King Khan & The Shrines Idle No More Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: King Khan is back with a soul rock record that will get you grooving in a hot second. Album Review: Album Review: It has been six years since King Khan & The Shrines released a full length of new material, so … Read more
Franz Ferdinand Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action Domino Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Franz Ferdinand’s fourth LP doesn’t disappoint as it hits the Right notes. Album Review: Scotland’s Franz Ferdinand hit the scene right around the same time as The Killers. “Take Me Out” and “Somebody Told Me” take me straight back to 2004. … Read more
Over The Rhine Meet Me At The Edge Of The World Great Speckled Dog Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Even as they write songs about life’s inevitable end in death, Over the Rhine seek the passion and beauty of life’s loves. Album Review: “We are hungry for the secret news about life,” said Stanley Kunitz, … Read more
strangewave Pop Noir Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: strangewave offers up an engaging debut with Pop Noir! Album Review: strangewave’s debut, Pop Noir, is the final result after a year of composing, producing and recording. The Dayton, Ohio duo of J. Trenton Crace and Katrina Eresman have labeled themselves as dream-pop which I feel works … Read more
O’Brother Disillusion Triple Crown Records [2013] Fire Note Says: O’Brother opens up for experimentation on their second LP. Album Review: When I looked up O’Brothers’ previous LP Garden Window I saw phrases such as this: Instant classic; Metal album of 2011; grandiose and loud; stellar debut. As a result, I was really excited to see … Read more
Fairport Convention Rising For The Moon (Deluxe Edition) UMG/Island Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Fairport Convention’s last album with Sandy Denny gets the deluxe treatment. Album Review: Fairport Convention are often credited with inventing folk rock—the British flavor of folk rock, that is. Their trilogy of 1969 albums with lead singer Sandy Denny—What We Did … Read more
The Clean Vehicle Captured Tracks Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Fantastic reissue from New Zealand legends The Clean. Album Review: Kiwi legends, The Clean, have been delivering their jangle pop goodness to their devoted following since the late 70’s. They started their career releasing a handful of ep’s on the Flying Nun label, before brothers … Read more
Little Comets Life Is Elsewhere Dualtone Music Group [2013] Fire Note Says: Little Comets’ indie pop leaves a sunny impression on Life Is Elsewhere. Album Review: The UK’s Little Comets second LP Life Is Elsewhere was actually released in Great Britain about a year ago. Here in the U.S. we now get the chance to … Read more
The Paper Kites Young North EP Nettwerk Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Young North presents a band poised for greatness. Album Review: Chances are if I said “name a band from Australia,” the list of answers I’d get would include acts like Tame Impala, The Bee Gees, or maybe even Men at Work. If the … Read more
Adam Franklin & Bolts Of Melody Black Horses Goodnight Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Ex-Swervedriver front man consistently delivers and Black Horses may be his best solo work yet. Album Review: For those of us who still worship at the altar of Oxford shoe gazers Swervedriver the mere fact that Adam Franklin is still active … Read more
Robbie Fulks Gone Away Backward Bloodshot Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Robbie Fulks comes around full circle on Gone Away Backward. Album Review: If you have been an active listener of music that dates back to the mid to late 90’s then you might recall the real momentum that the “Alt-Country” genre had at the … Read more
Zola Jesus Versions Sacred Bones Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Zola Jesus makes a bold play with uneven payoff on Versions. Album Review: Zola Jesus’s fourth LP Versions is a collaboration with a string quartet led by J.G. Thirlwell. The album’s concept is to take songs in the Zola Jesus catalog and strip them to … Read more
Black Joe Lewis Electric Slave Vagrant Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Black Joe Lewis unleashes a rip roaring rock party on third LP – Electric Slave! Album Review: In our recent interview with Joe Lewis he stated that his third full length, Electric Slave, represents a new beginning for himself and the band. He went … Read more
Soft Metals Lenses Captured Tracks Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Soft Metals’ sophomore release is nocturnal EDM for lovers and people who dislike dance music. Album Review: Having met at a party, Patricia Hall and Ian Hicks did what all Portland hipsters do instead of marrying – they started a band. Since their eponymous 2011 … Read more
Dirty Streets Blades Of Grass Alive Naturalsound Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dirty Streets steep 60’s blues rock, touches of soul, and more contemporary influences on Blades of Grass. Album Review: The Alive Natural Sound catalogue was and is rife with great artists: The Black Keys; Buffalo Killers; Radio Moscow; Left Lane Cruiser; Swamp Dogg; … Read more
Rare High 3 EPs / Hot Reason Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: If you like your music lo-fi and insanely catchy, check out these releases from Rare High. Album Review: Dean Wells, the man behind Rare High, is a pop genius. Let’s just get that out of the way right now. Whether it be as … Read more
James Younger Feelin’ American Light Organ Records [2013] Fire Note Says: James Younger’s debut Feelin’ American wears its influences on his sleeve. Album Review: After reading an interview with Canadian James Younger these 11 breezy pop songs found on his solo debut could have had quite the spark. But, the adherence to past influences such … Read more
What do you get when you combine a one-of-a-kind living legend, an up-and-coming guitar heroine, and an eight-piece brass band? An unforgettable night on the Love This Giant Tour, the live iteration of the excellent David Byrne/St. Vincent album of the same name. Featuring a slew of Love This Giant tracks, St. Vincent solo songs, … Read more
The Urinals Negative Capability In The Red Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Urinals surge from the punk underground with the reissue of retrospective Negative Capability. Album Review: These are the things that label In The Red records lives for: seemingly influencing about half their catalogue of artists, The Urinals’ brand of minute-long art punk … Read more
Travis Where You Stand Red Telephone Box [2013] Fire Note Says: After a five year hiatus, Travis are back with the breezy Where You Stand. Album Review: I still scratch my head over the lack of success by Travis as the band helped pave the way for groups like Coldplay, Muse, Keane and Snow Patrol. … Read more
Jake Bugg Jake Bugg Mercury Records [2013] Fire Note Says: At only 19, Jake Bugg electrifies the indie/rock scene with his self-titled, debut album. Album Review: It’s hard to believe Jake Bugg is only 19. His deep voice and timeless rock music are comparable to Bob Dylan, the Beatles, and Johnny Cash. At 17, Jake … Read more
Superchunk I Hate Music Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Superchunk return with an energetic and thought stirring tenth record. Album Review: “I hate music – what is it worth? / Can’t bring anyone back to this earth” is the first line in the single “Me & You & Jackie Mittoo” from Superchunk’s tenth studio … Read more
Weekend Jinx Slumberland Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Brooklyn via San Francisco band add some New Wave flavor to their second album. Album Review: Weekend’s 2010 debut, Sports, was a loud, distorted and uncompromising affair. It was also almost unlistenable. Even front man Shaun Durkan has admitted to having difficulty sitting through it in its … Read more
Paper Lions My Friends Fountain Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Paper Lions’ power pop returns with comforting steadiness on My Friends. Album Review: Prince Edward Island’s Paper Lions’ fifth album My Friends reminded me very much of an album I reviewed earlier this year, Noah And The Whale’s Heart of Nowhere. In fact My … Read more
Ty Segall Sleeper Drag City Records [2013] Fire Note Says: A hauntingly gorgeous acoustic record from perhaps the last artist you would expect it from. Album Review: As the title to his masterful album from last year, Twins, suggested, there are indeed two sides to the music of Ty Segall. On the one hand, you … Read more