Overlake Sighs Killing Horse Records [2014] Fire Note Says: 90’s guitar fueled indie rock is alive and well with Overlake’s new LP Sighs. Album Review: My first thought after listening to New Jersey natives Overlake’s new record Sighs was – why did I just now find out about this band? The answer is simply that … Read more
Farewell Dear Ghost We Colour The Night Minty Fresh Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Farewell Dear Ghost provide plenty of melodic indie rock that sticks. Album Review: Let me tell you about this melodic new album from Austria’s Farewell Dear Ghost. It is a record that I have been sitting on since December but consistently … Read more
The Men Tomorrow’s Hits Sacred Bones Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Men continue to slash and burn with their chaotic fifth album. Album Review: And here I was about to give up on The Men. Last year’s New Moon left me cold. It was just too rustic and countrified for my liking. Then they … Read more
The Hotelier Home, Like Noplace Is There Tiny Engines [2014] Fire Note Says: The Hotelier bring emo-punk back to proper form on sophomore record. Album Review: Emo has been back n forth with the cool kids table for a good number of years now but just as much as it is easy to accuse some … Read more
One group that has improved album after album must be Cloud Nothings. After an impressive debut, they followed up with something equally as good if not better. The Headphone Approved Attack On Memory takes its’ white knuckle ease and balls to the wall sounds adding intensity that is always catchy and in your face. I’m … Read more
Damien Jurado Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son Secretly Canadian Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Damien Jurado creates a masterpiece in an underrated career. Album Review: There is a lot of music out there to discover. I’d heard of Damien Jurado and even owned a few of his records before giving a listen to … Read more
Ruined Fortune Ruined Fortune HoZac Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Ruined Fortune sets the bar high on their experimental/lo-fi/scuzz debut! Album Review: Hailing from Australia, though it sounds like the bowels of NYC circa 1977, Ruined Fortune are a duo consisting of Nic Warnock and Angie Garrick, that specialize in the sort of lo-fi garage … Read more
Eyelids “Segulls Into Submission” b/w “I Can’t Be Told” Off Records [2014] This 7-inch is the first taste of some new Eyelids material. The group has quite a collective history of creating music for some of the most legendary indie songwriters ever. Not only were these longtime Portland, Oregon collaborators the principal instrumentalists for Robert … Read more
Axxa/Abraxas Axxa/Abraxas Captured Tracks [2014] Fire Note Says: Axxa/Abraxas effortlessly introduces you to his love of the 60’s. Album Review: 23 year-old Atlanta native Ben Asbury is Axxa/Abraxas and on his debut you will be introduced to his love of the 60’s and vision of the future. I say this all the time but music … Read more
Cibo Matto Hotel Valentine Chimera Music [2014] Fire Note Says: Hotel Valentine is as ambitious as it is intoxicating. Album Review: I’ve spent the last few days trying to wrap my mind around the awesomeness of Hotel Valentine, the first new album in 15 years from the reunited Cibo Matto! The album is a concept … Read more
Real Estate Atlas Domino Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Real Estate let you drift off with Atlas’ smooth and calm climate. Album Review: If it’s not broke don’t fix it – just tweak it. That is the main story behind Real Estate’s third record Atlas. The New Jersey group is back with an album that … Read more
Jupe Jupe Crooked Kisses Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Jupe Jupe’s third album Crooked Kisses has a lot to offer. Album Review: Jupe Jupe has released their third album since 2010 with Crooked Kisses. The band is as indie as it can get, self-publishing this record. They hail from Seattle, WA; members include My Young … Read more
Here is another new Brighton Limited Press collaboration with Sub Pop Records from Newbury Comics – Fleet Foxes self-titled release (a two lp set, including the ‘Sun Giant’ EP) on clear vinyl, hand-numbered and limited to only 1000 pieces (download card included). You can pre-order a copy HERE. The record is slated to release April … Read more
Drive-By Truckers English Oceans ATO Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Drive-By Truckers hit another gear on English Oceans. Album Review: Right off the bat, you realize that things have changed for the Drive-By Truckers, and not just personnel, though the band has certainly had a major overhaul in the years since A Blessing and … Read more
Skaters Manhattan Warner Bros. Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Skaters debut is full of hooks and youthful spirit. Album Review: The promotion blitz behind New York’s Skaters reminds me of the way it used to be with major record labels back in the 90’s. They have received tons of pre-hype from Warner Bros. leading up … Read more
San Francisco’s Sleepy Sun brought their strong brand of neo-psych rock to Columbus last Friday night (2/28/14) in support of their terrific fourth album, Maui Tears (see TFN review here.) The Rumba Café near the Ohio State campus was filled to capacity and the night also featured New York newbies KDH and Cincinnati stalwarts, Buffalo … Read more
Band Of Horses Acoustic At The Ryman Brown Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Band of Horses’ Acoustic at the Ryman is lush and refreshing. Album Review: As a Nashville native, I can’t think of many venues that would be a better fit for an acoustic album from a band like Band of Horses than the … Read more
New Bums Voices In A Rented Room Drag City Records [2014] Fire Note Says: You should be ecstatic over the beautifully well-crafted debut full-length album from New Bums. Album Review: New Bums are a two-man duo made up of Donovan Quinn (Sky Green Leopards) and Ben Chasny (Six Organs Of Admittance). Their debut full length … Read more
Can you really get enough of Mac DeMarco these days? No way you say. Here is something else to collect which may turn out to be very interesting. The Wonderful World of Mac DeMarco 7″ Club Vol. 1. Every 6-8 weeks you will receive two 7″s in the mail featuring live, rehearsal or “other” recordings … Read more
Not only is this new song from Seattle’s Jupe Jupe the featured Friday Fire Track but also its premiere! “Vicariously” finds the quartet bringing plenty of synthesizers, crooning vocals, jagged guitars and pulsating beats to your speakers for an entertaining introduction to the group. Jupe Jupe’s sound can be summed up like this: If Interpol … Read more
John The Conqueror The Good Life Alive Natural Sound Records [2014] Fire Note Says: John The Conqueror are back with another blues rocking good time! Album Review: Philadelphia’s John The Conqueror are back with another slice of blues rock soul on their sophomore album The Good Life. The title fits as this album has an … Read more
The Notwist Close To The Glass Sub Pop Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Close To The Glass is a warm shot of humanity in an icy digital landscape. Album Review: The Notwist falls under my “Hey what the hell ever happened to those guys, I liked that one album” umbrella. For The Notwist, that one … Read more
FUZZ, the LA-based trio of Ty Segall (drums, vocals), Charles Moothart (guitar, vocals) and Chad Ubovich, released their debut album last fall (TFN Review). Today, they unleash the first official FUZZ video, directed by Matt Yoka. Yoka was the man behind both Ty’s “Goodbye Bread” and “Thank God For Sinners” videos. Watch the video if … Read more
With the Headphone Approved new Beck, Morning Phase, out this week and Mellow Gold turning 20 on March 1, TFN thought it was a perfect time to spotlight Beck’s singles. The criteria used for this weekly top 10 was simple: The song had to be an officially released single and each studio record since 1994 … Read more
Quilt Held In Splendor Mexican Summer Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Boston psych folk trio offer up a breezy, groovy winner. Album Review: Quilt’s self-titled first album was recorded piecemeal across three years and numerous home studios – and it sounded like it. Not that it was terrible or anything, quite the contrary. It was … Read more