The Lovely Bad Things The Late Great Whatever Volcom Entertainment [2013] Fire Note Says: If The Pixies were a surf punk band they’d probably sound a lot like this. Album Review: Some bands are never going to change your life. Orange County’s The Lovely Bad Things easily fall into that category and given the joyous … Read more
Grateful Dead Rare Cuts & Oddities 1966 Rhino/Grateful Dead Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Dead play a young garage band auditioning for a spot on Nuggets. Album Review: Whatever your view of the Grateful Dead (sloppy hippie noodlers or greatest band on earth), many people often dismiss them based on their reputation alone, which … Read more
Sharks Selfhood Rise Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Sharks return with more rock anthems from across seas. Album Review: I have been pulling for the UK’s Sharks since their early singles release several years ago. The band is somewhat like the UK version of The Gaslight Anthem mixed with some classic styling of The Smiths. … Read more
Big Star Nothing Can Hurt Me Omnivore Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Nothing Can Hurt Me is a treasure trove of alternate mixes of classic Big Star tracks. Album Review: I think it’s fairly safe to assume that most readers of The Fire Note, are well acquainted with Big Star. Their discography isn’t vast, only … Read more
Satellite Calling Birds Descendant Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Satellite targets prime time TV with debut album Calling Birds. Album Review: Me: Hey, there’s a new album to listen to: Satelitte’s Calling Birds. I’ve never heard of them before. (Starts listening). Other Me: This sounds a lot like Snow Patrol. I used to like Snow … Read more
Thee Oh Sees Floating Coffin Castle Face Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Thee Oh Sees continue to dominate their little garage of horrors. Album Review: I cannot believe that I’m already talking about a new Thee Oh Sees album. What’s even crazier is, while not as dynamic, still it hits the mark just as their … Read more
Various Artists The Rough Guide To Latin Psychedelia World Music Network [2013] Fire Note Says: Latin rhythms meet slightly acidic arrangements—if you don’t like Santana, move on. Album Review: Released as a special 180g vinyl edition for Record Store Day, The Rough Guide to Latin Psychedelia casts a wide net over the genre, throwing together … Read more
Crazy Joe The Doctor Is In! Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Crazy Joe makes a strong return with his retro roots album The Doctor Is In! Album Review: The Doctor Is In! marks the first album from Crazy Joe in six years and it finds his sound shifting from a rockabilly flavor to a smoother … Read more
The Appleseed Cast Illumination Ritual Graveface Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Appleseed Cast return to their roots and create one of their best albums to date! Album Review: The Appleseed Cast have been around the block a few times and with each lap have always brought a slightly different musical approach that typically would … Read more
Meat Puppets Rat Farm Megaforce Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The legendary Meat Puppets fourth post-reunion (and 14th overall) album is an unqualified winner. Album Review: Drugs have always played a pivotal role in the music and the fate of Arizona cow punks the Meat Puppets. Although sung unintelligibly, 1982’s hyperactive hardcore debut on SST … Read more
Dirty Fences Too High To Kross Volcom Entertainment [2013] Fire Note Says: Dirty Fences’ first full-length is a nitro-fueled punk ride. Album Review: Dirty Fences is a punk band with roots in both Boston and Brooklyn. Its members include Max Comaskey (bass/vocals), Jack Daves (vocals/guitar), Max Hiersteiner (drums/vocals), and Max Roseglass (guitar/vocals). As described above … Read more
Guided By Voices English Little League GBV Inc. [2013] Fire Note Says: Guided By Voices return with the complex and addicting English Little League! Album Review: After three roaring full lengths last year from Guided By Voices, the classic lineup are back with album number four – English Little League. It is a record that … Read more
Akron/Family Sub Versus Dead Oceans Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Akron/Family goes for a more wide open experimentation with Sub Verses. Album Review: After a friend of mine introduced me to Akron/Family with their 2009 album Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free my interest and excitement grew for what came next. That album for me … Read more
Still Corners Strange Pleasures Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: London boy/girl duo reaches out for larger audience with their uneven sophomore album. Album Review: Dream pop is a tricky genre. The idea is lay low and let the subtleties in the music and/or production create moods, evoke memories and then tap into that … Read more
Various Artists Sub Pop 1000 Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Sub Pop 1000 gives you 10 artists that are well worth checking out! Album Review: It probably shouldn’t surpise anyone that I enjoy new music. I listen and write constantly about new music so when this fresh compilation from Sub Pop hit my … Read more
Paramore Paramore Fueled By Ramen Records [2013] Fire Note Says: With new sounds, well-known rants, and heartfelt anthems, Paramore’s new album shows both growth and familiarity. Album Review: With their fourth studio album, Paramore is all grown up. Self-titled Paramore, the new album has less angst and more rock, but is not without the familiar … Read more
Thee Oh Sees Moon Sick EP Castle Face Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Thee Oh Sees’ 2013 RSD Moon Sick EP has a novel charm. Album Review: What is the Moon Sick EP from Thee Oh Sees? Well I’m glad you asked. This release contains songs that landed on the cutting room floor from the … Read more
Tame Impala Tame Impala EP Modular Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Tame Impala’s 2008 self-titled EP is a great reminder of why everyone took notice in the first place. Album Review: Check back to my Record Store Day 2013 list and you’ll find this release at the top. Well there happens to be a good … Read more
Alex Calder Time Captured Tracks Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Ex Mac DeMarco band mate steps forward with a great lo-fi record of his own. Album Review: Alex Calder has the unenviable task of being a songwriter who was previously in a band, Makeout Videotape, with Mac DeMarco. DeMarco casts a long shadow, and if … Read more
Luke Winslow-King The Coming Tide Bloodshot Records [2013] Fire Note Says: He may be originally from Cadillac, Michigan but Luke Winslow-King has New Orleans firmly running through his blood! Album Review: Have you ever listened to a record that doesn’t blow you away but yet it sticks? That is exactly my feeling on the Bloodshot … Read more
Art Brut Top Of The Pops The End Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Art Brut shows us why you should care on new compilation Top Of The Pops. Album Review: When Art Brut hit the scene back in 2005 they were a breath of fresh air from the UK that possessed a powerful venom from … Read more
Keaton Henson Birthdays ANTI- Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Keaton Henson’s Birthdays is an album of strange beauty and grand self-loathing. Album Review: For his second full-length release visual artist Keaton Henson continues searching the depths of his psyche and again finds darkness. Fleshed out (somewhat) compared to last year’s impressive debut, Dear, the mood … Read more
Phoenix Bankrupt! Glassnote Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Phoenix took their time but come back with plenty of new avenues. Album Review: Like many other bands coming off their biggest record, French electro-indie-pop artist Phoenix cautiously approached their follow up here as it has been four years since Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix took the scene by … Read more
William Tyler Impossible Truth Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Tyler takes you on an acoustic psychedelic trip on Impossible Truth. Album Review: This is a tough one to review, not because it’s a bad record, in fact it’s damn good. It’s tough because it’s an instrumental guitar record, and I am about as fluent … Read more
California X California X Don Giovanni Records [2013] Fire Note Says: California X’s debut brings a garage rock meets post punk sound that gets better with every spin. Album Review: California X makes their debut with this eponymous LP. The punk trio from Amherst, MA consists of Lemmy Gurtowsky (guitar and vocals), Dan Jones (bass), … Read more