Features

The Friday Fire Track: Robert Pollard – “Subspace Biographies”

by

Trying something a bit different today as the Friday Fire Track goes back to 1998 and features a song from Robert Pollard’s sophomore solo record Waved Out. “Subspace Biographies” is easily one of my favorite Robert Pollard solo songs with its gentle opening before its foot tapping charge keeps the high kicks going.

The song just keeps moving and churning as it almost drowns out Pollard’s lyrics near its conclusion to an amplified perfection. When Pollard asks, “Captain, are you sure they’re coming in?” the track just nails it. “Subspace Biographies” is another solid pop rock song in Pollard’s massive collection that has a timeless vibe as it sounds as fresh in 2018 as it did in 1998.

The good news is that Rockathon Records has just released a remastered reissue on a nice looking Blue vinyl TODAY! It also includes a promo press photo from the era. You can see both below. Don’t just take our word for it – Waved Out should be in your collection and this Blue LP variant should be a must add to any collector. Enjoy your Friday and pick this up at the Rockathon link below!

Robert Pollard Website
Robert Pollard Facebook
Rockathon Records

The Friday Fire Track: ORB – “Space Between The Planets”

by

TFN has still not tired of the heavy psych weapons Flightless Records out of Australia currently has in their arsenal. ORB of course are now one of their consistent staples as today’s Friday Fire Track is the title track off of their just released third LP. “Space Between The Planets” is a full-on space rock … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: RAYS – “Yesterday’s Faces”

by

Oakland’s RAYS are back! The follow up to their self-titled debut will be out November 2nd via Trouble In Mind and is titled You Can Get There From Here. Today’s Friday Fire Track, “Yesterday’s Faces,” is from the new album and showcases the band’s newer direction of a more refined and melodic pop that is … Read more

Track Premiere: Extra Arms – “Why I Run”

by

Today’s premiere track, “Why I Run,” is from Detroit, Michigan’s Extra Arms! The group is fronted by Ryan Allen of Thunderbirds Are Now! fame and Extra Arms will be releasing their fourth LP, Headacher, on October 12 via Get Party Records. What caught TFN’s ear on this track is its high energy and pure drive. … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Ron Gallo – “Always Elsewhere”

by


Stardust Birthday Party is the follow up to Ron Gallo’s debut album, Heavy Meta, which was a fantastic garage rock album that we missed out on in 2017. Well, we are not missing this one as Gallo storms back with today’s Friday Fire Track, “Always Elsewhere.” The track is from Stardust Birthday Party which is out October 5, 2018 via New West Records.

Gallo’s energy sounds like a modern Talking Heads as the track has a very pop backbone under its excited guitar playing and call out type vocal delivery. The song just has all the components to make your Friday better!

Ron Gallo Website
Ron Gallo Facebook
New West Records

The Friday Fire Track: Art Brut – “Wham! Bang! Pow! Let’s Rock Out!”

by

Art Brut is back and just released a brand new single and today’s Friday Fire Track, “Wham! Bang! Pow! Let’s Rock Out.” Frontman Eddie Argos says of the track, “This is a song about making new friends, I hope it works out…Watch the fuck out! We’re back and very rejuvenated.” Strong words but the song … Read more

Closer You Are Book Giveaway: Biography of Robert Pollard

by

Update: The contest is over. You read correctly. Courtesy of Da Capo Press, TFN is giving away two copies of Closer You Are: The Story of Robert Pollard and Guided by Voices by Matthew Cutter. The book is the upcoming authorized biography of Robert Pollard, indie rock icon and founder of Guided By Voices. It … Read more

Video Premiere: Xuan – “We Were Just Talking”

by

Xuan (pronounced “Swan”) Nguyen is a singer/songwriter from Dallas, Texas. She grew up in the burbs of Big D but being the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants helped influence an exploring life move to Viet Nam where she hosted a TV show. She then traveled around Southeast Asia and Australia before making another move – this time to Ireland!

She started writing songs in Ireland but it was after she moved back home and connected with Salim Nourallah (producer Old 97s, The Damnwells, Rhett Miller) at an open mic that got things rolling. He invited her to record at his studio which turned out to be her debut, Have Some Fun.

Have Some Fun is not out till November 16th via Palo Santo Records but TFN is giving you a premiere look (and listen) with her new video for album track “We Were Just Talking.” The video follows Xuan in the development of a new relationship and shows how it is not always easy. I don’t want to ruin it but it does have a happy ending!

Beyond the fun video, Xuan’s infectious indie pop voice makes this upbeat song stick in your head with her Jay Som meets Juliana Hatfield type of delivery. Everything about this video and track will have you wanting to hear more so make sure you check out Xuan’s social media and pick up the record on November 16th!

