Younger Lovers Sugar In My Pocket Southpaw Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Super catchy lo fi indie pop with high replay value. Album Review: Sugar in My Pocket, the new album from Younger Lovers is exactly the kind of record I enjoy discovering. Its 12 songs fly by in just about 22 minutes, so It … Read more
Black Books Black Books Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: This may be Black Books’ first album, but they’ve clearly done their homework. Album Review: The biographical blurb on Black Books’ BandCamp page notes that the band has been “playing music together since forever.” It shows. Their debut album is by no means a classic, but … Read more
Do you have someone that has joined the vinyl revolution – or wants to? Well this week’s Top 10 is for you as it is a simple gift guide to help steer your wax needs this Christmas season. Honestly, I could go on and on but here are 10 vinyl related items that would look … Read more
Jeffrey Novak Lemon Kid Trouble In Mind Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Lemon Kid puts a different twist on that familiar Garage Rock sound. Album Review: The music of Tennessee native, Jeffrey Novak, calls to mind another Tennessean, Jay Reatard. Novak doesn’t particularly sound like Reatard, but he does share a unique ability to pull … Read more
Bill Mallonee & Muriah Rose Town Hall Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Bill Mallonee is a singer/songwriter to discover – again. Album Review: Bill Mallonee is probably one of the more talented singer/songwriters out there that most people have simply forgot about. He is still better known as the lead singer of Athens, Georgia group … Read more
Yes The Studio Albums 1969-1987 Atlantic Records [2013] Fire Note Says: A box set from progressive rock kings Yes – just in time for Christmas! Album Review: There is absolutely no need for this box set’s existence and yet I am overjoyed that it’s here. The only thing that’s new here is a re-mastered version … Read more
Neil Young Live At The Cellar Door Reprise Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Neil in his prime! Album Review: By now, Neil Young has become a rock music icon, best remembered for a variety of traits: early seminal work with Buffalo Springfield, his hard rocking anthems with Crazy Horse, his role as the ornery one … Read more
Jorma Whittaker Jorma Joyful Noise Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Singer/songwriter Jorma Whittaker will fill your winter indie blahs. Album Review: Do you ever like to sit alone, put on some headphones and just let a singer/songwriter take over your brain? If that is the case then the new solo disc from Marmoset frontman, Jorma … Read more
Autistic Youth Nonage Dirtnap Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Autistic Youth bring the punk on their junior LP Nonage. Album Review: Punk rock has been in a weird place for a while now but that does not mean there has not been several quality records released. In fact, it just means there are plenty of … Read more
The Notwist’s next record, Close To The Glass, will be out February 25, 2014 on Sub Pop Records. It will be getting the Loser Edition treatment that also will include a set of small, limited-edition art prints. The vinyl will be on limited Loser Edition colored-vinyl; and in this case a 2xLP, one orange and … Read more
The Pixies have unveiled a brand new music video for EP-1’s track “Another Toe In the Ocean.” Completely different from the band’s recent music videos, “ATITO” is a 2-D animated clip that was written, directed and animated by Liviu Boar of the Romania-based ReeAnimation. In other Pixies news it has been announced that bassist Paz … Read more
Blouse have announced that they will be joining Dum Dum Girls on their 2014 Spring tour! The month long tour will take them in a loop around North America, beginning in San Diego in March and ending in San Francisco in April, including stops at SXSW and Dallas’ Spillover Music Festival. Blouse w/ Dum Dum … Read more
Black Flag What The… SST Records [2013] Fire Note Says: First New Black Flag studio album in 26 years is better than you have heard. Album Review: It’s been 26 years since Black Flag last roared out of SoCal with a new album. 26 years, that’s hard to believe isn’t it? On their new album, … Read more
Epicycle You’re Not Gonna Get It HoZac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Chicago area powerpop/punk band get the anthology treatment. Album Review: File under: could have been big. Or three years of bratty suburban mayhem distilled into one really cool record. During their original incarnation Epicycle put out one LP and a handful of 7″ … Read more
Magik Markers Surrender To The Fantasy Drag City Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Noise rockers present Surrender To The Fantasy, but is their creativity drying up? Album Review: Magik Markers’ Elisa Ambrogio has said “Nobody would make art if it was sensible, logical, or responsible.” “That‘s why we called the album Surrender To The Fantasy,” … Read more
Sink Tapes How You Mean Mint 400 Records[2013] Fire Note Says: Kick back, relax and let Sink Tapes brand of easy pop wash all over you. Album Review: I first encountered Sink Tapes on their excellent second album, Please Touch. It had a casual confidence to it that I really enjoyed. So needless to say … Read more
Broken Bells, the musical partnership consisting of James Mercer and Danger Mouse, has released the new official video for After the Disco’s lead single, “Holding On For Life.” The single-length visual creation follows protagonist Oliver (Anton Yelchin) as he navigates a truly out-of-this-world party and encounters some twists along the way. The band’s sophomore full-length … Read more
Joyful Noise Recordings has been selling test pressings all week and now everyone has another shot at their favorite. They currently have an auction going on via their eBay account HERE. You can find test pressings by Melvins, Sebadoh, Son Lux, Thurston Moore, WHY?, Sufjan Stevens, David Yow, and others. The auction will continue over … Read more
Here is a new track from Sub Pop artist Death Vessel. Their new album is due out February 25th, 2014 and today’s fire track, “Ilsa Drown,” from the record features guest vocals from Jónsi of Sigur Rós. It is a great chill track for some of the wintery weather many are experiencing today. You can … Read more
Robert Pollard Blazing Gentlemen Guided By Voices Inc. [2013] Fire Note Says: Pollard brings the rock on his second solo record in 2013 – Blazing Gentlemen. Album Review: Did you think you could close out 2013 without hearing from Robert Pollard one last time? Hell no! As he says, “writer’s block is for pussies!” Pollard’s … Read more
Shearwater Fellow Travelers Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Jonathan Meiburg’s latest re-works the songs of tourmates past and present. Album Review: Ah…the dreaded covers album. From David Bowie to Nick Cave, The Ramones to Ozzy, Tori Amos to Nada Surf, it seems sooner or later every artist gets the itch to record an … Read more
Thee Oh Sees Singles Collection Volume 3 Castle Face Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Thee Oh Sees brandish their catalogue rarities/gems’ with the same familiar fun and intensity. Album Review: I‘m a huge Thee Oh Sees fan as Floating Coffin (TFN Review), for me, is a top fifteen of the year. But this isn’t going … Read more
The Holiday season is upon us and I am sure that between Black Friday and Cyber Monday everyone has already had enough. What always makes it better for me is to pull out the Christmas music and start spinning some of my favorites. With that said, I have 10 holiday songs below that will get … Read more
In October, Best Coast released their EP ‘Fade Away’ which was reviewd right HERE on TFN. The band has just launched a new video with comedy video website, Funny or Die. The video is for the song “This Lonely Morning” and features bandmates Bethany and Bobb in a dueling tennis match. http://vo.fod4.com/v/0fe55a12e6/v600.mp4 Best Coast is … Read more
The Austin Psych Fest has announced its initial lineup for its 2014 installment, which spans five decades and six continents. The seventh annual festival will be held May 2 – 4, 2014, returning to Carson Creek Ranch, a scenic 58-acre ranch on the banks of the Colorado River, located just minutes from downtown Austin, TX. … Read more