David Byrne & St. Vincent: Brass Tactics EP [Album Review]

David Byrne & St. Vincent Brass Tactics EP 4AD Records [2013] Fire Note Says: A free EP from David Byrne & St. Vincent – sure, why not? Album Review: St Vincent and David Byrne, sentimentally speaking, hold a few memories for me. First off, Byrne’s Taking Heads were a big part of my childhood. As … Read more

Queens Of The Stone Age: …Like Clockwork [Album Review]

Queens Of The Stone Age …Like Clockwork Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Queens of the Stone Age …Like Clockwork, hits right on time. Album Review: Queens of the Stone Age front man Josh Homme is—to put it bluntly—the man. He’s accrued many a famous friend, having rocked out with the best from John Paul … Read more

Jimi Hendrix: People, Hell And Angels [Album Review]

Jimi Hendrix People, Hell And Angels Legacy Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: People, Hell and Angels is another reminder of how close one man and his guitar could be. Album Review: Jimi Hendrix was, has, and always will be an icon. So, the fact that we have the trove of recordings from what could be … Read more

JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound: Howl [Album Review]

JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound Howl Bloodshot Records [2013] Fire Note Says: JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound craft funk and soul that appeals to the masses. Album Review: Let’s first get one thing straight, JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound on Bloodshot Records is an interesting pairing. Normally representing names like Neko Case, … Read more

Dead Confederate: In The Marrow [Album Review]

Dead Confederate In The Marrow Spiderbomb Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dead Confederate makes no attempt to expand boundaries, but still keep everything solid. Album Review: Augusta, Georgia’s Dead Confederate never set out to become the greatest band in the land. Consider that a good thing because if they really were trying then Hardy Morris’ … Read more

Blackout Beach: Blues Trip [Album Review]

Blackout Beach Blues Trip Soft Abuse Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Carey Mercer’s Blackout Beach goes for the gusto with a sinisterly, theatric aplomb rarely heard today. Album Review: Carey Mercer is a strange animal, the Canadian song craftsman takes many different avenues from being experimental to an almost stripped approach. Whether it’s through rocking … Read more

Georgiana Starlington: Paper Moon [Album Review]

Georgiana Starlington Paper Moon HoZac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Georgiana Starlington’s debut Paper Moon is a solid taste of western mysticism. Album Review: Siblings Julie and Jack Hines (Jack, former Black Lips member and both members of K-Holes) have created Neko Case’s “Prison Girls” the album, review over…Of course it’s not over, but when … Read more

Thee Oh Sees: Floating Coffin [Album Review]

Thee Oh Sees Floating Coffin Castle Face Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Thee Oh Sees continue to dominate their little garage of horrors. Album Review: I cannot believe that I’m already talking about a new Thee Oh Sees album. What’s even crazier is, while not as dynamic, still it hits the mark just as their … Read more

Akron/Family: Sub Verses [Album Review]

Akron/Family Sub Versus Dead Oceans Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Akron/Family goes for a more wide open experimentation with Sub Verses. Album Review: After a friend of mine introduced me to Akron/Family with their 2009 album Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free my interest and excitement grew for what came next. That album for me … Read more

Thee Oh Sees: Moon Sick EP [Album Review]

Thee Oh Sees Moon Sick EP Castle Face Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Thee Oh Sees’ 2013 RSD Moon Sick EP has a novel charm. Album Review: What is the Moon Sick EP from Thee Oh Sees? Well I’m glad you asked. This release contains songs that landed on the cutting room floor from the … Read more

Tame Impala: Tame Impala EP [Album Review]

Tame Impala Tame Impala EP Modular Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Tame Impala’s 2008 self-titled EP is a great reminder of why everyone took notice in the first place. Album Review: Check back to my Record Store Day 2013 list and you’ll find this release at the top. Well there happens to be a good … Read more

Fuzz: Sleigh Ride b/w You Won’t See Me [7-Inch Feature]

