Guest 
The Head And The Heart Let’s Be Still Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Head and the Heart’s sophomore release has a fresh sound ready for heavy rotation. Album Review: The Head and the Heart’s latest album, Let’s Be Still, is finally out, and it does not disappoint. The band’s sophomore release is … Read more
Mazzy Star Seasons of Your Day Rhymes Of An Hour Records [2013] Fire Note Says: After a 17 year break, Mazzy Star stays true to their soft, folksy sound with the release of Seasons of Your Day. Album Review: Some albums have a very seasonal feel, like Everything in Transit via Jack’s Mannequin (summer) or … Read more
The Fire Tapes Phantoms Warhen Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Fire Tapes sophomore album, Phantoms, has electric solos and suspenseful indie rock. Album Review: The Fire Tapes sophomore album, Phantoms, is a good blend of ambient, suspenseful indie and upbeat, electric rock. The nine tracks use both female and male vocals, and most are … Read more
The Polyphonic Spree Yes, It’s True Kirtland Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Yes, It’s True is an indie pop rock album, borrowing influences from orchestra and jazz. Album Review: The Polyphonic Spree’s latest release, Yes, It’s True, is my first experience with the band, although they have been around for awhile. Under their name, they … Read more
Jesse Woods Get Your Burdens Lifted Guns In The Sun Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Jesse Woods’s latest release is a rare combination of indie, folk, rock, country, and island. Album Review: Jesse Woods’s sophomore album, Get Your Burdens Lifted, is a rare combination of indie, folk, rock, country, and island music. Some songs are … Read more
Sara Jackson-Holman Cardiology Expunged Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Fans of quirky, soulful female artists will love Sara Jackson-Holman’s Cardiology. Album Review: With similar fun, quirky, and soulful tracks like that of Ingrid Michaelson, Feist, and Fiona Apple, Sara Jackson-Holman’s sophomore album, Cardiology, provides a variety of beats and sounds. Each track has a different … Read more
Jake Bugg Jake Bugg Mercury Records [2013] Fire Note Says: At only 19, Jake Bugg electrifies the indie/rock scene with his self-titled, debut album. Album Review: It’s hard to believe Jake Bugg is only 19. His deep voice and timeless rock music are comparable to Bob Dylan, the Beatles, and Johnny Cash. At 17, Jake … Read more
The Love Language Ruby Red Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Every song on The Love Language’s Ruby Red is good – making you want to listen to the album again and again. Album Review: Ruby Red is the first I’ve heard of indie/rock band The Love Language. After listening to the album’s first track, … Read more
Dennis Callaci & Simon Joyner New Secrets Shrimper Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dennis Callaci & Simon Joyner’s second album blends high-quality lyrics with mixes of folk, rock, indie, and emo. Album Review: New Secrets is the first I’ve heard of Dennis Callaci and Simon Joyner. After the album’s first spin, I guessed the duo … Read more
Laura Stevenson Wheel Don Giovanni Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Laura Stevenson’s Wheel offers a variety of simple, organic Americana music. Album Review: Laura Stevenson gives the listener a lot with her third album, Wheel. It’s almost country, a little bit rock, and mostly Americana. With a league of instruments, lap steel, mandolin, banjo, trumpet, … Read more
Frank Turner Tape Deck Heart Interscope Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Frank Turner’s most recent release is fresh, combining indie and British rock, punk, emo, and folk. Album Review: Those new to Frank Turner’s music might be surprised that his most recent release, Tape Deck Heart, is his fifth full-length album. The songs are indie … Read more
New Politics A Bad Girl In Harlem RCA Records [2013] Fire Note Says: With their sophomore album, New Politics breaks away from their gritty, indie roots, trading it in for a pop rock, punk sound. Album Review: A Bad Girl in Harlem, the sophomore album from New Politics, takes a short walk away from the … Read more
Alessi’s Ark The Still Life Bella Union Records [2013] Fire Note Says: With her third full-length album, Alessi’s Ark provides another round of young, indie/folk music. Album Review: The third full-length album from Alessi’s Ark, The Still Life, gives listeners another blend of her folk, indie, and mello sounds. At only 22, Alessi Laurent-Marke’s music … Read more
