The Moondoggies: Adiós I’m A Ghost [Album Review]

The Moondoggies Adiós I’m A Ghost Hardly Art Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Moondoggies return with the memorable and confident Adiós I’m A Ghost. Album Review: By the time a band gets to their third album they typically have reached some sort of crossroad. For Seattle’s Moondoggies, their third album Adiós I’m A Ghost … Read more

Minks: Tides End [Album Review]

Minks Tides End Captured Tracks Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Minks update their old bedroom pop sound with their new synth pop record. Album Review: Tides End, the second lp from Minks, finds the band working with producer/engineer Mark Verbos and ditching the bedroom pop sound of their first lp, By the Hedge, and adopting … Read more

Wiretree: Get Up [Album Review]

Wiretree Get Up Cobalt Works Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Any of Get Up’s ten tracks could be a hit single, and they only get better with time. Album Review: “How have I not heard of this band?” This was the question I asked myself as I listened to Wiretree’s fourth LP, Get Up. Hailing … Read more

Scott & Charlene’s Wedding: Any Port In A Storm [Album Review]

Scott & Charlene’s Wedding Any Port In A Storm Fire Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Songs of pain and isolation cleverly disguised in a jangle pop package. Album Review: The new record from Scott & Charlene’s Wedding, Any Port In A Storm, has come from out of nowhere to completely blow me away. Like some … Read more

Dennis Callaci & Simon Joyner: New Secrets [Album Reivew]

Dennis Callaci & Simon Joyner New Secrets Shrimper Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dennis Callaci & Simon Joyner’s second album blends high-quality lyrics with mixes of folk, rock, indie, and emo. Album Review: New Secrets is the first I’ve heard of Dennis Callaci and Simon Joyner. After the album’s first spin, I guessed the duo … Read more

Cage The Elephant’s New Single “Come A Little Closer”

“Come A Little Closer” is the new single from Cage The Elephant off of their highly anticipated third studio album, which is due out this fall on RCA Records. The song will be available for sale at all digital providers beginning Tuesday, August 13th. Stay tuned for further information on the new album to be … Read more

Kishi Bashi Limited Edition 7″ / 1000 Hand-Numbered on Clear Vinyl

In conjunction with his fall tour, Kishi Bashi is releasing his first new material since “151a” (TFN Review HERE)! Slated for release on September 10, Philosophize In It! Chemicalize With It! is a limited edition 7″ record containing two brand new tracks. The title track “Philosophize…” is an early recording of a song which will … Read more

Vacation: Candy Waves [Album Review]

Vacation Candy Waves Don Giovanni Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Vacation’s sophomore record takes you on a punk fueled trip! Album Review: Cincinnati’s Vacation comes at you with their style of loud rowdy rock on their sophomore record Candy Waves that immediately will get you going. The album has a raw flare and venom of … Read more

The Whiles: Somber Honey [Album Review]

The Whiles Somber Honey Anyway Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Somber Honey plucks its sweetness from multiple eras of pop and rock. Album Review: The 60s is probably the most musically borrowed-from decade, especially amongst many of the artists we feature on The Fire Note. The experimentation, creativity, and downright cool factor make it an … Read more

Beach Day: Trip Trap Attack [Album Review]

Beach Day Trip Trap Attack Kanine Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Beach Day’s debut sounds exactly as you would expect – only much better. Album Review: Hollywood, Florida is about the last place I would look if searching for a really cool indie band. Home to a mass a retirees and French-Canadian “snowbirds” (yes, your … Read more

Dumb Numbers: Dumb Numbers [Album Review]

Dumb Numbers Dumb Numbers Joyful Noise Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Dumb Numbers is an indie supergroup on paper and succeeds as a band on record! Album Review: So I am thinking if I started a band today and asked some of my friends to play in it – who would join? OK – I … Read more

Cloakroom: Infinity [Album Review]

