Heavy Times Fix It Alone HoZac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Heavy Times deliver a knockout blow with new album, Fix It Alone. Album Review: HoZac Records has built up quite an impressive stable of artists, releasing albums in the past few years from the likes of Radar Eyes, GAMES and Idle Times to name … Read more
Laura Stevenson Wheel Don Giovanni Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Laura Stevenson’s Wheel offers a variety of simple, organic Americana music. Album Review: Laura Stevenson gives the listener a lot with her third album, Wheel. It’s almost country, a little bit rock, and mostly Americana. With a league of instruments, lap steel, mandolin, banjo, trumpet, … Read more
Widowspeak have just announced their fall tour dates that include supporting Iron & Wine and playing with Pure Bathing Culture. The band will be playing songs off their new EP The Swamps due out in October on Captured Tracks. You can see the tour dates below. Widowspeak North American Tour Dates 9/01 – Brooklyn, NYCT5 … Read more
When Ben Gibbard (of Death Cab for Cutie) and Jimmy Tamborello (of Dntel) released Give Up in 2003, their collaborative album under the Postal Service banner, no one could have predicted the runaway success it became. Songs appeared in movies, TV shows, and were remixed and covered by artists as wide-ranging as Iron & Wine … Read more
Frank Turner Tape Deck Heart Interscope Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Frank Turner’s most recent release is fresh, combining indie and British rock, punk, emo, and folk. Album Review: Those new to Frank Turner’s music might be surprised that his most recent release, Tape Deck Heart, is his fifth full-length album. The songs are indie … Read more
Secret Colours Peach Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Secret Colours check all the boxes when it comes to psychedelia. Album Review: Leave it to a band like Chicago’s Secret Colours to right my wrongs and relieve my muddled mind. Debating review scores, struggling for references, and more times than not writing myself into a corner, … Read more
According to an email from Sebadoh their new album, Defend Yourself (out Sept 17), will be up for pre-order next week. Joyful Noise is doing a limited vinyl version and will be limited to 500 on multi-colored vinyl with several bonus songs. You can see more about it below
Welsh trio The Joy Formidable have announced the release of their Silent Treatment EP on all digital outlets tomorrow. The Silent Treatment EP includes 4 tracks, including a new mix of the title track done by William Orbit (Blur, Madonna, Pink), a live version of “Tendons” recorded at London’s Roundhouse, and previously unreleased song “All … Read more
Today Sonny & The Sunsets share “natural acts,” their third video from their latest album, Antenna To the Afterworld (TFN Review HERE) — let’s just say it is a tennis story. The band has also added a ton of new tour dates, most of which find them opening for Kurt Vile in the Midwest and … Read more
I always like when music is unearthed and given new life. That is the case with the posthumous debut full length from Speedwell titled Start To Finish. The band began in the fall of 1996 as Meredith Bragg, Troy Farmer, and Jonathan Roth with Brian Minter coming in a bit later. Speedwell eventually released an … Read more
On a break from The Loved Ones, Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter Dave Hause has announced the release of his new album titled Devour. Recorded and mixed at Grandmaster Recorders LTD. in Hollywood, CA, Devour will be released through Rise Records on Tuesday, October 8. As the follow-up to Hause’s debut solo album, Resolutions, Devour presents itself as … Read more
Robert Randolph & The Family Band Lickety Split Blue Note Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Robert Randolph cranks the guitars up and the fun dance party even higher! Album Review: I have been following Robert Randolph & The Family Band since their 2003 sophomore record Unclassified. Its combination of soul, funk, hard rock, folk, gospel … Read more
Shocked Minds Shocked Minds HoZac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The debut album from Shocked Minds is as grimy and sleazy as 1970’s NYC! Album Review: This may be a debut lp from Atlanta’s Shocked Minds, but these guys are anything but rookies. Featuring members of The Carbonas, Gentleman Jesse and His Men, and GAMES, … Read more
Blood Ceremony The Eldritch Dark Rise Above Records [2013] Fire Note Says: If Black Sabbath and Jethro Tull had a love child – this would be it. Album Review: The occult rock phenomenon that has taken hold of the metal world had a beginning and it was Canada’s Blood Ceremony. The blueprint had been there … Read more
Cincinnati’s Bunbury Music Festival is quickly becoming a force to reckon with as it returns for its second year with its fan-friendly atmosphere. With fun., MGMT and The National headlining – all who attend will be in for a good time. The Fire Note will be on the ground in Cincy this weekend covering the … Read more
Spectrals Sob Story Slumberland Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Spectrals’ Sob Story successfully skirts sophomore slump! Album Review: Diversity is one of those prized musical qualities that many artists strive for; if you can pull it off, having a wide-ranging, eclectic sound is a major plus—it’s why we all love the Beatles so much. But … Read more
Belgrade Belgrade Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Belgrade creates a nuanced, easy-to-miss alternative rock album. Album Review: Belgrade is an indie rock band from Philadelphia that specializes in straightforward alternative that harken back to the late 90s and early 2000s. At first I wondered when Ed Roland from Collective Soul became the lead singer for … Read more
Here is an interesting find. An obscure promotional TV teaser for Nirvana’s third album In Utero has surfaced and can be viewed below. The 1993 clip features Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl being coached by Bob “Bobcat” Goldthwait. Just watch! The September 2013 tag at the video’s end refers to the upcoming 20th … Read more
of Montreal is back with a new album titled Lousy with Sylvianbriar. As usual Polyvinyl records has a limited edition version of 1500 that is 180g Sea Glass Green and comes with a deluxe gatefold jacket. You can pre-order a copy HERE. The album hits the streets on 9/24.
Brooklyn’s outlaw troubadour Christopher Paul Stelling has shared “You Can Make It,” the second single from his sophomore album False Cities, which is available to stream/download via soundcloud HERE. Unlike “Brick x Brick,” the albums’ furious first single, this track shows the other side of False Cities. With its dulcet tones and softer approach, it … Read more
Kanye West mixed with Tame Impala? Sounds crazy right? Well D.C. producer Nate Belasco, has mashed-up Kayne’s “Black Skinhead” with Tame Impala’s “Lonerism” for an entertaining rock song. He says better than the originals? You can judge for yourself below.
The Purrs The Boy With Astronaut Eyes Fin Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Another rock n roll ride from Seattle’s Purrs. Album Review: Ten years going strong and still working on name recognition, Seattle’s The Purrs are one of the better bands that you still have not heard. The group has consistently released solid records … Read more
Rumspringer Stay Afloat Dirt Cult Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Rumspringer drop a punk rock bombshell! Album Review: Dirt Cult is quickly becoming a can’t miss label for me, earlier this year they dropped the Big Dick record on me, and then a few months ago, the had the awesome Sundowners record, and now we … Read more
Pedaljets What’s In Between Electric Moth Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Pedaljets return after a twenty-three year break with a solid, if unremarkable, album. Album Review: Back in the late eighties Lawrence, Kansas four-piece, Pedaljets, released two strong LP’s (1988’s Today Today and a self-titled follow-up in 1989) to some acclaim – mostly critical. … Read more
This Frontier Needs Heroes have spent the past five years playing shows all over the world; just siblings, Brad and Jessica, with a guitar and a tambourine, and their voices, logging thousands of miles in their car, touring the greatest cities of North America and Europe, selling one record at a time, making one fan … Read more