Girls Against Boys The Ghost List EP Epitonic [2013] Fire Note Says: Girls Against Boys are back and The Ghost List EP sounds like they never left! Album Review: Reuniting your old band is all the rave right now with The Breeders and Neutral Milk Hotel playing shows this year and we saw the release … Read more
Schooner Neighborhood Veins PotLuck Foundation [2013] Fire Note Says: Schooner goes adrift with their own brand of ramshackle, lucid pop. Album Review: Durhan, NC‘s Schooner’s sound is an interesting proposition: take some simple song structures and float them on a sea of dreams; then pair that with a bit of complexity, chill moods, 50‘s doo-wop, … Read more
Mark Lanegan Imitations Vagrant Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Lanegan’s second album of covers is so good it will make you forget the original versions. Album Review: To say Mark Lanegan is one of the most distinctive and important singers of the past 25 years is a huge understatement. Not only was he singer for … Read more
On top of appearing with Beck at Osheaga Music and Arts Festival (Watch Rishi with Beck in Australia performing “Loser”), Elephant Stone continued to enrich an outstanding summer of mass critical praise particularly after touring North America with both The Zombies and The Black Angels, ultimately climaxing at Austin Psych Fest. You can check out … Read more
Limited to 750 copies! Orange County’s Audacity and The Coathangars will have a split 7″ out October 15, 2013 on Suicide Squeeze Recrords. Pressing Information: (100 translucent blue / white split – Sold Out, 150 translucent blue vinyl, 500 on black). You can preorder HERE.
FUZZ “Sunderberry Dream” b/w “21st Century Schizoid Man” In The Red Records [2013] FUZZ’s debut (TFN Review) was a fall release that we were highly anticipating for some time. FUZZ features the crazy productive Ty Segall on vocals and drums. This of course is rounded out by his heavy rock buddies Charlie Moothart (guitar/vocals) and … Read more
Native Orthodox Sargent House Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Native‘s 3rd LP balances its strengths between timing and consistency. Album Review: If you take a look at Native‘s Facebook and bandcamp pages then you begin to see what I—along with many others—am figuring out: Indiana’s four piece Native is a math rock/post hardcore/indie band that … Read more
Ski Lodge Big Heart Dovecote Records [2013] Fire Note Says: If you like The Smiths, Ski Lodge will be a new favorite. Album Review: Ski Lodge is primarily the creation of NYC-based musician Andrew Marr. On his debut LP he sings and plays the majority of the instruments; he also wrote the songs. The album … Read more
Nirvana In Utero (20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition) Universal Music [1993; 2013] Fire Note Says: A classic turns 20! Album Review: It is interesting how different Nirvana’s third LP, In Utero, sounds 20 years after its release. Not different like I have never heard things before but this album stands taller today without any of … Read more
FUZZ FUZZ In The Red Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Segall continues his wild ride with proto-metalers FUZZ! Album Review: As a musician Ty Segall isn’t one to shy away from being prolific. He released three albums alone last year: Goodbye Bread; the explosive Ty Segall Band’s Slaughterhouse; and the best of his 2012 releases, … Read more
Elf Power Sunlight On The Moon Darla/Orange Twin Records [2013] Fire Note Says: A wonderful collection of psych pop gems that have the unmistakable Elephant 6 sound. Album Review: If you’re anything like me, you have to be pretty excited that there is a new Elf Power record out. I obsessively collected all things Elephant … Read more
The Fire Tapes Phantoms Warhen Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Fire Tapes sophomore album, Phantoms, has electric solos and suspenseful indie rock. Album Review: The Fire Tapes sophomore album, Phantoms, is a good blend of ambient, suspenseful indie and upbeat, electric rock. The nine tracks use both female and male vocals, and most are … Read more
You can now pre-order from Newbury Comics several upcoming LP reissues from The Black Keys. Thickfreakness (2003) has been pressed on Bone White 180 gram Vinyl. This exclusive pressing is limited to 1500 copies. Also up is The Black Keys’s Chulahoma EP (2006) on Orange & Black Vinyl. This exclusive pressing is limited to 750 … Read more
