Owen Pallett In Conflict Domino Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Owen Pallett makes an interesting and at times profound statement with In Conflict. Album Review: Owen Pallett’s fourth album (and second under his actual name) is a challenge. Pallett has a vision for In Conflict that didn’t cater to this listener at first. Quite honestly, … Read more
Mac DeMarco Singles Club #1 & #2 Captured Tracks [2014] Subscription based 7-inch projects have all been the rave for 2014 so we could not resist getting in on The Wonderful World of Mac DeMarco 7″ Club Vol. 1 when it was recently announced by Captured Tracks. How can you resist an on the rise … Read more
First Aid Kit Stay Gold Columbia Records [2014] Fire Note Says: First Aid Kit have matured beyond their young years. Album Review: Hands down, First Aid Kit’s sisters, Klara and Johanna Söderberg, have one of the most addictive harmonizing vocals in the music scene right now. You may have already heard their impact on Conor … Read more
Just last week Justin Townes Earle announced his fifth studio album , Single Mothers, which is to be released on September 9 on Vagrant Records. Today, you can watch the live performance of the album track ‘White Gardenias’ at McCabes Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, CA. You then can check out Justin’s tour dates below … Read more
For the Recently Found Innocent is the fifth White Fence album and the first one to be recorded outside his bedroom. “Like That” is the first single from the record which is due out on Drag City Records July 22, 2014. Not only does this new album feature live drumming but plenty of harmony vocalizations … Read more
Cretin Stompers Looking Forward To Being Attacked HoZac Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Cretin Stompers bring both the rock and the weird on their debut album. Album Review: Cretin Stompers have quite an impressive pedigree, featuring ex members of Jay Reatard’s band, Wavves, Barbaras, and the one and only Big Muff Radio, (who I am … Read more
Heavens To Betsy Calculated Kill Rock Stars [2014] Fire Note Says: Heavens To Betsy‘s anger couldn‘t be more captivating on Calculated. Album Review: When people hear the name Corin Tucker they should get excited—if they don’t, shame on them. A prominent figure in music from the 90’s through today, Corin Tucker has made her waves … Read more
White Lung Deep Fantasy Domino Records [2014] Fire Note Says: White Lung bring forward their hard hitting sound. Album Review: If Vancouver’s White Lung have not been on your radar then here is your wake up call. The band’s third LP, Deep Fantasy, is a rip roaring punk record that will easily remind you of … Read more
Does some lo-fi psychedelic garage rock sound up your alley? If you answered yes then this new track from Seattle’s The Pharmacy will surely get your weekend started. From the opening retro jangle of guitar to the psychedelic drumming, The Pharmacy draws you into “Masten Lake Lagoon” right away. The song is almost four minutes … Read more
Sun Hoax Biome Digs EP / Full Joy EP Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Sun Hoax is the latest offering from lo-fi auteur Dean Wells. Album Review: Dean Wells is the lo-fi wizard behind The Capstan Shafts, and if you haven’t heard any of their recordings, I’m going to need you to rectify that as … Read more
Beach Slang Who Would Ever Want Anything So Broken? EP Dead Broke Rekerds [2014] Fire Note Says: Beach Slang bring back a glorious 90’s sound. Album Review: Philadelphia’s Beach Slang are a supergroup of sorts of an older indie scene. The three piece features James Snyder of Weston, JP Flexner of Ex-Friends and Ed McNulty, … Read more
Greys If Anything Carpark Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Greys’ debut LP bridges a gap between genres and offers a refreshing blend of heavy noise rock with pop sensibility. Album Review: Last years’ Greys 7” Drift was one of my favorite 7” releases for 2013. A really heavy noise rocker. I enjoyed it so much; … Read more
The New Pornographers’ highly anticipated new album, Brill Bruisers, will be released August 26 on Matador Records. You can grab a limited edition multi-colored “paint splattered” version of the LP HERE. You also could receive a 3D poster and 3D glasses if you hurry!
Look to your left. A young couple is passionately making out. To your right, two grizzled bearded gentlemen are getting drunk and rowdy, and singing loud as hell. And don’t forget to look up, because an old punk rocker has just launched himself from the stage. Welcome, you are at a Lucero show. This is … Read more
Jack White Lazaretto Third Man/Columbia Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Does Jack White‘s Blunderbuss follow up deserve the same praise? Album Review: If you know anything about The Fire Note, it’s that most of us here are Jack White fans. Whether it’s subscribing to his record vault, traveling to his home base Third Man Record … Read more
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart Days of Abandon Yebo Music [2014] Fire Note Says: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart is a bit too pure this time around. Album Review: Sometimes an album’s beginning betrays its overall essence. Sometimes it sets the tone, even if that tone was not what you wanted … Read more
Ty Segall will make his return with a new record titled Manipulator on August 26th via Drag City Records. Manipulator of course will feature Ty’s helium-cooled vocals, but is loaded with guitars! You can read the exciting press description and see the teaser below and pre-order the record HERE. “Strangled-neck solos recalling the good old … Read more
Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires Dereconstructed Sub Pop Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires sing it proud and rock it loud on Dereconstructed. Album Review: When I first heard Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires it was on the excellent Alive at The Deep Blues Fest. … Read more
Death Cab For Cutie Live 2012 (Featuring Magik*Magik Orchestra) Barsuk Records [2014] Fire Note Says: A solid set list and effective orchestration makes Live 2012 worth hearing. Album Review: While their studio albums have always been produced in ways that are sympathetic to their half-somber/half-optimistic indie-emo stylings, Death Cab For Cutie have never been a … Read more
Mastodon has always been a band to watch. The undersea brutality of Leviathan, the debut low end ferocity of Remission, the heavy psych prog perfections that are Blood Mountain and Crack the Skye, and finally their last effort 2011’s The Hunter. You really can’t go wrong with any record in their catalog! Now the boys … Read more
Wooden Wand Farmer’s Corner Fire Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Farmer’s Corner is a confident, cool, laid back trip down a long dusty road. Album Review: Farmer’s Corner, the new album from Wooden Wand has some pretty high expectations to live up to. Blood Oaths of the New Blues, Wooden Wand’s album from 2013, received … Read more
Roof Doctor Mobile Freedom House Mutt Tapes [2014] Fire Note Says: Quirky indie pop/rock tunes from Philly. Album Review: A five piece hailing from Philly, Roof Doctor already have several releases under their belt, the most recent of which is this short (29-minute) ten track LP Mobile Freedom House. There’s nothing about their sound that … Read more
Washed Out have a new video for “Weightless,” from their latest record Paracosm which was released last year on Sub Pop Records. Washed Out has recently added August and September to their 2014 tour schedule in support of Paracosm. You can see the dates below. Tour Dates Jun. 05 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club* … Read more
Popstrangers Fortuna Carpark Records[2014] Fire Note Says: Follow-up to last year’s excellent debut does not disappoint. Album Review: In the run-up to Popstrangers’ sophomore album there has been a lot made of the band’s recent move from Aukland, New Zealand to the musical epicenter of the world – London. Subsequently, attempts have been made to … Read more
The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger Midnight Sun Chimera Music [2014] Fire Note Says: Full-fledged psychedlia infused with whimsical 60’s trippy pop and vibe. Album Review: The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger is a band that was formed by Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl, and while they have two other releases under … Read more