The debut 7″ vinyl release from Philadelphia, PA’s Beach Slang, Who Would Ever Want Anything So Broken?, is now available for Pre-Order from Dead Broke Rekerds. Beach Slang is an indie supergroup of sorts, featuring James Snyder of Weston, JP Flexner of Ex-Friends and Ed McNulty, formerly of Nona, currently of Crybaby. Beach Slang’s seamless … Read more
Burger Records has announced the release of Whoop Dee Doo by The Muffs, their first full-length album of new material in 10 years, out July 29th. The group is made up of Kim Shattuck (Lead Vocals & Guitar), Ronnie Barnett (Bass & Backing Vocals) & Roy McDonald (Drums). Formed in Los Angeles in late 1990, … Read more
Coldplay Ghost Stories Atlantic Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Coldplay’s latest Ghost Stories could use more life. Album Review: Coldplay has made their most “Coldplay” album, deserving of the criticism sometimes unfairly lobbed at the band. Their sixth LP, Ghost Stories, has a sleepy, pandering feel to it that is often unexciting and rarely exhilarating. … Read more
I came WAY late to the GBV party: by the time I caught on to the band’s greatness, the reunited “classic lineup” had already released four albums, and it looked like that might be all we got from them. (I proceeded to procure a massive collection of all things GBV, Pollard, and his various side … Read more
Tame Impala Live Versions Modular Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: Tame Impala‘s Live Versions offers small twists on some old favorites. Album Review: It‘s a real challenge for bands to become important in their genre. For Australia’s Tame Impala that seems to be no problem. It‘s also an impressive feat because your could consider Tame … Read more
I think you are going to like this track right from the opening guitar tension. Olympia-based punk trio Naomi Punk return as “Television Man” is the first single from their Captured Tracks debut full length that is due out August 5. The album was home recorded in Olympia, Washington over the Fall and Winter of … Read more
Now less than a month away from the worldwide release of his forthcoming album Lazaretto, Jack White is has released “Just One Drink.” The song is the third Lazaretto track available to the public, following the rollicking instrumental cut “High Ball Stepper” and the ferocious title track. Lazaretto will be released June 10. Last week, … Read more
The Black Keys Turn Blue Nonesuch Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Black Keys don’t quite meet high expectations with Turn Blue. Album Review: True story: When I first heard “Fever,” I didn’t know that it was the first single from The Black Keys’ new album Turn Blue. I was trying to figure out the … Read more
Kishi Bashi Lighght Joyful Noise Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: Kishi Bashi’s sophomore effort goes bigger and avoids the slump! Album Review: A soaring indie pop record primarily written on a violin should have made people run to the hills but instead the debut, 151a, from K. Ishibashi (aka Kishi Bashi) landed at #5 on … Read more
On the heels of announcing Riot Fest in three cities within the past week (Toronto, Chicago and Denver), organizers have released the first big surprise in celebration of Riot Fest’s 10th Anniversary, entitled “10 Years. 10 Essential Albums.” To help celebrate Riot Fest’s 10th Anniversary, ten bands have joined in to play their seminal albums … Read more
Wussy Attica! Shake It Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Wussy rivals their best with addictive Attica! Album Review: The upward progression of a band is the reason people should stick with a group and follow their career. Too many people are stuck on shuffle these days and Spotify makes it so easy to skip around. … Read more
The People’s Temple Musical Garden HoZac Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The new album from The People’s Temple is a fertile Musical Garden. Album Review: The People’s Temple has been one of my go to bands for whenever I want a 60’s garage rock fix. Hailing from Lansing, Michigan, these guys bring the psychedelic leanings … Read more
Guided By Voices Cool Planet GBV Inc. [2014] Fire Note Says: Cool Planet is a strong follow-up to Motivational Jumpsuit. Album Review: Another month, another GBV/Robert Pollard-related release. Some critics argue that Robert Pollard needs an editor, someone to cherry-pick the best of his numerous compositions—and it’s an understandable opinion. Between his “solo” records, GBV, … Read more
The Moles Flashbacks And Dream Sequences: The Story of The Moles Fire Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Amazing career retrospective from one of the great “lost” bands of the 90’s. Album Review: Are The Moles one of the great lost bands of the 90’s? Fire Records makes a strong argument for this with the release … Read more
Me First And The Gimme Gimmes Are We Not Men? We Are Diva! Fat Wreck Chords [2014] Fire Note Says: Me First are back with 12 diva delights! Album Review: To some, it may be a surprise that Me First and the Gimme Gimmes have been cranking out cover records since their 1997 debut Have … Read more
Here is another limited exclusive release from Newbury Comics. The classic Kill Rock Stars album from Elliott Smith “Either/Or” on 180 Gram mustard yellow swirl vinyl (with download code and lyric sheet), is now available and limited to 1000 pieces. I do wish their shipping charges were a bit lighter but it is what it … Read more
The Afghan Whigs world tour in support of Do to the Beast has been extended to include late summer & fall dates for North America. The trek begins with a two-night stand on August 26th & 27th in Portland, OR at Doug Fir that runs through October 31st in Austin, TX at The Mohawk. Tickets … Read more
The Strypes Snapshot Virgin EMI Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Strypes show that age means nothing on contagious debut! Album Review: Every now and then you run across a new band whose debut is so strong that you want to remember the first time you heard them. First time, many of us heard The … Read more
PAWS Youth Culture Forever FatCat Records [2014] Fire Note Says: PAWS are poised for their breakthrough moment with their sophomore effort! Album Review: PAWS burst onto my radar with their 2012 debut album Cokefloat!, which rushed by like a sugar addled adrenaline rush. I thought it was a promising debut and though not terribly original, … Read more
Frontier Folk Nebraska is a band we have followed for some time now and they are one of those groups that should have a bigger following. They are a rock band from Covington, Kentucky that was founded in 2007 and have been consistently releasing quality music which includes their excellent 2011 self-titled release. The band … Read more
Here is a premiere track from Brooklyn’s City Walls Autumn Falls. Led by brothers Anthony and David Gill, City Walls Autumn Falls represents a new face in the Folk music world. What you hear in “Sheltered Me” is a sincerity that is hard to fake. The group is going for that feeling you get when … Read more
Buffalo Killers Heavy Reverie Sun Pedal Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: The Buffalo Killers return with a sonically polished 5th studio effort entitled Heavy Reverie. Album Review: The Buffalo Killers are no strangers to success. In fact, their previous four albums have gained them critical claim from Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes who knows … Read more
Cheap Girls Famous Graves Xtra Mile Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: Cheap Girls are ready to be your favorite new rock n roll band. Album Review: There is nothing like hitting the local pub and hearing a band that just blows its walls off. You know the type of group I am talking about – … Read more
It’s been an exciting few months for The War On Drugs, already one of 2014’s best breakout stories! Following the release of Lost In The Dream, an album that continues to receive positive praise and selling out shows at large venues all over the country, including multiple nights in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, … Read more
The Lone Bellow’s Zach Williams loves The National. “Their music is the music that I just listen to personally,” says the singer of The Lone Bellow. And, confirms Williams, The National’s multi-instrumentalist Aaron Dessner will produce The Lone Bellow’s next album, tentatively due out this October. The band has gatherered in the Dreamland Recording Studios … Read more