Here is the new video from Mikal Cronin for “Peace of Mind”. It is a track off of his latest and excelllent record MCII which recieved our *Headphone Approved* honors back in May (TFN Review). The video below was directed by Lara Gallagher and stars Mary Timony (Wild Flag, Helium) as a hotel maid who … Read more
Sweatshop Boys The Great Depression Dirt Cult Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Impressive punk-pop-rock debut from Israel band Sweatshop Boys. Album Review: About 11 days ago I sent an unofficial review of Sweatshop Boys debut album, The Great Depression, to our friends at Dirt Cult Records. This is what it said: “This record rocks!” Now … Read more
The Mountain Goats All Hail West Texas Merge Records [2002; 2013] Fire Note Says: The Mountain Goats’ classic All Hail West Texas gets a remastered reissue with new tracks. Album Review: One of the great things about reissues is having an opportunity to revisit or discover classics that were missed the first time around. The … Read more
The Midpoint Music Festival wrapped up on Saturday after a great three days of music played through the Cincinnati streets with around 170 local, regional, national and international musical acts participating. The weather was great, the crowd turned out and the artists all shined. The tough part about Midpoint was trying to decide which stage … Read more
Saint Rich Beyond The Drone Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Saint Rich bring a warm indie vibe to their debut Beyond The Drone. Album Review: Saint Rich is the musical partnership of Christian Peslak and Steve Marion. You may know Steve from his instrumental band, Delicate Steve, which has released two albums on David … Read more
Valley Lodge Use Your Weapons Explosive Industries [2013] Fire Note Says: Big riffs and big hooks make Use Your Weapons the party record of the week! Album Review: Every now and then I get an album to review that defies any sort of critical evaluation. Sometimes it’s because it’s terrible and I can’t make it … Read more
September is almost over but it wouldn’t be complete without our monthly Bandcamp installment! Below is our September Bandcamp picks featuring artists that deserve your ear. Once again they are in no particular order and you can click on the image to land on their Bandcamp page. Discover, Support & Share! [easyrotator]erc_44_1380508145[/easyrotator] -Feature by Scot … Read more
The Polyphonic Spree Yes, It’s True Kirtland Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Yes, It’s True is an indie pop rock album, borrowing influences from orchestra and jazz. Album Review: The Polyphonic Spree’s latest release, Yes, It’s True, is my first experience with the band, although they have been around for awhile. Under their name, they … Read more
Ghost Wave Ages Flying Nun Records [2013] Fire Note Says: New Zealand band explores the origins of Kiwi-pop – and a whole lot more. Album Review: The flood of garage psych bands to come from New Zealand has baffled music critics for years. Since the early eighties it has been one great little band after … Read more
Trying to “see it all” at Midpoint is an impossible feat. With around 56 bands playing on Thursday evening in a time span of 5 hours you really need to be selective on what you see. With that said, I hit the streets of Cincinnati and just let the music (and my map) guide me … Read more
Neutral Milk Hotel In The Aeroplane Over The Sea Merge Records Released: February 10, 1998 Producer: Robert Schneider Length: 39:55 It‘s really hard not to bring up the Elephant 6 Music collective without one name and band coming to mind: Jeff Mangum/Neutral Milk Hotel. While many brilliant and underappreciated artists (Elf Power, The Olivia Tremor … Read more
Dr. Dog B-Room ANTI- Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dr. Dog provides a nostalgic trip with their latest album B-Room. Album Review: Dr. Dog’s seventh LP, B-Room, is an exercise in rock history. The Pennsylvania band, consisting currently of Scott McMicken (lead guitar), Toby Leaman (bass), Zach Miller (keyboard), Eric Slick (drums), Frank McElroy (backing … Read more