I don’t think we need to tell anyone that The Fire Note gets excited on Record Store Day. This year especially it seems that there are tons of great titles coming out so we thought we would give our readers some hints on what you should check out and possibly grab Saturday! With that said … Read more
Buffalo Killers Ohio Grass Alive Natural Sounds Records [2013] Fire Note Says: This 6 song Record Store Day release captures the essence of Cincinnati’s Buffalo Killers. Album Review: The Buffalo Killers have been perfecting their warm classic rock sound over their last several albums which hit a high point on last summer’s fourth full length … Read more
Dawes Stories Don’t End HUB Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dawes’s third LP Stories Don’t End harkens back to classic rock staples. Album Review: Dawes’s third album Stories Don’t End sounded like it just came out of a time capsule. A time capsule buried in 1970’s-era Jackson Browne’s backyard. It’s eerie how much the feel … Read more
Dear Fawn I Played The Queen EP Gas Daddy Go! Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dear Fawn’s debut EP is a solid combination of musicianship and songwriting. Album Review: I’m proud to say it; I was there for Dear Fawn’s live debut opening up for the Seedy Seeds last summer. It was a nice wowing … Read more
The Knife Shaking The Habitual Mute Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Shaking the Habitual is a jaw dropping psychedelic record dressed up in electronic clothing! Album Review: The Knife, the Swedish duo comprised of brother and sister Olof Dreijer and Karin Dreijer Andersson, have taken a long time to release a follow up their 2006 … Read more
The ACBs Little Leaves High Dive Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The ACBs shimmer and glimmer with a danceable straightforward indie pop record. Album Review: It’s interesting when a group like The ACBs puts out a sophomore album like Little Leaves as the Missouri’s group consists of Konnor Ervin, Bryan McGuire, Andrew Connor, and Kyle … Read more
Broadheds Broadheds Dangerbird Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Peter Walker returns with a 2 tone spirit and a quick guitar. Album Review: You may know Peter Walker from his band Eulogies or his earlier solo work but Broadheds represents his new gig with James King (Fitz & The Tantrums), Justin Meldal-Johnson (Beck, M83, NIN) and … Read more
Iron & Wine Ghost On Ghost Nonesuch Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Iron & Wine’s fifth LP is an alternative/folk/rock/jazz/pop masterpiece. Album Review: Sam Beam has gone through quite a musical evolution in the eleven years he’s been making music under the Iron & Wine moniker. While his first two albums (2002’s The Creek Drank … Read more
The Thermals Desperate Ground Saddle Creek Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Six albums in, The Thermals continue to do no wrong. Album Review: The new album by Portland post-pop-punk trio The Thermals begins with the following salvo: “I was born to kill/Made to slay, unafraid to spill/Blood on the land, when you command/I will.” With … Read more
Kopecky Family Band Kids Raising Kids ATO Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Nashville’s Kopecky Family Band will surprise you with their complex and upbeat sounding California pop. Album Review: Don’t let the name fool you as Nashville’s Kopecky Family Band (family here = close circle of friends) may sound like the next indie folk band … Read more
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Mosquito Interscope Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Yeah Yeah Yeahs return with the somewhat disjointed Mosquito which still possesses a bite. Album Review: It is hard to believe that it has been 10 years since Karen O and Yeah Yeah Yeahs took the indie world by storm with their debut Fever To … Read more
Cold Warps S/T | Endless Bummer Noyse Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Cold Warps first cassettes create their solid debut LP. Album Review: What I said above is a perfect description of this album-using song titles might I add. Canadian lo-fi, buzz garage punks Cold Warps come to us all the way Halifax. After being … Read more
British Sea Power Machineries Of Joy Rough Trade Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Machineries of Joy pleases with its maturity and artistic growth. Album Review: The biggest critique of the 80% of the recorded work of British Sea Power, is that it doesn’t sound like the first album, The Decline of British Sea Power. Well, … Read more
Cold War Kids Dear Miss Lonelyhearts Downtown Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Cold War Kids evolve their sound on their latest Little Miss Lonelyhearts. Album Review: Cold War Kids return with their fourth LP Little Miss Lonelyhearts. The band, from Long Beach, CA, has relied on a heavy mix of guitar, piano, and drums on … Read more
Fourth Of July Empty Moon High Dive Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Fourth Of July return with another batch of infectious indie jangles. Album Review: Lawrence, Kansas band Fourth Of July are as indie rock as you can get with their laid back vocal approach, tight musicianship, and memorable lyrics. Empty Moon is their third … Read more
Born Ruffians Birthmarks Yep Roc/Paper Bag Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Born Ruffians give us another fine yet predictable set of indie pop-rock. Album Review: Born Ruffians are just one of those kind of bands: you know, the kind you want to like a lot more than you actually do. They’ve got everything just about … Read more
Deap Vally Get Deap! EP Cherrytree/Interscope/Island Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Deap Vally bring the noise with scorching guitar and killer drum beats on debut EP – Get Deap! Album Review: Don’t believe the hype – isn’t that what people always tell you. That especially holds true in the music business where the next “it” … Read more
Lapland Lapland Hundred Pockets Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Mellow folk-pop meets lush ambient arrangements on Lapland’s debut. Album Review: Lapland’s bio sheet lists influences from “60s and 70s synth pioneers” to Fleetwood Mac, but the most apt (and surprising) influence listed is “French impressionists like Ravel and Debussy.” As pretentious as this may sound, … Read more
Biffy Clyro Opposites Warner Bros. Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Biffy Clyro makes a mainstream (double!) alternative rock album with Opposites. Album Review: Biffy Clyro – the name sounded like nonsense when I saw that I had a new album to review. The Scottish band primarily consists of Simon Neil, James Johnston, and Ben Johnston … Read more
The Ocean Blue Ultramarine Korda Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Ocean Blue return with a batch of melodic pop that sounds like they never went away! Album Review: There have been plenty of bands coming back to the scene lately but I never thought that The Ocean Blue would be one of them. There … Read more
The Flaming Lips The Terror Warner Bros. Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Interstellar Oklahomans philosophize about a loveless life on The Terror. Album Review: The Flaming Lips’ The Terror reminds me of the saying “write what you feel.” On their 13th studio album the band most certainly does just that. To quote Steven Drozd, “The … Read more
White Fence Cyclops Reap Castle Face Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Cyclops Reap is the best White Fence record to date! Album Review: Tim Presley, the main man behind White Fence, had a banner year in 2012. Not only did he release two stellar records as White Fence, Family Perfume Vol 1 & 2, but … Read more
The Postal Service Give Up (Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition) Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Give Up from The Postal Service easily passes the 10 year test! Album Review: Side projects are supposed to be something that keep artists busy when they are on a break from their main gig. They should be a … Read more
Kurt Vile Wakin On A Pretty Daze Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Kurt Vile throws caution to the wind and creatively expands his sound on the excellent Wakin On A Pretty Daze. Album Review: Kurt Vile’s new fifth long player, Wakin On A Pretty Daze, is easily his boldest and most confident release to … Read more
Charles Bradley Victim Of Love Dunham/Daptone Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Charles Bradley’s Victim Of Love is a love letter to the music, fans, and the golden age soul greats who inspired him. Album Review: This album gives off such a cool retro vibe that the only other element to enhance the experience would be … Read more