Ty Segall Gemini Drag City Records [2013] Hopefully you remember Ty Segall’s 2012 record Twins (TFN Review). It landed at number 2 in our Top 50 last year and of course received a Headphone Approved stamp with its sonic excellence. Gemini was released this week from Segall and it is essentially the Twins demos album … Read more
Xiu Xiu is ready to reveal their latest full-length album Angel Guts: Red Classroom, out February 4th on Polyvinyl in North America and Bella Union in Europe. You can pre-order the record HERE. The album is Xiu Xiu’s first album of original material since 2012’s Always. You can listen to the first single “Stupid in … Read more
The Bottle Rockets Bottle Rockets / The Brooklyn Side (Deluxe Edition) Bloodshot Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Two influential Americana records that you should have in your collection. Album Review: While Americana fans are looking forward to the re-issue of the mother ship album that launched a movement and named a fanzine, Uncle Tupelo’s No … Read more
Rev, the upcoming full length album from Reverend Horton Heat is now up for pre-order over at Victory Records. The album is available on a variety of variants, including white (limited to 500); red (limited to 300); and on blue vinyl (limited to 200). The new Rev is set to release February 18th, 2014. You … Read more
Royal Forest Spillway King Electric Record Company [2013] Fire Note Says: Royal Forest seamlessly blend Americana, psychedelia, and alternative rock on Spillway. Album Review: It’s usually a good sign when you come across an album you can’t easily categorize. Records that fit neatly into a genre box can be great, but they can also be … Read more
Mirror Travel Mexico Modern Outsider [2013] Fire Note Says: Mirror Travel walk in the desert with the dream-scuzz of debut Mexico. Album Review: Austin, Texas’ Mirror Travel is a bit of a strange bird. This could be considered funny since the group used to go by Follow That Bird. Tiffanie Lanmon, Paul Brinkley, and Lauren … Read more
Chicago’s own The Lawrence Arms will release Metropole, their first album in eight years, on January 28, 2014 via Epitaph. The Lawrence Arms formed in Chicago in 1999, and members Brendan Kelly (vocals/bassist), Chris McCaughan (vocals/guitar), and Neil Hennessey (drummer) have released five studio albums to date. Their sixth album and first with Epitaph, Metropole, … Read more
First Base First Base HoZac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: No down time with the upbeat and energetic debut from First Base. Album Review: Most of the time I like music when it is presented in its most simple form. No frills, no effects, no layers, no slick production – just raw instruments, snappy songs … Read more
The 1975 The 1975 Vagrant Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The 1975’s debut is promising but its identity is hazy. Album Review: The 1975 are an English band consisting of Matthew Healy (vocals, guitar), Adam Hann (guitar), George Daniel (drums), and Ross MacDonald (bass). Healy (not related to Fran Healy of Travis) and company have … Read more
Maria Taylor Something About Knowing Saddle Creek Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Maria Taylor’s latest is light, carefree indie rock packaged in an effortlessly happy message. Album Review: Something About Knowing was the first time I’ve listened to Maria Taylor, although the artist has a long history. Her most recent release is her sixth solo … Read more
Here is a new track we are throwing out to you Monday from Little Suns. “WDPGWTGA,” epic in title (abbreviation for “Where Do People Go When They Go Away”) and scope, is the latest single from the band and builds on universal themes of love, loss, longing and regret. With strings and grand piano laying … Read more
Here is a tour TFN would still like to catch! Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds return to North America in the summer of 2014 to take care of some unfinished business. Throughout this jaunt, the band will be bringing their fervent live show to familiar cities as well as municipalities that have yet to … Read more
Sloan has announced that the third installment of their Sloan Bootleg Vinyl series, Tokyo Japan 2002, will be released this Wednesday November 20th at 12 noon via the Sloan webstore HERE. Recorded live from the audience at Club Quattro in Tokyo, this limited LP is pressed on to Japanese flag – style vinyl and is … Read more
The Lone Bellow: The 20th Century Theatre, Cincinnati, Ohio – 11/12/13 If The Lone Bellow are a band you should be listening to, they are no doubt a band you should experience live. Their self-titled album has been a favorite of mine since hearing them on my local public radio station and I was very … Read more
Swearin’ Surfing Strange Salinas Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Swearin’ recalibrate their formula on their nineties-indebted second album. Album Review: On Swearin’s excellent self-titled debut, Allison Crutchfield dominated almost every track and the results were stunning. Yeah sure they’re a four-piece but it had the feel of a solo album from the ex-P.S. Eliot singer. … Read more
The Fratellis We Need Medicine BMG [2013] Fire Note Says: The Fratellis return with the safe-but-fun We Need Medicine. Album Review: The Fratellis have returned with their third long player, We Need Medicine. The Fratellis are a three-piece band from Glasgow, Scotland, made up of Jon Fratelli (nee John Lawler), Barry Fratelli (Barry Wallace), and … Read more
Daughn Gibson is probably one of the more underrated artists on the Sub Pop Records roster. His newest LP, Me Moan (TFN Review), received mixed reviews and seemed like critics either really liked it or really hated it. You can be your own judge now and check out his new video for “Phantom Rider” which … Read more
Matt Pryor is the lead singer of the Get Up Kids and his previous solo records have been a much more acoustic affair but Wrist Slitter will immediately remind you of his high energy band work. This should peak longtime fans interest. With that said there is still a chance to snag the special edition … Read more
Arcade Fire just announced dates for their massive arena Reflektor Tour in support of their international #1 album, Reflektor (TFN Review). The Reflektor Tour will kick off on March 6, 2014 in Louisville, KY. The Live Nation produced tour will take the band to 28 cities throughout North America. Tickets for the general public go … Read more
Rising Los Angeles-based band Miner is set to release their debut album Into the Morning in January. The band is another group in the folk-rock category but they definitely raise the bar with their upbeat delivery. I believe if you like The Head And The Heart, The Avett Brothers or The Lone Bellow today’s Friday … Read more
Babyshambles Sequel To The Prequel Parlophone Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Babyshambles are back and better than they have ever been on Sequel to the Prequel! Album Review: I had no idea that there was a new Babyshambles record coming out this year, in fact, it had already been out for well over a month … Read more
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts Unvarnished Blackheart Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Attention: Joan Jett is not dead! Album Review: At this point in Joan Jett’s career, I don’t think there are any expectations of what a new record should sound like. I am sure there are tons of opinions but especially when Unvarnished is … Read more
2013 was like a walk down memory lane for many music fans as big records like Nirvana’s In Utero (TFN Review), The Breeders’ Last Splash (TFN Review), Pearl Jam’s Vs., The Smashing Pumpkins’ Siamese Dream, and Radiohead’s Pablo Honey all turned 20 years old. There were also some lesser known albums that turned 20 this … Read more
The Flaming Lips Peace Sword EP Warner Brothers Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Flaming Lips revisit planet earth with more conceptually-based space. Album Review: The Flaming Lips have always been an interesting force in music. Keeping watch over the alternative rock music scene since 1983—for better or worse—nothing seems to deter them. A now-canceled … Read more
Kelley Stoltz Double Exposure Third Man Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Kelley Stoltz continues to fly under the radar, but for how much longer? Album Review: Somewhere along the line, Kelley Stoltz became the go to guy for recording the new San Francisco sound. I have to admit, I lost track of Stoltz after his … Read more