Surfer Blood: Snowdonia [Album Review]

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Surfer Blood Snowdonia Joyful Noise Recordings [2017] Fire Note Says: Surfer Blood stay true to their roots after their loss. Album Review: Surfer Blood lost Thomas Fekete, their original drummer, to cancer in 2016. He had left the band a year earlier to receive medical treatment; the band raised funds for his treatment in 2015 … Read more

Conor Oberst: Ruminations [Album Review]

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Conor Oberst Ruminations Nonesuch [2016] Fire Note Says: Oberst makes an intimate recording of his deeper, darker thoughts. Album Review: In 2004/5 Conor Oberst had his 15 minutes as the Next Big Thing, drawing comparisons to Bob Dylan, when his band Bright Eyes drew national attention with two very different releases, and ended up touring … Read more

Ryan Adams – Do You Still Love Me? [Video]

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Directed and produced by Noah Abrams, and edited by Brook Linder, “Do You Still Love Me?” gives viewers intimate behind-the-scenes glimpses into the creation and recording of the new song from Ryan Adams. The video features live footage from Ryan’s 2016 tour—including airy shots of Red Rocks Amphitheatre—punctuated by fly-on-the-wall scenes of Ryan in the studio.

Prisoner is out February 17th on Pax-Am/Blue Note.

Feral Ohms – S​/​T (Preorder) LTD 100 Silkscreen Numbered

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We featured their new track last week HERE and reviewed their Live In San Francisco record from the Castle Face series HERE. So you should not wait on this one – grab your limited Feral Ohms debut record HERE. The first 100 come in a nice looking hand-printed silkscreen jacket plus are numbered. It also … Read more

The Harlequins: One With You [Album Review]

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The Harlequins One With You Dizzybird Records [2016] Who: The Harlequins are a psychedelic garage-pop trio that have been one of Cincinnati’s best indie secrets since they formed in 2007. They have plenty of music in their arsenal but One With You represents their first proper LP. Sound: The Cincinnati trio have plenty of reverb … Read more

Track Premiere: Smug Brothers – “Hang Up”

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Today we have a special track premiere from Dayton, Ohio veteran band Smug Brothers. The group is coming back at the world on March 31st with their 10th release, Disco Maroon! The 15-track full length once again features their lo-fi roots but definitely branches out from there with plenty of power pop and indie rock … Read more

Delicate Steve: This Is Steve [Album Review]

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Delicate Steve This Is Steve Anti- [2017] Fire Note Says: Guitar fans will want to connect with this talented musician’s rock insturmentals. Album Review: Perhaps you’re not yet familiar with the fine guitar stylings of Delicate Steve, aka Steve Marion, but it’s very likely that you’ve heard his playing before. Marion provide slide guitar from … Read more

Fred Thomas – Voiceover [Video]

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Following the release of his critically-lauded 2015 album All Are Saved, songwriter/producer Fred Thomas entered a period of enormous transition. He quit his job, got married and moved to Canada, all between multiple tours that ran the spectrum from sold out opening slots to sleeping in the car after empty gigs.

At the end of yet another tour he returned to Athens, Georgia, to again work with producer Drew Vandenberg (of Montreal, Mothers) on an album aiming to encapsulate the nonstop changes that had sprung out of this phase of his life.

Naturally, this record is named Changer and is out now on Polyviyl Records.

Japandroids: Near To The Wild Heart Of Life [Album Review]

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Japandroids Near To The Wild Heart Of Life ANTI- [2017] Fire Note Says: Rock lovers rejoice: Japandroids have returned! Album Review: Are you ready to rock? If so, Canadian duo Japandroids have something for you on their third LP, Near To The Wild Heart of Life. An alternative title to the album could be We’ve … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Feral Ohms – “God Of Nicaragua”

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Feral Ohms was formed in 2011 by three Bay Area underground rock vets. One of those being Comets on Fire co-founder Ethan Miller. Loud, super-fuzzed, and absolutely fierce. The amazing part about this band is how underground they have been but not anymore. All of that should quickly change. The Oakland group just released the … Read more

Feral Ohms: Live In San Francisco [Album Review]

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Feral Ohms Live In San Francisco Castle Face Records [2016] Who: Hailing from Oakland, Ca. power trio Feral Ohms is like a good friend. Feral Ohms doesn’t overstay their welcome, they have fun all the while kicking your ass, and finally you have to know when you can hang out again. Sound: What really caught … Read more

Cherry Glazerr: Apocalipstick [Album Review]

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Cherry Glazerr Apocalipstick Secretly Canadian [2017] Who: Clementine Creevy is a headstrong 19-year-old that dreamed up Cherry Glazerr in her LA bedroom alone. The groups debut was on Burger Records and they released a 7” on Suicide Squeeze so they have plenty of indie credibility. Apocalipstick is their Secretly Canadian debut and features two new … Read more

Tobin Sprout: The Universe And Me [Album Review]

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Tobin Sprout The Universe And Me Burger Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Tobin Sprout’s first album in seven years is wistful, poignant and brings the rock. Album Review: Tobin Sprout returns with his first solo record since 2010’s The Bluebirds of Happiness Tried to Land on My Shoulder. The Universe and Me is a real … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Mr. Elevator – “Sunshine Daydream”

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Today’s Friday Fire Track features Mr. Elevator which was formed in Southern California back in 2012. If you don’t know the name the group plays a fuzzy and distorted type of psych-pop that we think you will dig! Mr. Elevator has played alongside acts like Thee Oh Sees, The Fresh & Onlys, The Black Lips, … Read more

The Flaming Lips: Oczy Mlody [Album Review]

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The Flaming Lips Oczy Mlody Warner Bros. Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Exiting their world of loveless doom, The Flaming Lips return with a brighter fairy tale. Album Review: The Flaming Lips have been in the music game for at least 24 years. Within those 24 years they’ve made quite a impact from battling pink … Read more

Lydia Loveless: Real [Album Review]

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Lydia Loveless Real Bloodshot Records [2016] Fire Note Says: In a more polished, pop oriented release, Lydia Loveless proves she’s the real thing. Album Review: With Real, the fourth full-length album from the Columbus OH native, Lydia Loveless continues to sing of love’s challenging foibles in rock & roll in a voice with a strong … Read more

The xx: I See You [Album Review]

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The xx I See You Young Turks [2017] Fire Note Says: The xx takes a big step forward on I See You. Album Review: The xx, the London trio consisting of Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Sim and Jamie Smith, have released their third album, and their first in five years. Of course, Smith’s 2015 release … Read more