Guest Coheed And Cambria The Afterman: Descension Everything Evil/V2 Records [2013] Fire Note Says: A solid release, even for a sequel. Album Review: I was excited when I learned I’d be reviewing Coheed & Cambria’s The Afterman: Descension. After reviewing the first part of this double concept record, I had been looking forward to hearing its … Read more
Various Artists Son Of Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys ANTI- Records[2013] Fire Note Says: Sometimes a sequel is better than the original — but not this time. Album Review: As Ralphie declared, hunched over his Little Orphan Annie decoder ring and discovering the secret message was nothing more than an ad for … Read more
Missing Number Contrast EP Self-Released [2012] Fire Note Says: Make your ears happy by listening to Missing Number’s Contrast. Album Review: I’m gonna take just a second to be a hipster and point out that I was a fan of these guys before they even began recording this EP. I want everyone to know that … Read more
Wake Owl Wild Country EP Vagrant Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Wake Owl’s EP Wild Country leaves an incredible first impression, making the listener want more. Album Review: Wake Owl’s EP, Wild Country, leaves an incredibly hopeful first impression. The band’s sound is mello and folksy, blending upbeat notes with country undertones. Wake Owl resonates … Read more
Tomahawk Oddfellows Ipecac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Tomahawk shuffles the deck to middling results. Album Review: Things begin inauspiciously. A couple of rock-cliché-ridden tracks kick things off in a way that reeks of rock bands saying things like “kick things off.” Or maybe Tomahawk’s just paying winking homage to classic heavy rockers. Either way, … Read more
Guards In Guards We Trust Black Bell Records [2013] Fire Note Says: With In Guards We Trust, the Guards show great promise as a fun, diverse band. Album Review: With their debut LP album, In Guards We Trust, the Guards show great promise as a fun, upbeat band. The album tells less of a story, … Read more
The Bronx The Bronx (IV) ATO Records [2013] Fire Note Says: What can only be described as pure, unadulterated skate punk. Album Review: This is the fourth self-titled record from L.A. punk rockers, The Bronx. It’s also the first album of punk material they’ve released since 2008, taking a two-album break from their norm to … Read more
Free Energy Love Sign Free People Records [2013] Fire Note Says: No rough edges here. Nor much of anything interesting. Album Review: You know how wedding receptions are. There are people there from age two to eightytwo. Something must be done about the music. Concessions must be made. But the bride and groom, they need … Read more
Half Hearted Hero Whatever Animal Style Records [2013] Fire Note Says: This album is great. It has good melodies, vocals, and lyrics. I’ll give it another listen for sure. Album Review: The album Whatever is by the band Half Hearted Hero; a New Bedford, MA based band that specializes in… music. Actually, I’m not sure … Read more
Foxygen We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors Of Peace & Magic Jagjaguwar Records [2013] Fire Note Says: I’m gonna dance on a rainbow with the young Steve Winwood. Album Review: The whole affair opens quite in line with the album title, giving us the tambourine-to-the hip swinger “In the Darkness.” All is mid Sixties to … Read more
Various Artists Django Unchained OST Universal Republic Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Quentin Tarantino gives us something we entirely expected. Album Review: To begin with, the film: it’s thoroughly contrived and thus boring, especially in the second half. You know how when you’re an hour into a film and you think the set up is … Read more
The Capsules Northern Lights And Southern Skies Vespera Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Capsules release a smooth and thoughtful late-night soundtrack. Album Review: With Northern Lights and Southern Skies, the Capsules create a smooth album infused with contemplative lyrics and nighttime sound. Female vocals weave the album in and out of stories about a … Read more
Wax Tailor Dusty Rainbow From The Dark Le Plan Music [2012] Fire Note Says: Wax Tailor blends the kindergarten, the cabaret, and the club. Album Review: The French musician Wax Tailor gives us a concept album. And damn it if it doesn’t work—and work pretty damn well. The first substantial track (“Dusty Rainbow”) sets us … Read more
Meat Puppets Meat Puppets II SST Records [1983] Fan Reviewer: Tracey Location: Scottsdale, AZ Age: 25 When I found out that the Meat Puppets were from my home state of Arizona it really spiked my interest in knowing more. After reading up a little bit on the Meat Puppets history and discovering that they had … Read more
Cemeteries The Wilderness Lefse Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Cemeteries sophomore album proves they’re a band worth watching. Album Review: Cemeteries is an ambient, dream pop band rising up from Buffalo, NY. With The Wilderness, writer and vocalist Kyle J. Reigle brings a theatrical, yet mellow sound to life. Like they’re telling a story, the … Read more
All That Remains A War You Cannot Win Razor & Tie Records [2012] Fire Note Says: All That Remains seem to be fighting a war they cannot win. Album Review: In 2008, All That Remains released Overcome; the album that I argue is their definitive masterwork. The problem in creating an album like Overcome is … Read more
Brian Eno Lux Warp Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Brian Eno is a connoisseur of the floating world and you can trust him as your guide. Album Review: The new Brian Eno album brings us more of ambient Eno, of soundscape Eno. But it’s not thematic like his space-y Apollo. Nor is it as calculated … Read more
… And You Will Know Us From The Trail Of Dead Lost Songs Superball Music [2012] Fire Note Says: Art rock at its distorted best. Album Review: Call me nostalgic, but I still think some of Trail of Dead’s best work came off of Source Tags & Codes, their third full-length studio album. They’ve always … Read more
Queen A Night At The Opera Elektra Records [1975] Fan Reviewer: Alex Location: Dallas, TX Age: 20 Going into this review I only knew the hits from Queen. Everyone around me (especially my older brother) has talked about the power of Freddie Mercury and how Queen made real albums. He told me that not one … Read more
The Soft MoonZerosCaptured Tracks [2012] Zeros is filled with hermetic, chamber music that simultaneously acts as a distorted reflection of eerie music and an embodiment of its essence. “Machines” swirls and pelts, while “Zeros” and “Lost Years” burst with disco shimmies and goth gasps. “Crush” engulfs us, and “Want” feels like the soundtrack to a … Read more
The Soft Moon Zeros Captured Tracks Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Soft Moon has something in a box it’d like to show you. Album Review: Zeros is full of hermetic, chain-chamber music that’s simultaneously a funhouse mirror image of scary music and the thing itself. “Machines” swirls and pelts. “Zeros” and “Lost Years” burst … Read more
Further Seems Forever Penny Black Rise Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Further Seems Forever comes back to the scene strong. Album Review: Further Seems Forever returns with their first studio record in eight years, and the first to feature the full original line-up since 2001’s The Moon is Down. I’ve rocked Further Seems Forever before, … Read more
Anberlin Vital Universal Republic Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Anberlin makes good on their promise to deliver their most aggressive record. Album Review: I’ve been listening to Anberlin for a few years now, ever since New Surrender [2008] dropped. Needless to say, I’ve been eagerly anticipating Vital, their seventh studio record. In June, frontman Stephen … Read more
Daphni Jiaolong Merge Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Dan Snaith takes on the alias Daphni and delivers a great and necessary album. Album Review: First, know that this album is impeccable. From start to finish, Dan Snaith—the lone ranger behind both Daphni and Caribou—delivers beat-heavy perfection. Often the tracks defy sense, seeming both skeletal and … Read more
Lord Huron Lonesome Dreams IAMSOUND Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Lord Huron delivers a sparkling, thoughtful full-length debut with Lonesome Dreams. Album Review: Let’s not talk about Fleet Foxes or Band of Horses, nor Crosby, Stills & Nash. Doubtless most considerations of Lord Huron’s first full-length album will be full of backward-looking and sidelong scrutinies. … Read more