The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced the integration of streams to its historic Gold & Platinum (G&P) Program, the industry’s premier award for recognizing artistic achievement in the marketplace. On-demand audio and/or video song streams will now be counted towards the 500,000 (Gold), 1,000,000 (Platinum) and 2,000,000 plus (multi-Platinum) thresholds required for G&P’s … Read more
Artist: Lake Isle Hometown: Greensboro, NC. Record Label: Unsigned Artists With Similar Fire: Sun Kil Moon / Mojave 3 / Calexico Lake Isle takes its name and inspiration from the Yeats’ poem, “The Lake Isle of Innisfree.” We are a ‘band of brothers’, four dedicated musicians who’ve been at it for a while: Mark Dougherty, … Read more
Surrogate Post-Heroic Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Surrogate add heavier textures to their already winning formula, and sound more cohesive than ever before. Album Review: You’ve probably never heard of Surrogate. Ever since their 2007 debut on Tooth & Nail Records, Love is For the Rich, the Chico, California band has flown under the radar, … Read more
Savages Silence Yourself Pop Noire / Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Savages release a debut that rekindles a different era of post-punk. Album Review: London’s Savages come to us with high anticipation and a huge amount of hype. That typically is a setup to be disappointed but in this case the female quartet’s debut … Read more
Fitz And The Tantrums More Than Just A Dream Elektra Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Fitz And The Tantrums returns with a sleeker but less endearing sound. Album Review: I hold a special place in my heart for Pickin Up The PIeces, Fitz And The Tantrums’ debut LP. Amazon picked it as an editor’s selection … Read more
Smith Westerns are pleased to share the video for “Varsity” the first single from their forthcoming album Soft Will. The video below was directed by Alan Del Rio Ortiz. Soft Will, the third LP from Smith Westerns, will be released June 25th on Mom+Pop (in Europe on June 24 via Co-Op). After playing over 140 … Read more
Third Man Records has gone the extra mile with their limited-edition version for The Great Gatsby soundtrack in pioneering a never-before released method for vinyl records. Both LPs in the set are blindingly reflective metalized discs. Disc one is platinum and disc two is gold. These are the first-ever commercially available records made using these … Read more
Give The People What They Want is certainly an appropriate title for Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ upcoming release. After more than a decade of nearly constant recording, collaborating, and touring as one of the most formidable and consequential live acts performing today, they know what their audience wants from them. You can hear the … Read more
Deerhunter are set to criss-cross the country on the band’s first North American tour in support of Monomania. More tour dates to be announced soon. You can read our *Headphone Approved* review HERE. Tour Dates 8/23 – PHOENIX, AZ – Crescent Ballroom 8/27 – SACRAMENTO, CA – Hawlow’s 8/30 – VANCOUVER, WA – Rickshaw 8/31 … Read more
You can now pre-order the latest Big School Records release, Graham Repulski’s Cop Art LP HERE. Big School pressed up a limited number of LP’s, 150 to be exact, and they’ll be hand-numbered. The album is cut at 45rpm and each record will come with unique scraps of ephemera containing lyrics and notes left over … Read more
Deerhunter Monomania 4AD Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Another record form Deerhunter with top honors potential! Album Review: How many times have you been let down from your favorite artist? How many times have you blamed your own high expectations as the reason you just couldn’t get into (insert favorite artist here) new record? OK … Read more
Steve Earle The Low Highway New West Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Steve Earle continues to make good (music). Album Review: On this 14th full-length album since his ’86 debut, Guitar Town, Steve Earle has defied expectations of an early drug-fueled demise, only to deliver yet another vibrant, life informed collection of country and folk … Read more
Iggy And The Stooges Ready To Die Fat Possum Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The album may be called Ready to Die, but the band is nowhere near death! Album Review: Let me start this review by saying that I am one of the only people I know who really enjoyed The Stooges 2007 album, … Read more
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros today announced the release of their forthcoming third studio album. The self-titled offering will be released in the U.S. and Canada on July 23rd via Community Music and everywhere else on July 29th. “These songs mean everything to me,” said frontman Alex Ebert who produced the album. “It’s the … Read more
Jimi Hendrix Hey Joe 7″ Legacy Recordings [2013] Coming direct from Record Store Day 2013 we have a little 45 that changed the face of rock n roll forever. By way of the Hendrix LLC group and Legacy Recordings, it’s The Jimi Hendrix Experience presenting “Hey Joe” along with “Stone Free”. Way back at the … Read more
The Neighbourhood I Love You. Columbia Records [2013] Fire Note Says: With I Love You., The Neighbourhood introduces an album that is many different things, but has something most alternative and indie rock listeners will enjoy. Album Review: Blending ambient, emo sound with upbeat, quirky pop, The Neighbourhood’s debut album, I Love You., presents the … Read more
Various Artists The Rough Guide To Psychedelic Brazil World Music Network [2013] Fire Note Says: An excellently sequenced compilation that showcases the genre’s diversity and creativity. Album Review: One of several collections released by World Music Network for Record Store Day 2013, The Rough Guide to Psychedelic Brazil has a lot in common with its … Read more
Take a listen to “Yes Wonderful Things,” the new single from Gainesville, Florida-based band Morningbell. “Yes Wonderful Things” has a very float along vocal quality to it as singer Travis Atria stretches out the chorus “Do you see anything – Yes wonderful things.” Their style here is very similar to The Flaming Lips but you … Read more
Mikal Cronin MCII Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Don’t miss out on this Album of the Year contender! Album Review: Despite the excellence of his debut self titled solo album released late in 2011, Mikal Cronin is best known as the bass player for the Ty Segall band. His collaboration 2009 with Segall, Reverse … Read more
The National Rifle Almost Endless Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Philly four-piece gives a new take on tired 80’s revivalism. Album Review: It’s almost a foregone conclusion that any new indie record will be heavily indebted to either the 60’s or the 80’s. Its pick your poison – Beach Boys or Pet Shop Boys. The … Read more
Connections Private Airplane Anyway Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Columbus, Ohio band brings a new grit to the lo-fi rock that flourished in the 90’s. Album Review: From opening track “Finally” you know the number one influence of Columbus, Ohio band Connections, is Dayton, Ohio’s Guided By Voices. The song is only 1:14 long, the … Read more
Superchunk Void b/w Faith 7” Merge Records [2013] This 7-inch turned out to be one of the highlights of Record Store Day 2013. Two brand-new Superchunk songs inspired by Mac McCaughan’s favorite hardcore records, the punk split album on Dischord with the bands Faith and Void. McCaughan stated that “musically we aren’t like either of … Read more
Coliseum Sister Faith Temporary Residence LTD [2013] Fire Note Says: Coliseum make a heavy and rhythmic fourth record that does not let up! Album Review: Do you ever feel like you just need an album to blow off some steam to? Something that is heavy, rhythmic and hits full throttle from track number one? Well … Read more
Georgiana Starlington Paper Moon HoZac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Georgiana Starlington’s debut Paper Moon is a solid taste of western mysticism. Album Review: Siblings Julie and Jack Hines (Jack, former Black Lips member and both members of K-Holes) have created Neko Case’s “Prison Girls” the album, review over…Of course it’s not over, but when … Read more
Father President Fake It Like You Mean It Light Rail Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Father President crank up the melody and the guitars on Fake It Like You Mean It. Album Review: San Francisco’s Father President is another one of those great new guitar bands that have come from out of nowhere to become … Read more