Museum Mouth Alex I Am Nothing Self Aware Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Concept record about obsession rocks to the nerve. Album Review: From the first note, you can hear the fragile state that NC indie/pop/punk band Museum Mouth are in on their third proper full length, Alex I Am Nothing. This component alone completely … Read more
OBN III’s Live In San Francisco Castle Face Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Explosive live set from aggressive Texas punk rockers. Album Review: Castle Face Records hits another one out of the park with their latest entry in the Live in San Francisco series, this time out featuring Texas punks OBN IIIs. I didn’t know … Read more
The Skygreen Leopards Family Crimes Woodsist Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Family Crimes is steeped in easygoing 60s folk-rock vibes. Album Review: On paper, Skygreen Leopards’ new record Family Crimes looks like something out of the Elephant 6 camp: a strange album cover, fourteen songs in barely over thirty minutes, straight-to-tape recording, and titles like … Read more
Ryan Pollie goes under the moniker Los Angeles Police Department, which I will say is an ear catching band name. What is better than the name is Pollie’s soft and effortless delivery on his first single form the self-titled debut due out September 2 via Forged Artifacts. When Pollie repetitively sings the chorus the magic … Read more
The Afghan Whigs are known for some killer covers and I believe you can add this one to the list. The Police’s Ghost in the Machine classic, “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” was recorded during the sessions for the band’s current Sub Pop album and Headphone Approved Do to the Beast. You can … Read more
Lucero Live From Atlanta Liberty And Lament Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Lucero brings their energetic live show right to your record player. Album Review: Have you ever been to a Lucero show? I had my first taste last year in Detroit rock city at the Magic Stick and I will tell you that Lucero … Read more
People 3xaWoman Telegraph Harp Records [2014] Fire Note Says: People’s 3xaWoman is a weird and wonderful clash of musical styles. Album Review: From the opening notes on People’s LP 3xaWoman, you know something strange is afoot and you are in for something that does not stay on the path of convention. Experimental avant-garde jazz guitarist, … Read more
The Young Chrome Cactus Matador Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Texans kicking up goth-tinged tumbleweeds. Album Review: “Oh, good,” I thought at the first riffs of lead track “Metal Flake”, “someone is finally aping [Urge Overkill’s] Saturation.” This didn’t stick, but it’s a starting point. The riffs and grooves are the stars here: the vocals … Read more
sElf Super Fake Nice El Camino Media [2014] Fire Note Says: Matt Mahaffey’s sElf returns to form with new EP. Album Review: What was so 90’s is now new again. Matt Mahaffey, aka sElf, is another artist from that era that makes a return to the music scene here with the six song EP Super … Read more
Finch will release their new studio album, Back to Oblivion, on September 30th 2014 via Razor & Tie. The band has also launched the new album pre-order bundles at finch.merchnow.com. Back to Oblivion marks the return of Finch with the band’s first full length album in over nine years. The band dignified the demand for … Read more
The forthcoming album from Foo Fighters, Sonic Highways, is now up for pre-order at the band’s webstore. The 180-gram vinyl pressing is packaged in a gatefold sleeve, with fans able to pick from nine different covers. The webstore is the only place where you can pick your cover and it’s for the first pressing only. … Read more
The singer/songwriter will always hold a special place in music history. They can make you laugh, they can make you cry and they can make you whistle along. It always seems that the singer/songwriter can tap those emotions faster and stronger than any other music configuration you can put together. That brings us to Mobile, … Read more
Connections Into Sixes Anyway Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Connections third LP, Into Sixes, is full of indie rock hooks and anthems. Album Review: Connections had a very efficient first year as a band releasing two full length LP’s (Private Airplane and Body Language) as well as a 7-inch e.p. (Tough City). Anyway Records offers … Read more
Dirty Lungs Dirty Lungs Communicating Vessels [2014] Fire Note Says: Dirty Lungs dig up some retro-leaning hard psych, but leave a little modern dirt. Album Review: Dirty Lungs’ self-titled LP opens strong with “I Suck in Bed,” a scuzzy, raging garage rocker with a catchy wordless vocal refrain. It’s so strong, in fact, that I … Read more
Burger Records will be releasing the new record from California shamble-rockers Tomorrows Tulips on October 7th. “Glued To You,” is one of the new tunes off the record, When, and it will surly be one of the more interesting songs you will hear from the band. The track is packed full of swagger even though … Read more
Cleaners From Venus Return To Bohemia Soft Bodies Records [2014] Fire Note Says: A stunning return from the legendary lo-fi cult act! Album Review: Martin Newell titled his 1993 album The Greatest Living Englishman, and with Return To Bohemia, he proves that this was no mere cheeky title, he damn well might be the greatest … Read more
Happyness Weird Little Birthday Rough Trade Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Ready for a non-disappointing British Sea Power? Album Review: Here’s something I don’t get to say every day: “That reminds me of Gay Dad!” Or possibly Sonic Youth’s “Antenna.” Or maybe Meat Puppets in their mid-90’s ZZ Top phase. Key word here is diverse. … Read more
Minus The Bear have debuted “The Lucky Ones” as a preview of their forthcoming full-length release Lost Loves, out October 7th. “The Lucky Ones” is one of 10 tracks found on Lost Loves, which is now available for pre-order via Dangerbird Records HERE. Lost Loves is a career-spanning collection of rare & unreleased songs written … Read more
Outer Battery has another Dinosaur Jr. exclusive. Dinosaur Jr’s “Beyond” LP is now on limited edition purple vinyl, with a 7″ pressed on white. There are just 500 copies of these, only available from the Outer Battery website. Typically these do not last very long. You can pick up a copy HERE.
Jenny Lewis The Voyager Warner Bros. Records [2014] Fire Note Says: After six years in the wilderness, The Voyager heralds the resurrection of all things Jenny Lewis. Album Review: Since 2002’s masterful The Execution of All Things – an album which should be handed to girls as they turn thirteen, just as all boys should … Read more
Twin Peaks Wild Onion Grand Jury Music [2014] Fire Note Says: Chicago’s Twin Peaks show off their many different sides. Album Review: I like it when a relatively new band swings for the fences. That is how I feel Chicago’s Twin Peaks approached their sophomore album, Wild Onion. Earlier this year the band hinted that … Read more
Mike Adams At His Honest Weight Best Of Boiler Room Classics Flannelgraph/Joyful Noise Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: 60s and 70s style pop is given an electronically-inflected makeover on Best of the Boiler Room Classics. Album Review: As any industry bigwig will tell you, a good pop song is a good pop song. You can … Read more
David Kilgour & The Heavy Eights End Times Undone Merge Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Yet another in a long line of consistently excellent releases from the New Zealand legend! Album Review: David Kilgour has been releasing and performing music since the late 70’s, starting with The Clean before moving on to The Great Unwashed, … Read more
Chris Staples American Soft Barsuk Records [2014] Fire Note Says: A charming and understated indie-pop/singer-songwriter album. Album Review: The penultimate track on Chris Staples’ American Soft is called “Needle Park,” and it’s really great. The instantly catchy chorus of “Well would I ever lie to you? / Of course I would, of course I would,” … Read more
The Proper Ornaments Wooden Head Slumberland Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Anglo-Argentine pair wears influences on sleeves – and scores. Album Review: The Proper Ornaments album Wooden Head seems, at first blush, just a fun way to play a game of Spot the Idiom: Mary Chain/BRMC black-leather-jacket Spector-pop here, “Eight Miles High” jangle there. But … Read more