Naam Vow Tee Pee Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Brooklyn’s Naam works to stand out with their groovy Vow. Album Review: Naam is a band that’s put me in quite a pickle. Their second LP Vow was really trying very hard to get me to like it. With influences ranging from Wolfmother to Graveyard, from … Read more
Baths Obsidian Anticon Records [2013] Fire Note Says: After a near death experience, Will Wiesenfeld drops a near masterpiece. Album Review: On his 2010 debut as Baths (the woefully neglected Cerulean) Will Wiesenfeld was content to let his laptop do most of the talking for him. A cool hybrid of the LA beat scene and … Read more
Saturday Looks Good To Me One Kiss Ends It All Polyvinyl Records [2013] Fire Note Says: One Kiss Ends It All draws heavily from the past to create pop for the present. Album Review: Saturday Looks Good to Me first came to my attention with their 2003 album All Your Summer Songs, which was about … Read more
Jonny Fritz Dad Country ATO Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Jonny Fritz finds a more serious side on his ATO debut Dad Country. Album Review: Jonny Fritz (formerly Jonny Corndawg) plays a very straightforward and honest “country” music on his third album, Dad Country, and first for ATO Records. Fritz states that his songs are … Read more
Alex Bleeker And The Freaks How Far Away Woodsist Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Alex Bleeker’s sophomore album will take you back to a different era of Americana. Album Review: Alex Bleeker is the bassist for Real Estate but his solo musical outlet with The Freaks has continued on to the more realized sophomore record … Read more
Noah And The Whale Heart Of Nowhere Mercury Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Noah and the Whale’s fourth LP sputters after a strong start. Album Review: Noah and the Whale returns with their fourth LP Heart of Nowhere. Not being too familiar with the band prior to this album, their pop/folk stylings were a nice … Read more
David Byrne & St. Vincent Brass Tactics EP 4AD Records [2013] Fire Note Says: A free EP from David Byrne & St. Vincent – sure, why not? Album Review: St Vincent and David Byrne, sentimentally speaking, hold a few memories for me. First off, Byrne’s Taking Heads were a big part of my childhood. As … Read more
The Boxer Rebellion Promises Universal Music Group [2013] Fire Note Says: The Boxer Rebellion perfects their knockout punch on their fourth LP Promises. Album Review: Sometimes an album grabs you for no good reason – all the analysis and critical thought can’t begin to explain the why’s or how’s. This is what happened to me … Read more
Sundowners The Larger Half Of Wisdom Dirt Cult Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Sundowners throw down some old fashioned Minnesota punk! Album Review: It’s no big secret that some of the best punk and indie rock comes from Minnesota, heck it was practically born there with The Replacements and Hüsker Dü. The winters are long … Read more
The Baptist Generals Jackleg Devotional To The Heart Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Baptist Generals follow up their No Silver/No Gold lp 10 years after the fact, and it is worth the wait! Album Review: The term Jackleg has several meanings (I know because I looked it up), but it’s most common … Read more
The Hussy Pagan Hiss Southpaw Records[2013] Fire Note Says: Frenetic Madison, Wisconsin duo stir up quite a ruckus on their third album. Album Review: She (Heather Hussy) plays drums; he (Bobby Hussy) plays guitar. They both contribute on the vocal end of things so the White Stripes comparisons don’t fly. Besides, they share little of … Read more
The Maine Forever Halloween Eighty One Twenty Three [2013] Fire Note Says: The Maine utilize Brendan Benson’s board skills for a catchy fourth LP. Album Review: If someone ever asked me if there is criteria on reviewing a record I would just answer sure. Of course they will ask for more detail and I will … Read more
Camera Obscura Desire Lines 4AD Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Camera Obscura keep their sound familiar and fresh on their fifth LP. Album Review: Camera Obscura have been making music for the past 15 years; their newest release Desire Lines is instantly identifiable with the sound they have created over that time period. The Scottish … Read more
Dead Gaze Dead Gaze Fat Cat Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dead Gaze’s debut full-length is a lo-fi diamond in the rough. Album Review: Northern Mississippi is hardly known as a hotbed of indie music but perhaps that is about to change thanks to something called the Cats Purring Collective outside Oxford, a college town … Read more
Queens Of The Stone Age …Like Clockwork Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Queens of the Stone Age …Like Clockwork, hits right on time. Album Review: Queens of the Stone Age front man Josh Homme is—to put it bluntly—the man. He’s accrued many a famous friend, having rocked out with the best from John Paul … Read more
Roomrunner Ideal Cities Fan Death Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Roll down the car windows, and blast the debut lp from Baltimore’s Roomrunner. Album Review: I hate to follow the same old story line when it comes to Baltimore’s Roomrunner, so I am going to get it out of the way early. Yes, as a … Read more
The Front Bottoms Talon Of The Hawk Bar/None Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Front Bottoms return with another record full of catchy wordplay that will make you smile. Album Review: I remember hearing the folky-punk debut from The Front Bottoms back in 2011 and thinking that these guys were onto something. Simple songs, simple … Read more
The Lone Bellow The Lone Bellow Descendant Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Lone Bellow offer a set of songs wrought with emotion and heartache on their self-titled debut! Album Review: I love radio. I still mourn the loss of WOXY which I am lucky enough to have been in broadcast range of when they … Read more
Graham MacRae Dundrearies A Man A Plan A Canal [2013] Fire Note Says: LA singer/songwriter’s second album shows signs of real potential. Album Review: After a five year absence, Los Angeles native Graham MacRae returns with his sophomore release. Having not heard his first album I felt it important to catch up and spent some … Read more
Emily Bell In Technicolor One-Eyed George Entertainment [2013] Fire Note Says: Emily Bell’s debut showcases her confident soul. Album Review: Austin’s Emily Bell has one of those voices that makes you instantly take notice with its confidence, power and sultry R&B undertone. On her debut, In Technicolor, Bell uses all of these traits to produce … Read more
The Breeders LSXX 4AD Records [2013] Fire Note Says: LSXX is a worthy salute to one of the great albums of the 90’s! Album Review: “We weren’t riot grrrl and we weren’t grunge. Hopefully, we were joyful and natural.” This is the opening statement in the liner notes from founding group leader Kim Deal as … Read more
Drazy Hoops This Is The Sound Of… Slow Burn Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Drazy Hoops’ eighth album is genre-hopping, kaleidoscopic collection. Album Review: Musical diversity can be either a strength or a weakness, demonstrating an artist’s ability to adapt and experiment, or indicating a lack of direction. This Is The Sound Of… fits more … Read more
R.E.M. Live In Greensboro EP Warner Bros. Records [2013] Fire Note Says: R.E.M. gives a taste of their musicianship on the Live in Greensboro EP. Album Review: As part of Record Store Day 2013, an EP from R.E.M. was released that included live tracks taken from performances in Greensboro, NC in 1989. These tracks are … Read more
Graham Repulski Cop Art Big School Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Graham Repulski stand tall with their lo-fi style and short memorable songs! Album Review: If you have been following The Fire Note for several years then the lo-fi New Jersey band Graham Repulski should not be a stranger to you. If this is the … Read more
Kodaline Kodaline EP RCA Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Kodaline’s debut EP shows that the up and coming band has promise. Album Review: Kodaline released a digital only self-titled EP last year that has recently gained momentum because of the inclusion of its song “All I Want” on Grey’s Anatomy. The song sounds like it … Read more