Cloakroom Infinity Run For Cover Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Indiana’s Cloakroom plays it slow and steady on an impressive debut. Album Review: Having done a little bit of research before listening to Cloakroom’s debut EP/LP (it clocks in at around 29 minutes, so I’m not sure what this is!) I fully expected a pop-punk … Read more

Johnny Marr U.S. Fall Tour Dates plus new song available at iTunes

Johnny Marr is releasing his newly recorded song “The It-Switch” on iTunes today HERE. The song will be available as the b-side to the radio edit of “New Town Velocity,” the new single from his solo debut The Messenger (TFN Review HERE) out earlier this year. The single is also available as a limited edition … Read more

The Head And The Heart new single “Shake” – Hear It Now

Following the recent announcement of the highly anticipated sophomore album Let’s Be Still (Out October 15) and subsequent fall US tour dates, The Head and The Heart have made the first single “Shake” available for streaming. The six-piece Seattle band will bring their celebrated high-energy live performance to Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tonight, August … Read more

Dinosaur Bones: Shaky Dream [Album Review]

Dinosaur Bones Shaky Dream Dine Alone Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dinosaur Bones provides a soaring post-rock sophomore outing with Shaky Dream. Album Review: Toronto’s Dinosaur Bones are back with their sophomore record, Shaky Dream, that is filled with a catchy song style of brooding post-rock, memorable hooks and floating instrumental backdrops. All of this … Read more

Gladiola: Off You Go [Album Review]

Gladiola Off You Go Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Gladiola’s third album Off You Go is a mode. Album Review: Gladiola is an independent band in the truest sense. They self-produced and self-released their latest LP Off You Go. The band is based out of Massachusetts and consists of Bill Madden-Fuoco (vocals and guitar), Chris … Read more

Earth Dies Burning: Songs From The Valley Of The Bored Teenager (1981-1984) [Album Review]

Earth Dies Burning Songs From The Valley Of The Bored Teenager (1981-1984) Captured Tracks Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Bizarro synth punk from San Fernando bored teenagers. Album Review: When Earth Dies Burning was formed in 1981, the ages of the band members ranged from 10-14. That’s right, from 10-14. You know what I was … Read more

The Head And The Heart – Loser Edition 2LP Clear Blue & Gold

The new album, from The Head And The Heart is now up for pre-order at Sub Pop HERE. Let’s Be Still will be released on October 15. Full details below. PRE-ORDER DETAILS —>If you pre-order Let’s Be Still from Subpop.com, you will receive an instant mp3 download of the first single “Shake”. —>When you order … Read more

Morningbell: Bôa Noite [Album Review]

Morningbell Bôa Noite Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Morningbell’s Bôa Noite is an exercise in time and space jubilation! Album Review: It’s rare to find a group such as Morningbell, excess without pretension (I may be glancing your way Arcade Fire). Taking their name from Kid A’s “Morning Bell,” this band has big brains and … Read more

The Mother Hips: Behind Beyond [Album Review]

The Mother Hips Behind Beyond Mother Hips Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Mother Hips return with another solid batch of California country-tinged melodies. Album Review: How old were you in 1993? I only ask because that would be the year The Mother Hips released their debut album, Back To The Grotto, on Rick Rubins … Read more

Speedwell: Start To Finish [Album Review]

Speedwell Start To Finish Coolidge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Posthumous release from unheralded DC band covers their entire recorded history. Album Review: Formed in 1996 by Meredith Bragg, Troy Farmer and Jonathan Roth (and later joined by Brian Minter), Speedwell was destined to be a band no one ever heard. Despite touring with Engine … Read more

Bosnian Rainbows: Bosnian Rainbows [Album Review]

Bosnian Rainbows Bosnian Rainbows Sargent House Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Bosnian Rainbows are consistently interesting on their self-titled debut. Album Review: It’s a really funny thing to hear Mars Volta axe man/composer Omar Rodriguez Lopez talk about a less is more musical philosophy. During a recent Orange Amp promo video, Rodriguez Lopez gets down … Read more