Parts country and parts folk with an added heaping of punk rock, the seven-piece Memphis band Lucero cover the musical gamut. Even the band members have varying opinions on how to define their sound. Taking their sonic diversity one step further, the band will embark on a new type of tour experience this November. In … Read more
Swearing At Motorists While Laughing The Joker Tells The Truth A Recordings LTD [2014] Fire Note Says: A welcomed return for Swearing at Motorists. Album Review: If you know your Dayton, Ohio indie folklore then Swearing at Motorists should already be in your memory bank. The band has family tree history with fellow Daytonians Guided … Read more
Zola Jesus Taiga Mute Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Zola Jesus’s fifth studio album continues the trend of a career of strong output. Album Review: Zola Jesus makes pop music for people who like to think. For people who like for their pop to have a sharp serrated edge to it. In that sense Zola … Read more
Foxygen …And Star Power Jagjaguwar Records [2014] Fire Note Says: A sprawling double lp that both excites and confounds. Album Review: The duo of Sam France and Jonathan Rado, who comprise Foxygen, can definitely not be accused of taking the easy path. After breaking up (or not breaking up) on tour for their critically acclaimed … Read more
These days it seems harder and harder to actually be surprised. Our instant world almost never allows that “oh my gosh!” feeling anymore. Well, the trio of Corin Tucker, Carrie Brownstein, and Janet Weiss, better known as the retired Sleater-Kinney, got us all with their new 3,000-copy, limited-edition deluxe vinyl box set, Start Together, that … Read more
When Guided By Voices came to an abrupt ending last month there were still a handful of shows left on the schedule. One of those was a show in Fort Wayne, Indiana promoted by Neat Neat Neat Records. Instead of cancelling all together, Neat Neat set up a Guided By Voices tribute show to keep … Read more
Are you ready for a large soundscape of song to kick off your weekend? That is exactly what our Fire Track provides today from Washington DC’s Black Clouds. From their forthcoming full length album titled Dreamcation, Black Clouds present a mid-tempo instrumental track that flexes its muscles around every corner. Make sure you stick around … Read more
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Hypnotic Eye Warner Bros. Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Hypnotic Eye finds Petty & the Heartbreakers continuing to stretch, grow, and inspire. Album Review: For nearly four decades, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers embodied a truly singular American rock band sound (perhaps second on that front only to Bruce Springsteen … Read more
Horse Feathers So It Is With Us Kill Rock Stars [2014] Fire Note Says: Horse Feathers lighten the mood on fifth long player. Album Review: Portland chamber-folk group Horse Feathers, led by singer-songwriter Justin Ringle, have not changed much in direction, focus or labels over the years. For some, this may have had you move … Read more
Jeff the Brotherhood Dig The Classics Warner Bros. Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Jeff the Brotherhood drop a killer EP of essential covers with a thick layer of heavy garage rock fuzz and scuzz. Album Review: Nashville natives, brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall, make up the two-piece rock outfit that is Jeff the Brotherhood. The … Read more
Los Straitjackets Los Straitjackets: Deke Dickerson Sings The Instrumental Hits Yep Rec Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Los Straitjackets find the words to some of your instrumental favorites. Album Review: Just when you thought you have heard it all, the instrumental combo team of Los Straitjackets have something fresh for their genre. They have teamed … Read more
Cibo Matto have a brand new video for “Deja Vu.” The track is from their latest record, Hotel Valentine, which was released earlier this year and represented their first full length in fifteen years. Just one listen and look at the video will remind you of all Cibo Matto’s grooviness!
Twin Library Historical Tumblers Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Historical Tumblers’ grand ambitions flash by with punk-like pacing. Album Review: Twin Library’s bio suggests that you may enjoy them if you also like Guided by Voices, and there are two main reasons I can see for this line of thinking: the band is prolific (having … Read more
Sweet Apple “Reunion” b/w “Frantic Romantic” Tym Guitars [2014] I actually can’t believe that Sweet Apple’s new record, The Golden Age of Glitter, didn’t achieve more press. The rock band features the talents of John Petkovic, J Mascis, Dave Sweetapple and Tim Parnin, which are better known as members of Witch, Cobra Verde, Dinosaur Jr, … Read more
Given all the press Mark Kozelek has been getting with his one-sided feud with War On Drugs it almost makes you laugh to think about him releasing a Christmas record. But really what better way to turn a mood and capture the Christmas spirit with a little “Silent Night” and “What Child Is This.” The … Read more
Today’s fire track seems like an appropriate title! LA Font’s first offering off of their upcoming 2-on-1 cassette release (featuring their first two full length albums, The American Leagues and Diving Man) is the rowdy “Bright Red Flame.” The Los Angeles-based foursome has a distinct groove found here that contains plenty of memorable rhythms and … Read more
Iceage Plowing Into The Field Of Love Matador Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Iceage continue to offer something unique. Album Review: Three albums in and Copenhagen’s Iceage continue to evolve and push the limits of their sound. Their debut of DIY post-punk rock took people by storm and last year’s sophomore effort, You’re Nothing, found … Read more
Joseph Airport Stronger and Better Rockathon Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Joseph Airport’s quirky psychedelic miniatures grow on you with repeated listens. Album Review: If you’ve lived in Dayton, OH more than a couple of years, you’ll immediately recognize the origins of Joseph Airport’s odd moniker as the name of a certain car dealership north … Read more
Meatbodies Meatbodies In The Red Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Meatbodies are your next garage/psychedelic adventure. Album Review: If you are addicted to all things Ty Segall then Meatbodies self-titled debut was already on your list. If you have been a casual fan of Ty you probably have already heard some of Meatbodies players and … Read more
David Bazan + Passenger String Quartet Volume 1 Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Bazan intensifies the emotional breadth and tenor of his original songs. Album Review: I’d really be surprised if any fans of Seattle indie band Pedro the Lion or David Bazan’s post-Pedro solo albums ever thought “I really like these songs, but they’d … Read more
Guess what? Robert Pollard has a new project? Surprised – ha – that was a joke because the answer is absolutely no! Pollard always has something going on! Pollard’s new project is called Ricked Wicky, and it is a rock band. RW finds Todd Tobias and Nick Mitchell contributing to the debut album I Sell … Read more
Eyelids 854 Jealous Butcher Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Eyelids give Portland a new sound! Album Review: I love it when a group of experienced musicians find themselves together and decide that creating an album is a necessary action. That is the way I feel with Eyelids as the group is made up of longtime … Read more
Noel Gallagher announced the completion and release date of the brand new Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds album, Chasing Yesterday on Sour Mash Records. The announcement was made during a live Q&A streamed on Facebook and hosted by BBC 6 Music’s Matt Everitt. Fans who missed it, can click HERE for a limited time today … Read more
Shellac Dude Incredible Touch And Go Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Dude Incredible is a bad mofo! Album Review: Man, it’s a shame that Shellac seems to have slowed their release pace down to roughly the speed of a glacier moving across vast stretches of land, because Dude Incredible, the trio’s first album since Excellent … Read more
On October 28th, The Flaming Lips will release their star-studded covers album of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, featuring contributions from Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan, My Morning Jacket, Miley Cyrus (Yes that is right – Miley), MGMT, Tegan & Sara, Phantogram, Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis, Foxygen, and Dr. Dog. The band … Read more