Juan Wauters N.A.P. North American Poetry Captured Tracks [2014] Fire Note Says: The Beets frontman, Juan Wauters, goes acoustic on solo debut. Album Review: N.A.P. North American Poetry is Juan Wauters debut record but as a founding member and vocalist of fun garage rockers The Beets, he is no stranger to being front and center … Read more
Passenger Peru Passenger Peru Fleeting Youth Records [2014] Fire Note Says: A stunning debut from Brooklyn duo, Passenger Peru! Album Review: Every now and then a record comes from out of nowhere and takes your breath away. Perhaps you have been listening to records that are just ok, nothing bad, nothing great, and then you … Read more
Gloom Balloon You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Disaster / Fix The Sunshine Pts. 1-7 (An Ode To Bill Doss) Maximum Ames Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Gloom Balloon recall both the pop and experimental aspects of OTC while adding their own spin. Album Review: When I discovered The Olivia Tremor Control a couple … Read more
Blues, rock and soul all take a role in John The Conqueror’s sound. Their sophomore record The Good Life is no different and you have a chance to pick up a very limited red vinyl variant while they last. Only 100 of this color have been pressed. You can find a copy HERE.
Minor Alps, the collaborative of Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws and Juliana Hatfield, have premiered the Emilie and Sarah Barbault directed music video for “Waiting for You.” It is the latest song off the duo’s debut album Get There (TFN Review), out now on Barsuk Records. The video features the actors Julie Gayet and Philippe Rebbot … Read more
The Revered Horton Heat REV Victory Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Reverend Horton Heat return with a rockabilly fever on REV. Album Review: I will admit that as a Reverend Horton Heat fan I have been left a little empty with their last several releases. The live material on 25 to life (2012) was … Read more
The Pack A.D. Do Not Engage Nettwerk Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Don’t be afraid to engage with Do Not Engage – it will not disappoint. Album Review: When The Pack A.D. first crossed my radar I was already prepared to approach with a dismissive attitude. But first impressions can be deceiving, because when this … Read more
The Chambermaids Whatever Happened Tomorrow Guilt Ridden Pop/Old Blackberry Way [2013] Fire Note Says: Minneapolis brother/sister act hit all the right notes with an all-too-short third album. Album Review: The Chambermaids are an on-again/off-again dream pop outfit headed by siblings Neil and Martha Weir. Formed in 2003 as The Shut-In’s, their tendency to go on … Read more
February is sweeps month in the TV business – a time when ratings are scrutinized and shows pull out all the stops to get viewers. This made us think of some of the better music TV performances over the years. As usual we’ve probably grossly overlooked something but we only could list 10 – add … Read more
You may remember that we really enjoyed the Headphone Approved EP from Wake Owl last year and TFN has some anticipation for their debut full length, The Private World of Paradise, that releases March 4th via Vagrant Records. Recorded with producer Swift (Tennis, Foxygen), The Private World of Paradise expands past the more folk focus … Read more
Hello 2014! There have already been some great releases in January but what is on the horizon? Who is the next band you should tell all your friends about? Is there a chance to catch someone cool on tour that is playing a sub galley? Well, The Fire Note monthly Bandcamp feature is back so … Read more
Yuck released their second LP Glow and Behold last year (TFN Review), but as you remember Max Bloom stepped up on vocals after former lead singer Daniel Blumberg moved on to form Hebronix. Essentially that change made Glow and Behold their debut! Well, Yuck is making up for lost time as Bloom takes the band … Read more
The Whigs have announced the release of their new album Modern Creation. Set for an April 22nd release on New West, this new collection – completed in two weeks from start to finish – was produced by Jim Scott (Tom Petty, Wilco), and recorded at PLYRZ Studios in Valencia, CA. The Whigs will start a … Read more
HoZac records has just announced The People’s Temple third LP Musical Garden pressing informaiton. The first 199 copies will part of the Gold Edition with a remaining 550 on standard black. This band picked up a lot of steam on their last record so this might go rather quickly. It also comes with a free … Read more
The Lawrence Arms Metropole Epitaph Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Lawrence Arms return with a record of hooks, punk, and regret. Album Review: If I were to list some of the great pop-punk records of the early 2000’s, Chicago’s Lawrence Arms Apathy and Exhaustion (2002) would be right there near the top of the … Read more
Mode Moderne Occult Delight Light Organ Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Mode Moderne’s Occult Delight is dark and catchy. Album Review: Mode Moderne is a neo-New Wave band based out of Vancouver. When I think of Vancouver I think of the Pacific Northwest – a little dark and rainy but also progressive. This description fits … Read more
Amen Lucy, Amen Ashore For The End Brave New Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Amen Lucy, Amen takes a refreshing approach to the folk genre. Album Review: Amen Lucy, Amen describe themselves as a “woozy-boozy cyclone” that sings “punk-inspired folk tunes.” The description fits their debut album Ashore for the End perfectly. The experimental arrangements … Read more
Blank Realm Grassed Inn Fire Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Blank Realm’s breezy second album Grassed Inn is warm and inviting. Album Review: The latest addition to the If-Not-For-The-Vocals All Stars is Blank Realm. The four-piece from Brisbane, Australia released their debut Go Easy last year. Their follow-up Grassed Inn is more disciplined and focused … Read more
Jack Name Light Show GOD?/Drag City Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Jack Name creates a musical funhouse with Light Show. Album Review: In a time where anything goes, Jack Name aka John Webster Johns aka touring guitarist for White Fence aka Fictional Boys etc. etc.—you get the idea: unidentifiable and prolific. Described by White Fence … Read more
Following their internationally acclaimed 2011 album Moment Bends, Architecture In Helsinki will release their anticipated new album NOW + 4EVA this April via the band’s own Casual Workout. The album’s first single “Dream A Little Crazy” is a song about letting go and enjoying it thoroughly. Featuring a big sing-along chorus, Architecture in Helsinki debuted … Read more
Epitaph has announced that “Sleep Is For The Week” by Frank Turner, has finally been released on vinyl (outside of a small run in the UK)! This limited edition release comes in two different colors of red and brown. With the red version being limited to 500 copies and the brown version limited to 1,000 … Read more
Hospitality Trouble Merge Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Hospitality’s Trouble happily doesn’t live up to its title. Album Review: I’ve listened to Hospitality’s sophomore LP Trouble many times and it is still difficult to get a feel for this album. At times psychedelic, at others poppy, and yet at others rocking, Trouble doesn’t lend itself … Read more
The Black Hollies Somewhere Between Here And Nowhere Ernest Jenning Record Co. [2013] Fire Note Says: The Black Hollies’ latest floats between ethereal psych and slow-burning rock. Album Review: Jersey City’s Black Hollies are obviously influenced by 60s acts (just look at their name, for one thing). Trippy guitars, buzzing synths and piping organs combine … Read more
Xiu Xiu new LP, “Angel Guts: Red Classroom” is out February 4, 2014 via Polyvinyl Records. The group annouced their North America winter tour with Tearist and Farewell (Jamie from Xiu Xiu solo). Dates are below. 2/19: Santa Barbara, CA @ Soho Restaurant & Music Club 2/20: Fresno, CA @ Fulton 55 2/21: Felton, CA … Read more
The Afghan Whigs are set to release their first new album in sixeteen years on Sub Pop Records worldwide April 14th and 15th. The album’s title is Do To The Beast. Sub Pop is beyond thrilled to announce that The Afghan Whigs will mark their return to the label as they released 1990’s Up In … Read more