Ski Lodge: Big Heart [Album Review]

Ski Lodge Big Heart Dovecote Records [2013] Fire Note Says: If you like The Smiths, Ski Lodge will be a new favorite. Album Review: Ski Lodge is primarily the creation of NYC-based musician Andrew Marr. On his debut LP he sings and plays the majority of the instruments; he also wrote the songs. The album … Read more

The Moutain Goats: All Hail West Texas [Album Review]

The Mountain Goats All Hail West Texas Merge Records [2002; 2013] Fire Note Says: The Mountain Goats’ classic All Hail West Texas gets a remastered reissue with new tracks. Album Review: One of the great things about reissues is having an opportunity to revisit or discover classics that were missed the first time around. The … Read more

Dr. Dog: B-Room [Album Review]

Dr. Dog B-Room ANTI- Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dr. Dog provides a nostalgic trip with their latest album B-Room. Album Review: Dr. Dog’s seventh LP, B-Room, is an exercise in rock history. The Pennsylvania band, consisting currently of Scott McMicken (lead guitar), Toby Leaman (bass), Zach Miller (keyboard), Eric Slick (drums), Frank McElroy (backing … Read more

Kings Of Leon: Mechanical Bull [Album Review]

Kings Of Leon Mechanical Bull RCA Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Kings of Leon surprise with a rock album brimming with passion. Album Review: Me, one minute before starting Mechanical Bull for the first time: “Ho hum, another Kings of Leon album. These guys are from Tennessee. I’m from Tennessee. I used to like them … Read more

The Weeknd: Kiss Land [Album Review]

The Weeknd Kiss Land Universal Republic [2013] Fire Note Says: The Weeknd’s major label debut continues the emo trend in hip hop with mixed results. Album Review: The Weeknd is Canadian Abel Tesfaye. He of the three mixtapes, condensed last year and released as Trilogy, is making his true major label debut with Kiss Land. … Read more

MGMT: MGMT [Album Review]

MGMT MGMT Columbia Records [2013] Fire Note Says: MGMT fails to electrify with their self-titled third album. Album Review: MGMT has released their third album, which is quite simply titled MGMT. The band’s debut had such singles as “Electric Feel,” “Kids,” and “Time to Pretend.” It is safe to say that there is no such … Read more

MiniBoone: MiniBoone [Album Review]

MiniBoone MiniBoone Ernest Jenning Record Co. [2013] Fire Note Says: MiniBoone splashes onto the scene with a strong eponymous debut. Album Review: MiniBoone is a five-piece band from New York that has been kicking around since 2008. They have just released their first full-length album but have two EP’s and a 7-inch to their name … Read more

A.S.: Exile [Album Review]

A.S. Exile Inedible Records [2013] Fire Note Says: A.S.’s second album Exile is moody and atmospheric. Album Review: The enigmatically named band A.S. consists of Nick McRoberts (voice, piano) and Idriss Halfaoui (guitars). The duo is based out of Paris (and sings in English) and it’s safe to say that the occasional grayness of the … Read more

The Dodos: Carrier [Album Review]

The Dodos Carrier Polyvinyl Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Dodos stay true to their sound with Carrier. Album Review: The Dodos have released their fifth album, which has the name Carrier. The San Francisco duo of Meric Long and Logan Kroeber are following up on 2011’s No Color. No Color was one of my … Read more

Okkervil River: The Silver Gymnasium [Album Review]

Okkervil River The Silver Gymnasium ATO Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Okkervil River maintains their consistency on LP #7, The Silver Gymnasium. Album Review: Firing up the new Okkervil River LP (The Silver Gymnasium) was like slipping into one of my favorite sweatshirts. Instantly familiar and comforting, Will Sheff greeted me after not hearing from … Read more

Crocodiles: Crimes Of Passion [Album Review]

Crocodiles Crimes Of Passion Frenchkiss Records (2013) Fire Note Says: Crocodiles hit the right (and one-) note with Crimes of Passion. Album Review: Ever wonder when you can have too much of a good thing? I love me some power pop and really got into Crocodiles’ last record Endless Flowers. I saw them open up … Read more

Franz Ferdinand: Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action [Album Review]

Franz Ferdinand Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action Domino Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Franz Ferdinand’s fourth LP doesn’t disappoint as it hits the Right notes. Album Review: Scotland’s Franz Ferdinand hit the scene right around the same time as The Killers. “Take Me Out” and “Somebody Told Me” take me straight back to 2004. … Read more

Little Comets: Life Is Elsewhere [Album Review]