Xuan Website
Xuan Facebook
Palo Santo Records

The Friday Fire Track: GØGGS – “Pre Strike Sweep”

by

GØGGS, the Los Angeles-based group comprised of co-founders Chris Shaw (vocals) and Ty Segall (guitars), and Michael Anderson (bass) and Charles Moothart (drums, guitar), are set to release their second album, Pre Strike Sweep, on September 28th via In The Red. Following their “foot to the floor” self-titled debut, Pre Strike Sweep should find the … Read more

Album Review Flashback – Motel Beds: Dumb Gold (2012)

by

Sometimes it is fun to go back and check out a past review. Today’s flashback review features the Motel Beds 2012 release Dumb Gold which landed at #13 on our Blazing Top 50 that year. The record is a Dayton, Ohio “must have” for any indie rock collection and this week the album finally received … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Fascinating – “Communist Power”

by

Gutter pop from Cleveland, Ohio, returns with Fascinating’s new track “Communist Power.” Today’s Friday Fire Track does not mess around with its fuzzed-up guitar assault. Play it loud and raise a fist as you join Fascinating’s crusade against the current times. “Communist Power” is the first of 12 new songs from an upcoming album of … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Mozes And The Firstborn – “Hello”

by

Netherlands-based Mozes and the Firstborn are back with a new single and today’s Friday Fire Track “Hello.” You may remember the band’s excellent Headphone Approved self-titled debut back in 2014 on Burger Records. Since that time, the group has toured with The Growlers, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and together PANGEA to just name a few, while … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Lala Lala – “Destroyer”

by

Lala Lala is the Chicago-based project of Lillie West. She recently just signed to Hardly Art Records and will release her new album, The Lamb, on Friday, September 28th. The Friday Fire Track today is your first listen to Lala Lala as “Destroyer” has a very early Liz Phair meets Snail Mail sound. I also … Read more

Track Premiere: The 1984 Draft – “Jan Kawolski”

by

Dayton, Ohio based indie quartet The 1984 Draft are set to release their new album, Makes Good Choices, via Poptek Records in August. Today, The Fire Note is premiering the song “Jan Kawolski,” which is the opening track off the record and it will give you a solid introduction to the band in its concise … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Exploded View – “Raven Raven”

by

Not sure why but trippy seemed liked the style of music to feature today and Mexico City’s Exploded View has the perfect new track. The Friday Fire Track, “Raven Raven,” has a hypnotic but sterile pulse as Annika Henderson’ vocals float through its mystic haze. The effect reminds me of several Kim Gordon fronted songs … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Active Bird Community – “Unwind With Me”

by

Brooklyn, NY’s Active Bird Community instantly will get you excited to bring out the rock. The band have a new album coming out on September 14th via Barsuk Records and today’s Friday Fire Track is the perfect introduction.

“Unwind With Me” starts off innocent enough with the slow burning guitar strum and the band’s woo hoo harmony vocals. Singer Tom D’Agustino then calmly sings “and now you’re really over there, and I am thousand pounds of scared – I’ll fuck this up.” That is when the band’s muscular guitar comes out and injects this song a solid backbone that is unforgettable. Enjoy your Friday!

Active Bird Community Website
Active Bird Community Facebook
Barsuk Records

The Friday Fire Track: Jane Church – “Rocket To The Kremlin”

by

Jane Church began as the solo recording project of Queens, NY-based artist Matt Stevenson in 2017. Joined live by seasoned musicians Ali Awan (lead guitar), Turner Stough (bass), and Peter Hilton Jr. (drums,) Jane Church now are finding a band approach to things and will have several releases out soon that includes today’s Fire Track … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Deaf Poets – “Cigarette”

by

Brooklyn-via-Miami Beach based duo Deaf Poets have a new EP, Change & Bloom, out on June 15th via WaxRomantix Records. The song featured today off that EP is “Cigarette” and it shows the Deaf Poets wall of sound type rock n roll. “Cigarette” has a good mix of Jesus & Mary Chain, Black Rebel Motorcycle … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Oh Sees – “Overthrown”

by

The always changing John Dwyer and his Oh Sees consistently give TFN something to look forward to! The Friday Fire Track today does just that as it features the new super hard prog-metal single, “Overthrown,” from Oh Sees. The song is from the upcoming full length Smote Reverser which is due out in August via … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: The Rock’n’Roll HiFives -“Hold On”

by

There is nothing better than some good old fashioned attitude rock for your Friday. Today’s Friday Fire Track is just that as New Jersey’s RocknRoll Hi-Fives bring a snarl with their single “Hold On.” The band might surprise you as they are made up of sixteen-year-old singer Eilee Centeno, her thirteen-year old brother on drums, … Read more

Premiere Friday Fire Track: No Name Hotel – “Parable”

by

Tristan marks the second EP release by No Name Hotel, the moniker of singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Farahd Abdullah Wallizada. A first-generation American born of Afghani parents, Wallizada spent his early life in Jacksonville, Florida, having little access to pop culture. That changed in his early teens, when he began pirating songs off of library … Read more