Midlake Antiphon ATO Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Midlake reboot reasserts their claim to being the best ever soft rock band out of Denton. Album Review: A band in crisis sometimes finds its way and survives. Sometimes even excel. Midlake found themselves without the services of lead singer and songwriter Tim Smith halfway through … Read more
Widowspeak The Swamps EP Captured Tracks [2013] Fire Note Says: The Swamps EP from Widowspeak primes you for their next LP. Album Review: We heard from Widowspeak back in January this year with the group’s sophomore record Almanac (TFN Review). That album saw the group pair down to a duo and for me, although minimal, … Read more
Bottomless Pit Shade Perennial Comedy Minus One [2013] Fire Note Says: Bottomless Pit soldiers on with third slow-burn Shade Perennial. Album Review: When I read the phrase emotional, transcendent post-punk, I immediately become excited. Let’s say it’s an excitement that could only be described as a 12-year wait for the next Dismemberment Plan album—and sadly … Read more
Kodaline In A Perfect World RCA Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Kodaline’s In A Perfect World is a likeable, if familiar, debut. Album Review: Do you know someone who likes Coldplay? How about Mumford & Sons? May I suggest a stocking stuffer for that person? Kodaline’s In A Perfect World is a nice blend between … Read more
Arliss Nancy Wild American Runners Black Numbers Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Wild American Runners is booze soaked rock album with a heart of gold. Album Review: Arliss Nancy is the name of a Colorado quintet that just might be the best band of its kind going right now. These guys have picked up the … Read more
Cults Static Columbia Records [2013] Fire Note Says: With their sophomore album, Cults put a pop/rock spin on their west-coast sound. Album Review: With their sophomore album, Cults put a pop/rock, electronic spin on their west coast sound. Most of the songs feature female vocalist Madeline Follin, while other tracks are accompanied by Brian Oblivion, … Read more
Quasi Mole City Kill Rock Stars [2013] Fire Note Says: Quasi’s eighth album is a head trip that encompasses every twist and turn the band has made in their 20 year existence. Album Review: This long running Portland duo, Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss, have been making music as Quasi since the mid 90’s. Janet’s … Read more
Connections Body Language Anyway Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Body Language continues Connections catchy lo-fi formula! Album Review: Columbus, Ohio’s Connections once again embrace their lo-fi roots here and hopefully don’t mind that every article on the band always links them with Guided By Voices. This happens of course for several obvious reasons as Body … Read more
Red Fang Whales And Leeches Relapse Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Red Fang’s third album fails to surprise nor does it completely disappoint either. Album Review: When I first heard “Prehistoric Dog” off Portland stoner-metal band Red Fang’s debut album I was more or less convinced that these guys were the future of metal – … Read more
Mutual Benefit Love’s Crushing Diamond Fat Possum Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Mutual Benefit release a spectacular sounding debut! Album Review: I love it when a debut hits all the right notes from the start. That is the way I feel about the proper debut from Mutual Benefit, Love’s Crushing Diamond. The record does not … Read more
Diane Coffee My Friend Fish Western Vinyl Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Diane Coffee’s fuzzy, colorful debut is a wonderful surprise. Album Review: Would you believe that a former Disney Channel star had made one of the most exciting debut indie albums of 2013? No it’s not Britney Spears. Not Justin Timberlake. Not Selena Gomez. … Read more
The Crytearions I See What It Is and I am Scared Dramacore [2013] Fire Note Says: One man bedroom band creates rude, crude niche punk. Album Review: Ok Crytearions, I get it: you’re a shitty, lo-fi one man bedroom punk act from Co Mayo, Ireland. Your second release I See What It Is and I … Read more
Holy Ghost! Dynamics DFA Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Holy Ghost! could use another exclamation point or two on the latest, Dynamics. Album Review: Holy Ghost’s sophomore LP, Dynamics, had a lot to live up to. While not universally fawned upon by the public, their eponymous debut had a lot of great moments and it … Read more
Dent May Warm Blanket Paw Tracks [2013] Fire Note Says: Dent May’s latest provides a Warm Blanket of smooth, quirky indie pop. Album Review: Dent May’s music doesn’t sound like the product of someone from Mississippi. From the opening chords of “Turn Up the Speakers,” it’s apparent that this is no “southern rock” album, if … Read more
Less Than Jake See The Light Fat Wreck Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Get your skank on – Less Than Jake are back with their fun style of ska-punk! Album Review: It may surprise some of our readers that Less Than Jake have been a band for 21 years now. That actually is probably older … Read more
White Denim Corsicana Lemonade Downtown Music [2013] Fire Note Says: White Denim pours a tall cool glass of their blend of classic guitar rock. Album Review: White Denim, the Austin TX four piece, comes blasting out of the gate on their new album Corsicana Lemonade. These guys are all over the map when it comes … Read more
Radioactivity Radioactivity Dirtnap Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Jeff Burke of Marked Men returns to the States and releases debut from his new band Radioactivity! Album Review: Dirtnap Records recently released the new Mind Spiders LP (TFN Review) from ex-Marked Men Mark Ryan. Radioactivity is another ex-Marked Men project that not only involves Ryan but … Read more
Placeholder I Don’t Need Forgiveness Black Numbers [2013] Fire Note Says: Placeholder proves that the rumors of emo’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Album Review: So what are we on now? The fourth wave of emo? Let me do some quick math here. The first wave was dominated by the DC scene and bands like … Read more
Bardo Pond Peace On Venus Fire Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Bardo Pond lays down the heavy droning lysergic riffs as they travel the spaceways. Album Review: One does not simply put on a Bardo Pond album and think, let’s review this thing. It doesn’t work that way. The long time psychedelic band from Philadelphia, … Read more
Night Beats Sonic Bloom Reverberation Appreciation Society [2013] Fire Note Says: Night Beats invoke a heavy recollection of the hazy 60‘s with their second LP Sonic Bloom Album Review: I hate to call it a bummer, but that‘s the only word that comes to mind when thinking about Sonic Bloom-that may be too harsh. I … Read more
Barton Carroll Avery County, I’m Bound To You Skybucket Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Barton Carroll returns with another album of solid songwriting and modern folk that should catch your attention. Album Review: If you remember the little blog we used to have, you may be familiar with singer/songwriter Barton Carroll. His last record, Together … Read more
Circus Devils My Mind Has Seen The White Trick Happy Jack Rock Records [2013] Circus Devils When Machines Attack Happy Jack Rock Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Two Circus Devils records – two completely different releases! Album Review: It was just the other day that I was talking Robert Pollard projects and Circus Devils came … Read more
Los Lobos Disconnected In New York City 429 Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Los Lobos celebrate 40 years with their excellent new live record. Album Review: What do you do on your band’s 40th anniversary, especially if on your 20th you released an exhaustive two-disc collection of your early triumphs that includes many of your … Read more
Heavenly Beat Prominence Captured Tracks [2013] Fire Note Says: Heavenly Beat’s sophomore effort is a smooth groovy album. Album Review: Heavenly Beat returns with their second album in as many years. The mastermind behind Heavenly Beat is Texas’ John Pena, who plays with a few studio artists but is primarily responsible for everything you hear … Read more
Arcade Fire Reflektor Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Arcade Fire have created a massive art-rock record that is grandiose in every superb way! Album Review: “Magic Mirror, on the wall, who is the biggest band of them all?” Arcade Fire of course is the correct response and after taking on this behemoth of a … Read more