Bonnaroo 2014 Third Man Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Jack White releases vault package #22 as a triple LP tour-de-force. Album Review: 2015 is shaping up to be a hell of a year. A new Sleater-Kinney album, a new Radiohead album, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion’s Freedom Tower announced for March, … Read more

Christian Bland & The Revelators: The Unseen Green Obscene [Album Review]

Christian Bland & The Revelators The Unseen Green Obscene The Reverberation Appreciation Society [2014] Fire Note Says: Christian Bland and the Revelators third album is an homage to past heroes. Album Review: The Black Angels’ Passover just so happens to be considered a modern day psychedelic classic. With its dark titles, imagery, and piercing sounds … Read more

Radio Moscow: Magical Dirt [Album Review]

Radio Moscow Magical Dirt Alive Naturalsound Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Radio Moscow sows seeds of psych while reaping funky blues riffs. Album Review: When I first heard Radio Moscow for the first time, their sound had no problem hooking me. During the very much appreciated live compilation record, Alive at the Deep Blues Fest, … Read more

Pissed Jeans: Shallow [Album Review]

Pissed Jeans Shallow Sub Pop Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Shallow shows where the wallow rock all started. Album Review: Sub Pop Records has had two important reissues this year with the releases of the Sleater Kinney box set Start Together and the pre-Shins band Flake Music’s When You Land Here, It’s Time To Return. … Read more

The Flaming Lips: With A Little Help From My Fwends [Album Review]

The Flaming Lips With A Little Help From My Fwends Warner Bros. Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Flaming Lips and fwends are at it again, adding their special flavor of space bombast to a timeless classic. Album Review: “It’s in the realm of the gods,” says bandleader Wayne Coyne, in an interview with Arun … Read more

Thom Yorke: Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes [Album Review]

Thom Yorke Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Thom Yorke surprises all with his second, new solo outing. Album Review: The word ‘surprises’ is often a part of the phrase ‘surprises and delights’. Why not here, you may ask? Well, if you consider yourself a fan of Thom Yorke then Tomorrows Modern Boxes … Read more

Death From Above 1979: The Physcal World [Album Review]

Death From Above 1979 The Physical World Last Gang Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Death From Above 1979 prove there is such a thing as life after death. Album Review: Jesse F. Keeler (a.k.a. MSTRKRFT) chokes the life out of his bass while Sebastian Grangers fervently pounds away and vocalizes his thoughts. During “Always On,” … Read more

King Tuff: Black Moon Spell [Album Review]

King Tuff Black Moon Spell Sub Pop Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Kyle Thomas returns to cast his Black Moon Spell. Album Review: In my opinion, it could be argued that King Tuff’s Was Dead was one of Burger Records’ most important reissues. Not to demean his self-titled Sub Pop debut follow up but I … Read more

A Shoreline Dream: The Silent Sunrise [Album Review]

A Shoreline Dream The Silent Sunrise Latenight Weeknight Records [2014] Fire Note Says: A Shoreline Dream return to sweep you away with The Silent Sunrise. Album Review: What I enjoyed most about A Shoreline Dream‘s last project, the 333 EP collection was the influence behind the compiling. The first one released, Three, was influenced by … Read more

Lonesome Shack: More Primitive [Album Review]

Lonesome Shack More Primitive Alive Naturalsound Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Lonesome Shack’s More Primitive hits that blues sweet spot. Album Review: When first hearing Lonesome Shack’s More Primitive it’s easy to be reminded of albums such as The Big Come Up, Keep On Your Mean Side, The White Stripes, Every Hour is a Dollar … Read more

Wand: Ganglion Reef [Album Review]

Wand Ganglion Reef GOD?/Drag City Records [2014] Fire Note Says: With one wave of Wand, originality and individuality immediately become apparent. Album Review: We live in a world where many artists try to reshape psychedelic music, and a lot of those who try fail. When trying to capturing lightning in a bottle for that crucial … Read more

Stardeath And The White Dwarfs: Wastoid [Album Review]

Stardeath And The White Dwarfs Wastoid Federal Prism [2014] Fire Note Says: For their sophomore release Stardeath and the White Dwarfs tap a sound never heard before. Album Review: When starting a psych rock band a lot of factors could come into play for stardom. Oklahoma’s Stardeath and the White Dwarfs initially had one key … Read more

Band Of Skulls: Himalayan [Album Review]

Band Of Skulls Himalayan Electric Blues Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: With chops and moxie, Band of Skulls soldier on with fun, danceable tunes. Album Review: It’s funny, but a music lover of my prowess should really know more about Band of Skulls. Having come from a background of riffing blues, The Dead Weather, The … Read more

Zig Zags: Zig Zags [Album Review]

Zig Zags Zig Zags In The Red Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: Zig Zags’ fire and fury bubble the bong water on their self-titled debut. Album Review: When talking about LA’s Zig Zags a few things need to be mentioned: Ty Segall, Sweat Lodge, Bong-water colored vinyl, Monster Magnet, Fu Manchu, weird early Metallica thrash, … Read more

Mastodon: Once More ‘Round The Sun [Album Review]

Mastodon Once More ‘Round The Sun Warner Bros. Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Mastodon ditch their space-time distortion with one of their most straight forward yet. Album Review: It‘s a heady question to ask, but how does one innovate in the metal genre today? Do you drop tuning deeper, play slower, or maybe even faster? … Read more

Heavens To Betsy: Calculated [Album Review]

Heavens To Betsy Calculated Kill Rock Stars [2014] Fire Note Says: Heavens To Betsy‘s anger couldn‘t be more captivating on Calculated. Album Review: When people hear the name Corin Tucker they should get excited—if they don’t, shame on them. A prominent figure in music from the 90’s through today, Corin Tucker has made her waves … Read more