Popstrangers have revealed the second single “Don’t Be Afraid” off their forthcoming sophomore release, Fortuna. The early ’80s guitar sound with theatrical pop will leave you wanting more. Carpark Recoreds will release Fortuna on May 27th and you can hear the new single below. Popstrangers Website Popstrangers Facebook Carpark Records
Montreal’s Sonic Avenues are back with another melodic punk rock record. Dirtnap always does a nice job of keeping the first pressings limited and this one is at 170 on clear vinyl. The LP’s also come with an insert and coupon for a free 256 kbps Mp3 download. You can pick up a clear vinyl … Read more
Last month, Dub Thompson, the brazen project of 19-year olds Matt Pulos (guitar) and Evan Laffer (drums), announced their debut album, 9 Songs, by sharing the raw and immediate Robert Beatty-directed video for “Dograces.” Originally from Agoura Hills, now based in California (Matt) and Brooklyn (Evan), Dub Thompson are giving a further glimpse into the … Read more
Dead Wives Buzzy Fuzzy ObscureMe Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Speedy Ortiz drummer steps out front with his own band, and the results are stellar! Album Review: I am not going to pretend I have the inside scoop on cool bands; for the most part I rely on word of mouth from friends or on … Read more
Lab Partners Seven Seas Pravda Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Lab Partners have returned with an early contender for Album of the Year. Album Review: Dayton, Ohio’s favorite guitar hero’s the Lab Partners have returned with their first record since their 2010’ LP Moonlight Music, which was released by Chicago Label Pravda. The same label … Read more
Shy Boys Shy Boys High Dive Records[2014] Fire Note Says: Debut album from Kansas City trio quietly satisfies. Album Review: Sometimes the name a band chooses for themselves is a dead give-away. And then other times a name can serve as subterfuge. In the case of Kansas City’s Shy Boys it may be a bit … Read more
Medicine “Part Time Punks” Live LP Captured Tracks [2014] Fire Note Says: Medicine releases one of the highlights on Record Store Day 2014. Album Review: Last August, Medicine returned from an 18 year hiatus with a new full length To The Happy Few. The group had previously been hailed as America’s My Bloody Valentine so … Read more
Margot & The Nuclear So & So’s Sling Shot To Heaven Mariel Recording Company [2014] Fire Note Says: Adjust your expectations accordingly, Margot’s cyclical warmth has an embrace for you. Album Review: There‘s a reason that I‘m going to see Margot & The Nuclear So and So‘s twice in the same tour. They’re one of … Read more
Kaiser Chiefs Education, Education, Education, & War ATO Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Don’t write off Kaiser Chiefs yet, there is still some gas left in the tank! Album Review: I’ve never been able to fully buy in to the Kaiser Chiefs, and I have been trying for a long time. Employment certainly had its … Read more
It’s finally time for Margot & the Nuclear So & So’s to grace us with their new album Sling Shot to Heaven. I have to admit upon first listen some concessions and adjustments had to be made, though not necessarily in a bad way—you might say that Richards and Co. might be a whole new … Read more
Atlanta-based noise pop band Gold-Bears have just announced the follow up to 2011’s Are You Falling In Love?. Their sophomore album Dalliance will be released on June 3 via Slumberland Records. “For You” begins with main bear and singer Jeremy Underwood bluntly calling out “You’re a mistake.” It is the start of this direct message … Read more
Secret Colours Positive Distractions Part I & II Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Secret Colours remain consistent on their two EP split. Album Review: Secret Colours revel in being the bastard seed of the ’60s psychedelia and ’90s Britpop bloodlines. That’s the description given by their Facebook page, and almost a year ago I described … Read more
As an official sponsor of Record Store Day Warner Bros. Records would like to remind you that everybody’s favorite Holiday is this Saturday, April 19th. Below is a list of everything they have coming at you. Green Day: Demolicious – Colored double vinyl, CD, Cassette (This special edition release features 18 unreleased demo recordings from … Read more
Skating Polly Fuzz Steilacoom Chap Stereo [2014] Fire Note Says: Skating Polly‘s Fuzz Steilacoom suffers from a pleasant multiple personality disorder. Album Review: Having just finished my review of the bubbly Tweens album, it seems appropriate to get a bit more down and dirty. Oklahoma City‘s Skating Polly seems to handle that role quite easily. … Read more
My Chemical Romance May Death Never Stop You: The Greatest Hits 2001-2013 Reprise Records [2014] Fire Note Says: May Death Never Stop You works as a primer if you are looking back at the alt/rock world of the last decade. Album Review: The thing about My Chemical Romance, the pop/punk band from Jersey that had … Read more
Happyness will release their self-produced debut album – Weird Little Birthday – on June 16. The album follows their eponymous debut EP released at the beginning of this year, which had some nice critical acclaim across seas. The band has some Pavement vibe going through this first single “Great Minds Think Alike, All Brains Taste … Read more
The Both The Both SuperEgo Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Aimee Mann and Ted Leo join forces and form The Both. Album Review: The music fan likes nothing better than a unique musical pairing. Over the years we have seen full length records from Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Pete … Read more
Woods With Light And With Love Woodsist Records [2014] Fire Note Says: With Light and With Love is the 5th amazing album in a row from Woods! Album Review: 2012’s Bend Beyond was the fourth fantastic album in a row from Woods and one of my top ten albums for the year. When a band … Read more
Mahayla Electricspaceagesweetheart Serial Lover Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Electricspaceagesweetheart is a welcome listening pleasure for fans of 90’s era alt-rock. Album Review: Mahayla’s Electricspaceagesweetheart is a restart of sorts for front man Dave Fera and fellow bandmates Mark Davis (drums), Ike Aguilar (guitar) and Chris Johnson (bass). After a seven-year hiatus, you would think … Read more
It is that time a year again when vinyl gets its day in the sun. That is this coming Saturday (April 19th) Record Store Day 2014. If you are heading out our staff have put together some of the titles we think are worth grabbing this year! CHRISTOPHER TAHY Heavens To Betsy – Calculated: Anything … Read more
So this kind of treatment happens when you are inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Yes, I know it is KISS but it is worthy to note because as a vinyl fan this set is crazy fun right? The Ultimate Vinyl Road Case, as they are calling it, features thirty-four LPs, featuring … Read more
Here is the first single from Goshen, Indiana’s Strand of Oaks appropriately titled “Goshen ’97.” Founder and leader Tim Showalter has previously released several more folk oriented records under the Strand of Oaks moniker but his new record Heal finds him growing with a much louder sound. Not only can you hear this in the … Read more
The Afghan Whigs Do To The Beast Sub Pop Records [2014] Fire Note Says: 16 years? No problem – The Afghan Whigs pick right back up where they left off! Album Review: If you caught The Afghan Whigs 2012 reunion tour, you probably were not that surprised to hear the announcement of the band’s first … Read more
Doug Tuttle Doug Tuttle Trouble In Mind Records[2014] Fire Note Says: Former MMOSS guitarist takes off on a solo trip back to the psychedelic sixties. Album Review: New Hampshire band MMOSS put out two albums and called it quits. About that same time Tuttle and girlfriend (and fellow MMOSS member) Rachel Neveu also broke up. … Read more
Doug Gillard Parade On Nine Mile Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Parade On perfectly showcases Gillard’s multi instrumental skills and catchy melodies. Album Review: I have said it before, and I will say it again, there aren’t many rock guitar players who can hold a candle to Doug Gillard. I am going to go ahead … Read more