Unwelcome Guests Wavering Dirt Cult Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Buffalo’s Unwelcome Guests offer you an honest 30 minutes of rock on their new record, Wavering. Album Review: There are only two things you need to know about Unwelcome Guests. They hail from Buffalo and have released their new record, Wavering, on Dirt Cult Records. … Read more
Jack White has announced his first headline dates in support of his new album Lazaretto, out June 10th on Third Man Records/Columbia. The shows will be Jack’s first since his 2012 world tour supporting Blunderbuss. Jack will officially kick off the world tour on May 29th at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, OK and continue with … Read more
For this collaborative project called The Both, critically acclaimed musicians Aimee Mann and Ted Leo have joined forces. Building on a friendship forged while they were on tour together last year, it was Leo’s solo sets that piqued Mann’s interest in getting on stage with him and writing music together. The Both’s video for their … Read more
Strand of Oaks new album ‘HEAL’ will be out June 24th via Dead Oceans. Lead by Tim Showalter, Strand Of Oaks is on the verge of bigger things. In his words “The record is called HEAL, but it’s not a soft, gentle healing, it’s like scream therapy, a command, because I ripped out my subconscious, … Read more
Tweens Tweens Frenchkiss Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Tweens show solid results on their debut. Album Review: If there‘s anything to talk about when introducing Cincinnati, Ohio’s Tweens, it has to start with the twentieth anniversary of The Breeders’ Last Splash. Once plans for that album’s tour were put into place an opening act had … Read more
together PANGEA Badillac Harvest Records [2014] Fire Note Says: LA trio does garage punk the way it’s supposed to be done. Album Review: I’ll be perfectly honest: I hadn’t heard of these guys until Badillac started getting some positive reviews in the music press. Although this is their third long player, it is their first … Read more
PUP PUP SideOneDummy Records [2014] Fire Note Says: PUP give punk a fresh breath. Album Review: In this modern age of punk there are only a few bands that I can recall having made some noise stateside that hail from Toronto. I am thinking Fucked Up and METZ without going too small or underground as … Read more
Liars Mess Mute Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Liars confound and amaze with each release – and Mess is no exception. Album Review: Liars just might be the most confusing band in the world, not that they exhibit any signs of being confused themselves. It’s the feeling one gets that these guys could be, should … Read more
Dirty/Clean Welt Am Draht Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Fans of vintage synth rock will love the debut album from Dayton, Ohio’s new darlings Dirty/Clean. Album Review: Ohio is no stranger to bands incorporating cool synthesizers into their sounds. Devo and Brainiac perfected the art in fact. On their debut album Welt Am Draht we … Read more
Mikal Cronin/Superchunk “Takin’ It Easy” b/w “Good Morning” Merge Records [2014] Late last fall, Merge Records announced Or Thousands of Prizes which is a subscription-based, bonus-filled box set celebrating Merge Records’ twenty-fifth anniversary. Merge also did a really cool thing and donated all the proceeds to Oxfam America. Part of this box set includes 7-inch … Read more
How about a double Friday Fire from The Bots this week! The group has been on TFN radar for some time now as the band impresses us more with every new material they release. Brothers and bandmates Mikaiah Lei (Lead Vocal, Guitar, Bass), and Anaiah Lei (Drums & Percussions, Backing Vocal) hail from Los Angeles … Read more
The Autumn Defense Fifth Yep Roc Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Wilco members offer up immaculately-produced 60s-style pop-rock. Album Review: A collaboration between Wilco bassist John Stirratt and Wilco multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone, The Autumn Defense started releasing albums around the same time as Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (though Sansone didn’t join Wilco until 2003). Now … Read more
Somos Temple Of Plenty Tiny Engines [2014] Fire Note Says: Somos unearth a genre on their pop-inflected emo punk debut. Album Review: When you get to a certain age the saying “what was old is new again” seems to become a more common occurrence which just is a nod to my experience! Sure! Take the … Read more
Here is another quality reissue from Newbury Comics. Modest Mouse’s “Good News for People Who Love Bad News” will be released on 2 green LPs, 120 Gram vinyl, foil-stamp numbered and limited to 1,000 pieces. It will be out on April 15th and is available for pre-order HERE.
San Francisco psych stalwarts Sleepy Sun have a new video for their single “Galaxy Punk.” In typical Sleepy Sun fashion, it’s super trippy! After you watch the new cut below make sure to read TFN review of their album Maui Tears and our interview with guitarist Matt Holliman HERE.
Kevin Drew Darlings Arts & Crafts [2014] Fire Note Says: Drew explores the spiritual nature of sex on Darlings, his first solo album in seven years. Album Review: If I had to use two words to describe Darlings, the second solo album from Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene, the first would be” lush”, and … Read more
Manchester Orchestra Cope Loma Vista / Republic Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Manchester Orchestra goes bigger on their fourth album Cope. Album Review: The muscular guitar opening of “Top Notch” on Manchester Orchestra’s fourth album Cope is all business as the band makes the full transition from indie start-ups to mainstream alternative rock act. 2011’s … Read more
Mount Carmel Get Pure Alive Naturalsound Records [2014] Fire Note Says: If you are starving for raw blues rock then Mount Carmel will satisfy your hunger. Album Review: Columbus Ohio’s Mount Carmel was once described as “the only non-bullshit hard rock band in goddamn America.” Those are high standards to live up to but for … Read more
Arms Of Tripoli Dream In Tongues Fluttery Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Sonic architects Arms of Tripoli encompass many emotions with Dream In Tongues Album Review: Right out of the gate I have to say that LA’s Arms of Tripoli are a refreshing listen when it comes to instrumental/math rock/post rock bands. But for these … Read more
Jack White’s new album Lazaretto, is to be released June 10th on Third Man Records/Columbia. The first single and title track “Lazaretto,” will be released later this month but while we await the debut you can check out a first taste of new music from the album and watch the Ben Swank-directed video for new … Read more
The new singles from Guided By Voices’ newest record Cool Planet are now up for pre-order over at Rockathon Records. The singles are due April 29 with the album set to release on May 13th. Both the LP and singles will be on colored vinyl and will include digital downloads. The singles are limited to … Read more
Returning this summer led by Outkast, Jack White, Beck and The Replacements, The Forecastle Festival will offer single day tickets beginning Friday, April 4, 2014 at Noon EDT. A limited number of single-day general admission tickets will be available for $74.50, and will increase to $84.50 once the initial allotment is gone. General admission weekend … Read more
Mac DeMarco Salad Days Captured Tracks [2014] Fire Note Says: There isn’t a song less than great on Salad Days! Album Review: Salad Days, the second album (or third if you count Rock and Roll Nightclub as an lp) from Mac DeMarco could easily have been a letdown, but instead it ends up being incredibly … Read more
Baby Baby Big Boy Baller Club The Gospel Of Rhythm Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: Fun Atlanta group Baby Baby have a party ready for you on sophomore album. Album Review: When is the last time you listened to a fun record? I am talking about some guilty pleasure, a free spirited pop-punk record or … Read more
The Fire Note’s March Bandcamp feature is here and ready to supply you with 10 more bands you should know about. There is a little bit of something for everyone this month as we get some LA riot grrrl, Phily chillwave, English psychedelic and some heavy sludge from Minneapolis. Till next month – Discover, Support … Read more