Guided By Voices Down By The Racetrack (EP) GBV Inc. [2013] Fire Note Says: Guided By Voices starts off their 2013 output with the excellent Down By The Racetrack EP! Album Review: When the news hit that Guided By Voices was kicking off 2013 with an EP those on the outside probably thought why bother … Read more
Kim Deal Walking With A Killer 7″ Self-Released [2013] Along with the reuniting Breeders news, this 7-inch release from Kim Deal was a great surprise to kick off 2013. This release is number one of what is supposed to be a continuing series. What I liked about the surprise release style here is that there … Read more
Bad Religion will release their new album ‘True North’ January 22nd on Epitaph Records. The band is celebrating with an album release hangout – broadcast from the Red Bull Sound Space at The World Famous KROQ. They will be playing a short set and taking some questions from fans worldwide. You can catch the event … Read more
Willy Moon Railroad Track 7″ Third Man Records [2012] Not sure you know the name yet but Willy Moon is responsible for the song “Yeah Yeah” which was the latest track boosted to extreme exposure by an Apple ad. Well just before all that hype, the New Zealand-London based 23 year old musician, singer and … Read more
Artist: Deap Vally Hometown: Los Angeles, California Artists With Similar Fire: Yeah Yeah Yeahs / The Dead Weather / Joan Jett Deap Vally are two tough Los Angeles ladies that play a mean blues riff ‘n beat and will be coming your way here in 2013. This intense duo is made up of Lindsey Troy … Read more
Rancid Essentials 7″ Box Set Pirate Press Records [2012] This 7-inch set from Rancid is a pure spectacle as it celebrates the band’s 20th Anniversary by collecting their entire discography here on 46 pieces of wax. The group’s raw punk rock comes through loud and clear as the 45rpm singles have all been remastered. “Ruby … 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 White Whale Records. A huge thanks to founder Ryder Havdale for taking the time to answer our questions. If you … Read more
After three exceptional full-length albums in 2012, Guided By Voices are back already in 2013 with a new six song EP titled Down By The Racetrack. “Copy Zero” is the fifth track on the EP and it showcases yet another side of the legendary group. You can now pre-order this limited release from Rockathon Records … Read more
Cosmonauts Lazerbeam 7” EP The Reverberation Appreciation Society [2012] Fullerton CA’s Cosmonauts bring everything you want in a 7-inch with their 4 tracks of heavy, swirling, and distorted garage psych. The title track is a superb grooving track that fits right into any indie music fan playlist as its mid tempo pace holds an intensity … Read more
Mikal Cronin “Get Along (Acoustic)” Turntable Kitchen [2012] Mikal Cronin is mostly known for his work with current indie darling Ty Segall and his solid self-titled record which was released last year. This new seven inch offers up three acoustic tracks from Cronin with the help of Ty Segall for the Violitionist Sessions. All three … Read more
Doug Gillard Breaking In Two b/w So Much More 347 Records [2011] Doug Gillard is a talented guitarist and songwriter who has performed with a lengthy list of bands and artists with some of the most notable being Guided By Voices, Death Of Samantha, Gem, Lifeguards and Cobra Verde. He currently is the active touring … Read more
Man Or Astro-man? Analog Series Vol. 1 Chunklet Industries [2012] Man or Astro-Man? return with their first new material in well over twelve years with this debut 7-inch in their Analog Series. The series of singles will result with a full length release sometime this year. If you were ever a fan of this band … Read more
Kurt Vile / Meg Baird Just Another Song b/w Classic Rock In Spring Matador Records [2012] The December installment of Matador Records Singles Going Home Alone for 2012 brings us a collaboration between troubadour Kurt Vile and Espers’ Meg Baird. This pairing is not much of a surprise as the pair have toured together in … Read more
Here is a unique opportunity to hear the man behind the music as Quentin Tarantino provides a track-by-track introduction to the songs on his new movie Django Unchained. QUENTIN TARANTINO’S DJANGO UNCHAINED ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK COMPLETE TRACK LIST 1. WINGED 2. DJANGO (MAIN THEME) – LUIS BACALOV, ROCKY ROBERTS 3. THE BRAYING MULE – … Read more
Meat Puppets Meat Puppets II SST Records [1983] Fan Reviewer: Tracey Location: Scottsdale, AZ Age: 25 When I found out that the Meat Puppets were from my home state of Arizona it really spiked my interest in knowing more. After reading up a little bit on the Meat Puppets history and discovering that they had … Read more
#50 Nada Surf The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy Barsuk Records [2012] The combining of Nada Surf’s focus with their high spirits made The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy one of the most optimistic records the band has released to date. The same confidence that has been with band over the years felt even stronger … Read more
The Fire Note wouldn’t be possible without the talented writers that have signed on here to share their educated thoughts and true enjoyment of music with our readers. Our year end Top 50 was created based on reviews from the collective but clearly everyone has different tastes and ideas when naming the best album released … Read more
Jack White Vault Package #14 Third Man Records [2012] As a fan of anything Jack White – I’ll take anything I can get. So falling out of the Vault Package #14 (which also includes Jack White Live at Third Man and the photo book “Shark Infested Soda Fountain”) is this beautiful 7-inch courtesy of Third … Read more
Artist: Go Tell The Eskimo Hometown: London, England Artists With Similar Fire: Phoenix / Arcade Fire / DIIV Along with the local support from BBC Radio and Radio 1, Go Tell The Eskimo is catching the attention of audiences across their native UK thanks to their unique brand of electric induced indie rock. The Smoke … Read more
Kishi Bashi Holiday SnowFlexi 7” Joyful Noise Recordings [2012] ‘Tis the season for a “snowflexi” from Kishi Bashi just in time for the holidays. This original song “It’s Christmas But It’s Not White Here In Our Town” features Bashi using the same whimsical vocal style that made his debut, 151a, so engaging. It may not … Read more
Artist: Cub Scouts Hometown: Brisbane, Queensland (Australia) Artists With Similar Fire: Architecture in Helsinki / The Shins / Los Campesinos! Cub Scouts are an energetic Brisbane based 5-piece that have been crafting their own style of indie pop music over the last year. Their debut single “Evie” landed high rotation on triple j and scored … Read more
The intent of our new 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 Big School Records. A huge thanks to founder/owner Matthew Marcinowski (pictured below) for taking the time to answer our … Read more
Graham Repulski My Color Is Red 7″ Big School Records [2012] The My Color Is Red 7″ represents the 6th release in the past 2 years from Graham Repulski and it is their very first release on wax. The four tracks included on this 7″ once again embrace the band’s love for lo-fi indie pop … Read more
Turtle Giant Gold Tooth b/w All Light (Live Session) Turntable Kitchen [2012] How many bands do you know that are based in Macau, China? Well I can now give you one – the trio Turtle Giant. The band is our featured 7-inch courtesy of the always great Turntable Kitchen. The A side track, “Gold Tooth” … Read more
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Gadzooks! / Tell Me That You Love Me In The Red Records [2012] In my book you never can go wrong with the Blues Explosion. This 7-inch release on In The Red Records continues the Spencer Jukebox Series that started back in 1992. This 6th single in the series offers … Read more