Kingsley Flood Battles Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: With excellent writing, and a mix of indie, folk, and rock sounds, Kingsley Flood’s new album is never boring. Album Review: Although the band is from the states, and plays mostly to the genre of indie folk, Kingsley Flood’s new album, Battles, is at times reminiscent of … Read more
The Neighbourhood I Love You. Columbia Records [2013] Fire Note Says: With I Love You., The Neighbourhood introduces an album that is many different things, but has something most alternative and indie rock listeners will enjoy. Album Review: Blending ambient, emo sound with upbeat, quirky pop, The Neighbourhood’s debut album, I Love You., presents the … Read more
Paramore Paramore Fueled By Ramen Records [2013] Fire Note Says: With new sounds, well-known rants, and heartfelt anthems, Paramore’s new album shows both growth and familiarity. Album Review: With their fourth studio album, Paramore is all grown up. Self-titled Paramore, the new album has less angst and more rock, but is not without the familiar … Read more
BAMBARA DREAMVIOLENCE Emerald Weapon Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Musical chaos crammed between moments of decency. Album Review: While along the same vein as groups like Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Isis, BAMBARA’s DREAMVIOLENCE lacks certain finesse. The album starts out promising with “All the Same,” a melodic, ambient track with a very interesting, dreamlike … Read more
Kait Lawson Until We Drown Madjack Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Planted firmly in southern roots, Kait Lawson’s debut album Until We Drown uses standout songwriting and mixed-genre sounds. Album Review: Rarely does a collection of songs capture the poetry of songwriting like Kait Lawson’s debut album, Until We Drown. The lyrics are unmatched, displaying … Read more
The Vains Acoustic EP Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: The Vains release a record of acoustic gold. Album Review: The Vains are bound to take the music scene by storm. On their past releases, they presented a fast-paced, hard-hitting sound that reached beyond the typical indie punk style. With their Acoustic EP, featuring four acoustic … Read more
Grave Babies Crusher Hardly Art Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Far from perfect, but equally far from terrible. Album Review: Here’s the thing about Grave Babies’ Crusher: I couldn’t tell you how many times I replayed this album. I couldn’t decide what to think about it: do I love it or hate it? I have … Read more
Lady Lazarus All My Love In Half Light Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: All My Love in Half Light is a solid sophomore album warranting Lady Lazarus attention on the ambient folk scene. Album Review: Lady Lazarus is an old soul playing to a new genre of ambient folk. Named from the Sylvia Plath poem … Read more
Wax Idols Discipline And Desire Slumberland Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Wax Idols is both a breath of fresh air and a blast from the past. Album Review: This album come out of a time machine. Seriously. The more I listened to it, the more I forgot this was brand new and instead thought I … Read more
Arlo Aldo Zelie Teamadelle Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Arlo Aldo arrives on the alternative folk music scene with their debut album, Zelie. Album Review: With their debut album Zelie, Arlo Aldo demonstrates a firm arrival onto the alternative folk music scene. The band is many different things, borrowing sounds from folk, blues, indie, country, … Read more
Ex Cops True Hallucinations Fat Possum Records [2013] Fire Note Says: So much style, it doesn’t need flare. Album Review: This album is odd, for a couple of different reasons. First of all is its mellow mood. In a world filled with high-energy indie rock, Ex Cops presents a simple, quiet record. Many of the … Read more
Tegan and Sara Heartthrob Warner Bros. Records [2013] Fire Note Says: With Heartthrob, Tegan and Sara mix in new sounds with familiar stories of love and heartbreak. Album Review: Tegan and Sara’s seventh studio album, Heartthrob, strays slightly from the duo’s previous albums, mixing pop and club music with their familiar singer/songwriter sound. True to … Read more