pacificUV After The Dream You Are Awake Mazarine Records [2013] Fire Note Says: pacificUV let more sun shine in through the haze on their fourth LP. Album Review: pacificUV is an indie-rock band from Athens, Georgia and After The Dream You Are Awake represents the groups fourth full length. Their 2012 long player, Weekends, found … Read more
Purson The Circle And The Blue Door Rise Above Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Purson explores all that was good about late sixties/early seventies folk, prog and hard rock. Album Review: It’s not very often that we here at The Fire Note take notice of a heavy metal band. I personally find all the satanic … Read more
Victory Victory Is Music Reserva Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Catchy, if slightly unoriginal, bedroom rock from LA based band, Victory. Album Review: Victory is the project of Robert Fleming, a Los Angeles resident who has clearly studied his Spoon records. So much so, that for the first two listens, all I could think of … Read more
Wampire Curiosity Polyvinyl Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Portland duo tries a plethora of influences on for size. And it all fits. Album Review: Wampire’s debut album, Curiosity, is one of those hard to pin down records. For days on end I listened, and kept listening. Was this really that good? Or have I been … Read more
Koji Crooked In My Mind Run For Cover Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Koji’s solid singer/songwriter debut brings intensity back to the acoustic guitar. Album Review: Rarely in these days of digital downloads, streaming and playlists do you come across a record that makes you want to sit down, kick back and just enjoy the … Read more
Blackout Beach Blues Trip Soft Abuse Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Carey Mercer’s Blackout Beach goes for the gusto with a sinisterly, theatric aplomb rarely heard today. Album Review: Carey Mercer is a strange animal, the Canadian song craftsman takes many different avenues from being experimental to an almost stripped approach. Whether it’s through rocking … Read more
Vampire Weekend Modern Vampires Of The City XL Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Vampire Weekend successfully change things up on album number three! Album Review: I don’t know why but I really wanted to hate this new third record from Vampire Weekend. Maybe it was the title: Modern Vampires Of The City – kinda goofy … Read more
The Shouting Matches Grownass Man Middle West Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Shouting Matches are loose and fun on their debut album. Album Review: Many of you will be interested in The Shouting Matches because of its superstar member Justin Vernon. Yes, he of Bon Iver fame has made a blues-rock album with two … Read more
!!! Thr!!!er Warp Records [2013] Fire Note Says: !!! wants us to party like it’s 1983. Album Review: It’ll be 30 years this December since Michael Jackson dropped Thriller onto an unsuspecting world. (That is almost as hard to believe as the fact that next month will mark the fourth anniversary of his death.) It … Read more
Surrogate Post-Heroic Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Surrogate add heavier textures to their already winning formula, and sound more cohesive than ever before. Album Review: You’ve probably never heard of Surrogate. Ever since their 2007 debut on Tooth & Nail Records, Love is For the Rich, the Chico, California band has flown under the radar, … Read more
Savages Silence Yourself Pop Noire / Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Savages release a debut that rekindles a different era of post-punk. Album Review: London’s Savages come to us with high anticipation and a huge amount of hype. That typically is a setup to be disappointed but in this case the female quartet’s debut … Read more
Fitz And The Tantrums More Than Just A Dream Elektra Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Fitz And The Tantrums returns with a sleeker but less endearing sound. Album Review: I hold a special place in my heart for Pickin Up The PIeces, Fitz And The Tantrums’ debut LP. Amazon picked it as an editor’s selection … Read more
Deerhunter Monomania 4AD Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Another record form Deerhunter with top honors potential! Album Review: How many times have you been let down from your favorite artist? How many times have you blamed your own high expectations as the reason you just couldn’t get into (insert favorite artist here) new record? OK … Read more
Steve Earle The Low Highway New West Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Steve Earle continues to make good (music). Album Review: On this 14th full-length album since his ’86 debut, Guitar Town, Steve Earle has defied expectations of an early drug-fueled demise, only to deliver yet another vibrant, life informed collection of country and folk … Read more
Iggy And The Stooges Ready To Die Fat Possum Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The album may be called Ready to Die, but the band is nowhere near death! Album Review: Let me start this review by saying that I am one of the only people I know who really enjoyed The Stooges 2007 album, … Read more
The Neighbourhood I Love You. Columbia Records [2013] Fire Note Says: With I Love You., The Neighbourhood introduces an album that is many different things, but has something most alternative and indie rock listeners will enjoy. Album Review: Blending ambient, emo sound with upbeat, quirky pop, The Neighbourhood’s debut album, I Love You., presents the … Read more
Various Artists The Rough Guide To Psychedelic Brazil World Music Network [2013] Fire Note Says: An excellently sequenced compilation that showcases the genre’s diversity and creativity. Album Review: One of several collections released by World Music Network for Record Store Day 2013, The Rough Guide to Psychedelic Brazil has a lot in common with its … Read more
Take a listen to “Yes Wonderful Things,” the new single from Gainesville, Florida-based band Morningbell. “Yes Wonderful Things” has a very float along vocal quality to it as singer Travis Atria stretches out the chorus “Do you see anything – Yes wonderful things.” Their style here is very similar to The Flaming Lips but you … Read more
Mikal Cronin MCII Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Don’t miss out on this Album of the Year contender! Album Review: Despite the excellence of his debut self titled solo album released late in 2011, Mikal Cronin is best known as the bass player for the Ty Segall band. His collaboration 2009 with Segall, Reverse … Read more
The National Rifle Almost Endless Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Philly four-piece gives a new take on tired 80’s revivalism. Album Review: It’s almost a foregone conclusion that any new indie record will be heavily indebted to either the 60’s or the 80’s. Its pick your poison – Beach Boys or Pet Shop Boys. The … Read more
Connections Private Airplane Anyway Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Columbus, Ohio band brings a new grit to the lo-fi rock that flourished in the 90’s. Album Review: From opening track “Finally” you know the number one influence of Columbus, Ohio band Connections, is Dayton, Ohio’s Guided By Voices. The song is only 1:14 long, the … Read more
Coliseum Sister Faith Temporary Residence LTD [2013] Fire Note Says: Coliseum make a heavy and rhythmic fourth record that does not let up! Album Review: Do you ever feel like you just need an album to blow off some steam to? Something that is heavy, rhythmic and hits full throttle from track number one? Well … Read more
Georgiana Starlington Paper Moon HoZac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Georgiana Starlington’s debut Paper Moon is a solid taste of western mysticism. Album Review: Siblings Julie and Jack Hines (Jack, former Black Lips member and both members of K-Holes) have created Neko Case’s “Prison Girls” the album, review over…Of course it’s not over, but when … Read more
Father President Fake It Like You Mean It Light Rail Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Father President crank up the melody and the guitars on Fake It Like You Mean It. Album Review: San Francisco’s Father President is another one of those great new guitar bands that have come from out of nowhere to become … Read more
Pretty & Nice Golden Rules For Golden People Equal Vision Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Boston’s Pretty & Nice resurface with an excellent third LP! Album Review: Back in 2008, Pretty & Nice seemed to be on the indie circuit rise as their sophomore record Get Young was receiving positive praise (#50 in our Top … Read more