Fuzz Sleigh Ride 7” In The Red Records [2013] Fuzz is a project consisting of San Francisco’s favorite son Ty Segall (The Traditional Fools, Ty Segall Band) on drums and vocals, Charles Moonheart (Ty Segall Band, Charlie and The Moonhearts, Culture Kids) on guitar and rounding things out there is ex-Moonheart Roland Cosio on bass. … Read more

Dear Fawn: I Played The Queen EP [Album Review]

Dear Fawn I Played The Queen EP Gas Daddy Go! Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dear Fawn’s debut EP is a solid combination of musicianship and songwriting. Album Review: I’m proud to say it; I was there for Dear Fawn’s live debut opening up for the Seedy Seeds last summer. It was a nice wowing … Read more

The ACBs: Little Leaves [Album Review]

The ACBs Little Leaves High Dive Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The ACBs shimmer and glimmer with a danceable straightforward indie pop record. Album Review: It’s interesting when a group like The ACBs puts out a sophomore album like Little Leaves as the Missouri’s group consists of Konnor Ervin, Bryan McGuire, Andrew Connor, and Kyle … Read more

Cold Warps: S/T | Endless Bummer [Album Review]

Cold Warps S/T | Endless Bummer Noyse Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Cold Warps first cassettes create their solid debut LP. Album Review: What I said above is a perfect description of this album-using song titles might I add. Canadian lo-fi, buzz garage punks Cold Warps come to us all the way Halifax. After being … Read more

The Flaming Lips: The Terror [Album Review]

The Flaming Lips The Terror Warner Bros. Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Interstellar Oklahomans philosophize about a loveless life on The Terror. Album Review: The Flaming Lips’ The Terror reminds me of the saying “write what you feel.” On their 13th studio album the band most certainly does just that. To quote Steven Drozd, “The … Read more

Charles Bradley: Victim Of Love [Album Review]

Charles Bradley Victim Of Love Dunham/Daptone Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Charles Bradley’s Victim Of Love is a love letter to the music, fans, and the golden age soul greats who inspired him. Album Review: This album gives off such a cool retro vibe that the only other element to enhance the experience would be … Read more

The Black Angels: Indigo Meadow [Album Review]

The Black Angels Indigo Meadow Blue Horizon [2013] Fire Note Says: The Black Angels play it straight with Indigo Meadow. Album Review: It is quite weird but after accidentally seeing The Black Angels at Bonnaroo in 2007 I was hooked. This is a good thing I found out later because The Black Angels are indeed … Read more

Jack White And The Bricks: Live On The Garden Bowl Lanes [Album Review]

Jack White And The Bricks Live On The Garden Bowl Lanes Third Man Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Jack White and The Bricks might just be another brick in the wall. Album Review: First things first – I love Third Man Records, I love Jack White, and I love vinyl. So when Third Man Records … Read more

Detroit Rebellion: Fork In The Road EP [Album Review]

Detroit Rebellion Fork In The Road EP Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Detroit Rebellion creates murky garage blues that has potential. Album Review: First things first, Detroit Rebellion isn’t from the motor city. This might come as a shock to you but the duo hails for Providence, Rhode Island. That does not mean that they … Read more

The Virginmarys: King Of Conflict [Album Review]

The Virginmarys King Of Conflict Wind-Up Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Virginmarys birth some immaculate rock n roll! Album Review: When a new band of British blokes hit’s the scene, they seem to garner a lot of attention and hype. Whether or not that’s warranted or not The Virginmarys show us that the proof … Read more

Great White Buffalo: Great White Buffalo [Album Review]

Great White Buffalo Great White Buffalo Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Great White Buffalo compose fun and heavy pop hooks. Album Review: A lot of bands put themselves out there with an adrenaline rush of a sound; Great White Buffalo is one of those bands which consist of members Graham Bockmiller, Stephen Johnson, Blake LaGrange, … Read more

Bears! Bears! Bears!: All Dressed Up With Nowhere To Go [Album Review]

Bears! Bears! Bears! All Dressed Up With Nowhere To Go Twirl Tunez Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Bears! Bears! Bears! version of dance gloom and doom shows promise on debut. Album Review: The debut LP, All Dressed Up With Nowhere To Go by Bears! Bears! Bears! puts me in an interesting predicament. On paper the … Read more