Little Comets Life Is Elsewhere Dualtone Music Group [2013] Fire Note Says: Little Comets’ indie pop leaves a sunny impression on Life Is Elsewhere. Album Review: The UK’s Little Comets second LP Life Is Elsewhere was actually released in Great Britain about a year ago. Here in the U.S. we now get the chance to … Read more

Zola Jesus: Versions [Album Review]

Zola Jesus Versions Sacred Bones Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Zola Jesus makes a bold play with uneven payoff on Versions. Album Review: Zola Jesus’s fourth LP Versions is a collaboration with a string quartet led by J.G. Thirlwell. The album’s concept is to take songs in the Zola Jesus catalog and strip them to … Read more

Paper Lions: My Friends [Album Review]

Paper Lions My Friends Fountain Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Paper Lions’ power pop returns with comforting steadiness on My Friends. Album Review: Prince Edward Island’s Paper Lions’ fifth album My Friends reminded me very much of an album I reviewed earlier this year, Noah And The Whale’s Heart of Nowhere. In fact My … Read more

No Age: An Object [Album Review]

No Age An Object Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: No Age continues to perfect their garage psychedelia sound with An Object. Album Review: Los Angelinos Randy Randall and Dean Allen Spunt (the two principals of No Age) return with their fourth long-player, An Object. The album title is an interesting statement – I … Read more

Long Lost: Save Yourself, Start Again [Album Review]

Long Lost Save Yourself, Start Again No Sleep Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Long Lost’s debut is a catchy collection with Save Yourself, Start Again. Album Review: Long Lost is the culmination of collaboration between Transit’s Joe Boynton and Vinny Comeau. The pair worked with Aviv Moritz (drums), Mat Morin (guitar), and Mike Moschetto (bass) … Read more

Junior Astronomers: Dead Nostalgia [Album Review]

Junior Astronomers Dead Nostalgia Broken Circles Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Junior Astronomers’ debut Dead Nostalgia is a punkish step towards greatness. Album Review: Junior Astronomers is a punk band from Charlotte, NC. They leave the Southern fried on the side and go full punk (with some mainstream influences) on their debut album Dead Nostalgia. … Read more

Gladiola: Off You Go [Album Review]

Gladiola Off You Go Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Gladiola’s third album Off You Go is a mode. Album Review: Gladiola is an independent band in the truest sense. They self-produced and self-released their latest LP Off You Go. The band is based out of Massachusetts and consists of Bill Madden-Fuoco (vocals and guitar), Chris … Read more

Jay Z: Magna Carta…Holy Grail [Album Review]

Jay Z Magna Carta…Holy Grail Universal Music Group [2013] Fire Note Says: Jay Z offers up something for all music lovers with Magna Carta…Holy Grail. Album Review: I’m going to imagine that there is not a huge overlap between readers of The Fire Note and fans of Jay Z. However if you’re like me and … Read more

Atlas Genius: When It Was Now [Album Review]

Atlas Genius When It Was Now Warner Bros. Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Atlas Genius crafts an indie pop gem with When It Was Now. Album Review: Atlas Genius’s core is two brothers, Keith and Michael Jeffery. Having seen the band perform at Bunbury 2013 this summer, the band’s live lineup much bigger. Atlas Genius … Read more

Coloured Clocks: Nectarine [Album Review]

Coloured Clocks Nectarine Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Coloured Clocks’ Nectarine sunny psychedelic sound is perfect for a lazy summer day. Album Review: Coloured Clocks is the project of James Wallace, who is from Melbourne. The style of music is described on their bandcamp page as psychedelic, ambient, and chillwave. Given that we have an … Read more

Elway: Leavetaking [Album Review]

Elway Leavetaking Red Scare Industries [2013] Fire Note Says: Elway’s pop-punk stylings in Leavetaking are full throttle from start to finish. Album Review: Elway is definitely the best band ever named for a quarterback taken in the storied first round of the 1983 NFL draft. Sorry Laces Out Marino! (not a real band), Jim Kelly: … Read more

Bell X1: Chop Chop [Album Review]

Bell X1 Chop Chop BellyUp Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Bell X1’s 6th LP is assured while being subdued. Album Review: Ireland’s Bell X1 has changed up their sound with their sixth studio album Chop Chop. The country’s second biggest band after U2 worked with The National producer Peter Katis and with Thomas Bartlett, who … Read more

Casey Black: Lay You In The Loam [Album Review]

Casey Black Lay You In The Loam CatBeach Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Casey Black crafts a deep album that tightens its grip with each listen. Album Review: Casey Black’s fourth LP Lay You In The Loam faced an uphill battle with me. Black has a baritone voice that is distinct and either one you … Read more