Paul McCartney New Hear Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Paul McCartney returns with one of his strongest modern-era albums. Album Review: Paul McCartney has been has been on quite a winning streak lately. However you feel about his recent standards album (the cheekily-titled Kisses on the Bottom), his recent records of original songs—under his own … Read more
Frog Eyes Carey’s Cold Spring Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Carey Mercer confronts riots, protests, storms and floods – and his own mortality – on his sixth album as Frog Eyes. Album Review: The Bandcamp page which is being used to sell Carey’s Cold Spring also details the vision Mercer had going into the writing … Read more
Sub Pop has just announced their Record Store Day’s Black Friday releases. On November 29th, Sub Pop will release two limited-edition Black Friday exclusives: Josh Tillman’s (aka Father John Misty) score to the forthcoming short film The History of Caves, and a split 7” featuring Low’s popular rendition of Rihanna’s megahit “Stay” and Shearwater’s take … Read more
It should come as no surprise that we’re big fans of 60’s music here at The Fire Note. That decade not only produced some of our favorite bands and records of all time, but its influence can still be felt today. We also enjoy finding the needle in a haystack—those albums we discover that not … Read more
Dead Gaze Brain Holiday Palmist/FatCat Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dead Gaze show depth with their indie fuzz and pop bounce on their proper debut Brain Holiday. Album Review: Fuzzed up lo-fi pop rock? Sign me up! The proper debut from Dead Gaze is an enjoyable lesson that shows everyone that all it takes is … Read more
Sleigh Bells Bitter Rivals Mom + Pop Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Sleigh Bells return with a flurry of noise pop endearments. Album Review: As a listener it‘s sometimes hard to know what I want. Sleigh Bells surprised us all with 2010‘s unforgettable Treats. Guitars boomed, drums thundered, and vocals looped as they reached to … Read more
Psychic Ills have announced select North American tour dates with Mazzy Star this November, taking them on the road along the East Coast, up through Canada and performing a show at New York’s Terminal 5. The New York-based band will tour in support of this year’s One Track Mind (TFN Review), out now on Sacred … Read more
Minor Alps, the collaborative vision of Juliana Hatfield and Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws, have just released the Clyde Petersen directed music video for “I Don’t Know What To Do With My Hands”, the latest song off the duo’s forthcoming album Get There, out October 29th on Barsuk Records. In our book it is really hard … Read more
Best Coast Fade Away Jewel City Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Best Coast release a 7 song mini album that works hard to extend summer with its warm indie pop shine. Album Review: If you have loved the indie pop of Best Coast’s previous two full lengths, then you will be completely satisfied with their … Read more
Delorean Apar True Panther Sounds [2013] Fire Note Says: This Delorean is a fresh modern sound – no time travel is necessary to enjoy it. Album Review: Delorean is a synth-pop band from Spain. And yes, they admit to being named for the vehicle from Back To The Future. Now that that’s out of the … Read more
Yuck Glow & Behold Fat Possum Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Yuck starts over fresh on their new album, and it sounds pretty good. Album Review: Imagine you’re a member of a hip young band, your debut album garners all sorts of critical accolades, winds up on many top ten lists, and you find yourself … Read more
From the depths of the Sub Pop archives comes a reissue of Soundgarden’s thunderous opening salvo, Screaming Life, plus bonus tracks from the Fopp EP and Sub Pop 200 compilation. This reissue marks the first time these tracks will be available digitally, and their first appearance on vinyl since the original, late-80s pressings (notwithstanding a … Read more
“Johnny Strange” by UK youngsters Weatherbird is our Friday “Fire” track this week. The band members are still in their teenage years and their forthcoming EP, Cut Me Loose, is full of straight up rock n roll. The EP was produced by Romesh Dodangoda (Funeral For A Friend, Motorhead, Twin Atlantic) and is available from … Read more
Pearl Jam Lightning Bolt Monkeywrench/Universal Records [2013] Fire Note Says: This “Lightning Bolt” still doesn’t strike twice in the same place. Album Review: If you were to take your cues from so-called “classic rock” radio (remember radio?), you’d be convinced that Pearl Jam did all its best work on the 1991 debut, Ten, and a … Read more
Blouse Imperium Captured Tracks [2013] Fire Note Says: Blouse go all-out shoegaze on their sophomore album. Album Review: Blouse began a few years ago as a collaboration between vocalist/guitarist Charlie Hilton, bassist Patrick Adams, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s Jake Portrait. Placing Hilton’s ethereal vocals overtop a slew of synthesizers, their first self-titled album got them … Read more
Here is a new video from The Dodos for their track Substance that was recorded live with the Magik Magik Orchestra.
Show reviews are usually either disregarded and/or seen as a way to kiss the ass of the artist(s) seen. But this one is something different: a review of an Elf Power and Neutral Milk Hotel show can only be written out of sincere respect. To call Mangum a god or to worship him in any … Read more
The Avett Brothers Magpie And The Dandelion American Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: The Avett Brothers return quickly with their eighth record Magpie And The Dandelion. Album Review: I really liked last year’s The Carpenter from The Avett Brothers. It was weighty, mature, warm radio styled and its songwriting was completely thought stirring. Some critics … Read more
Radkey Devil Fruit EP Little Man Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Radkey’s Devil Fruit EP shows promise for the future. Album Review: Radkey is a three-piece punk band from St. Joseph, Missouri. They are three brothers (Dee, Isaiah, and Solomon) who play well together. This in and of itself is quite the accomplishment, as parents … Read more
Chelsea Wolfe Pain Is Beauty Sargent House Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Chelsea Wolfe’s fourth album is the sound of brittle isolation and brutal desperation. Album Review: It must be a really dark, depressing place – that space between LA singer Chelsea Wolfe’s ears. Her music is so fraught with desolation and haunting beauty that … Read more
Lee Ranaldo And The Dust Last Night On Earth Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Last Night on Earth might be the best guitar record you hear this Fall. Album Review: I didn’t see this one coming. I thought that Lee Ranaldo’s first album for Matador, 2012’s Between the Times and the Tide was pretty … Read more
Robert Pollard “Tonight’s The Rodeo” b/w “Astral City Slicker” Guided By Voices Inc. [2013] Guess what? Robert is back! That is right – before this year ends, December 10th to be exact, Bob Pollard’s new solo record, Blazing Gentlemen, will give everyone all something to rock out to during the Holiday season. “Tonight’s The Rodeo” … Read more
Mind Spiders Inhumanistic Dirtnap Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Mind Spiders return with a new wave driven record that should make Devo and Gary Numan proud. Album Review: How many times does an album’s title, cover and first track prelude give you true insight on the record you are about to hear? Not that often … Read more
Polvo Siberia Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Chapel Hill band release their second excellent post-reunion album. Album Review: When Polvo returned in 2009 they were way ahead of the pack. Little did we know that pretty much every 90’s indie band of consequence would reform, tour and attempt to recapture the magic of an … Read more
Luscious Jackson has confirmed the first network TV appearance of its recently reunited lineup: On November 18, Jill Cunniff, Gabby Glaser and Kate Schellenbach will return to The Late Show with David Letterman for the first time in over a decade. The Letterman booking follows the announcement of Luscious Jackson’s new album Magic Hour, out … Read more