Robbie Fulks Gone Away Backward Bloodshot Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Robbie Fulks comes around full circle on Gone Away Backward. Album Review: If you have been an active listener of music that dates back to the mid to late 90’s then you might recall the real momentum that the “Alt-Country” genre had at the … Read more
Zola Jesus Versions Sacred Bones Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Zola Jesus makes a bold play with uneven payoff on Versions. Album Review: Zola Jesus’s fourth LP Versions is a collaboration with a string quartet led by J.G. Thirlwell. The album’s concept is to take songs in the Zola Jesus catalog and strip them to … Read more
Black Joe Lewis Electric Slave Vagrant Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Black Joe Lewis unleashes a rip roaring rock party on third LP – Electric Slave! Album Review: In our recent interview with Joe Lewis he stated that his third full length, Electric Slave, represents a new beginning for himself and the band. He went … Read more
Soft Metals Lenses Captured Tracks Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Soft Metals’ sophomore release is nocturnal EDM for lovers and people who dislike dance music. Album Review: Having met at a party, Patricia Hall and Ian Hicks did what all Portland hipsters do instead of marrying – they started a band. Since their eponymous 2011 … Read more
Dirty Streets Blades Of Grass Alive Naturalsound Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dirty Streets steep 60’s blues rock, touches of soul, and more contemporary influences on Blades of Grass. Album Review: The Alive Natural Sound catalogue was and is rife with great artists: The Black Keys; Buffalo Killers; Radio Moscow; Left Lane Cruiser; Swamp Dogg; … Read more
Relapse Records knows vinyl and they know death metal. All the proof you need is the new limited edition version of Ulcerate’s new record Vermis. Limited to 300 Metallic Gold vinyl and going fast I would recommend if Ulcerate is your thing go HERE for a copy.
We keep telling you about one of our favorite Dayton, Ohio bands Motel Beds and they are now even closer to your record player. The band has officially signed with Misra Records and already has several cool projects in the pipeline. Misra is set to release a R. Ring / Motel Beds split 7-inch for … Read more
Rare High 3 EPs / Hot Reason Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: If you like your music lo-fi and insanely catchy, check out these releases from Rare High. Album Review: Dean Wells, the man behind Rare High, is a pop genius. Let’s just get that out of the way right now. Whether it be as … Read more
James Younger Feelin’ American Light Organ Records [2013] Fire Note Says: James Younger’s debut Feelin’ American wears its influences on his sleeve. Album Review: After reading an interview with Canadian James Younger these 11 breezy pop songs found on his solo debut could have had quite the spark. But, the adherence to past influences such … Read more
What do you get when you combine a one-of-a-kind living legend, an up-and-coming guitar heroine, and an eight-piece brass band? An unforgettable night on the Love This Giant Tour, the live iteration of the excellent David Byrne/St. Vincent album of the same name. Featuring a slew of Love This Giant tracks, St. Vincent solo songs, … Read more
You can now pre-order the Jacuzzi Boys’ third self-titled record from Hardly Art. The LPs will be on limited colored vinyl (clear with blue/red swirl), and all preorders will receive an official Jacuzzi Boys patch and postcard, while they last! All LPs include a download code. The album is released on September 10, 2013. You … Read more
The intent of our Label Profile feature is to simply highlight a record label that we feel aligns with our own belief here at The Fire Note that music is an experience. Today we profile Tiny Engines. A huge thanks to Will Miller (pictured in grey) for taking the time to answer our questions. Make … Read more
The Urinals Negative Capability In The Red Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Urinals surge from the punk underground with the reissue of retrospective Negative Capability. Album Review: These are the things that label In The Red records lives for: seemingly influencing about half their catalogue of artists, The Urinals’ brand of minute-long art punk … Read more
Travis Where You Stand Red Telephone Box [2013] Fire Note Says: After a five year hiatus, Travis are back with the breezy Where You Stand. Album Review: I still scratch my head over the lack of success by Travis as the band helped pave the way for groups like Coldplay, Muse, Keane and Snow Patrol. … Read more
Cults have announced they’ll hit the road this fall, shortly after the October 15 release of their sophomore album Static. Starting in Boston, MA on October 22 the band will travel across North America for headline dates in Washington, D.C., Austin, TX, Los Angeles, CA and many more (full list of dates below). Cults will … Read more
Pre-Orders for Red Fang’s ‘Whales and Leeches’ are now available via Relapse Mailorder! This release is coming in all differnt colors and bundle sizes depending on your need with the most limited in the 100 Blood and Cream Bad Daddy Pack. Pressing info and trailer below. Pre-Order HERE. Bad Daddy Pack is limited to 100 … Read more
The anniversary edition of In Utero is coming out on September 24 in a 3CD/1DVD set. On the DVD you will find the director’s cut of the Anton Corbijn-helmed video for “Heart Shaped Box” which you can now veiw below.
We caught up with Joe Lewis of Black Joe Lewis at the Bunbury Festival in Cincinnati and had the privilege of asking him some questions. The good news is that he answered them! Without any more delay the Joe Lewis interview awaits you below. TFN: Talk about the new record – Electric Slave. Joe Lewis: … Read more
Jake Bugg Jake Bugg Mercury Records [2013] Fire Note Says: At only 19, Jake Bugg electrifies the indie/rock scene with his self-titled, debut album. Album Review: It’s hard to believe Jake Bugg is only 19. His deep voice and timeless rock music are comparable to Bob Dylan, the Beatles, and Johnny Cash. At 17, Jake … Read more
Wrapped in vintage synthesizers, drum kits and dark slinking bass lines, the new Pillar Point pulses with two new songs on this limited white 7-inch. You can now pre-order HERE from Polyvinyl Records. The 7-inch is out September 3. Polyvinyl Records
Here is Thao & the Get Down Stay Down’s frontwoman Thao Nguyen performing the track “Kindness be Conceived” from the group’s critically acclaimed new album We The Common (TFN Review). The band is on tour through the winter with upcoming performances at the Austin City Limits Festival, Bumbershoot and Mumford & Sons’ Gentlemen of the … Read more
Superchunk I Hate Music Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Superchunk return with an energetic and thought stirring tenth record. Album Review: “I hate music – what is it worth? / Can’t bring anyone back to this earth” is the first line in the single “Me & You & Jackie Mittoo” from Superchunk’s tenth studio … Read more
Weekend Jinx Slumberland Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Brooklyn via San Francisco band add some New Wave flavor to their second album. Album Review: Weekend’s 2010 debut, Sports, was a loud, distorted and uncompromising affair. It was also almost unlistenable. Even front man Shaun Durkan has admitted to having difficulty sitting through it in its … Read more
Paper Lions My Friends Fountain Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Paper Lions’ power pop returns with comforting steadiness on My Friends. Album Review: Prince Edward Island’s Paper Lions’ fifth album My Friends reminded me very much of an album I reviewed earlier this year, Noah And The Whale’s Heart of Nowhere. In fact My … Read more
Ty Segall Sleeper Drag City Records [2013] Fire Note Says: A hauntingly gorgeous acoustic record from perhaps the last artist you would expect it from. Album Review: As the title to his masterful album from last year, Twins, suggested, there are indeed two sides to the music of Ty Segall. On the one hand, you … Read more