Eat Skull III Woodsist Records [2013] Fire Note Says: III strips away the noise and shows off a psychedelic west coast vibe. Album Review: Has it really been four years since we last heard from Eat Skull? On their first two lps, both on the venerable Siltbreeze label, Eat Skull were your typical “better than … Read more
Hollis Brown Ride On The Train Alive Natural Sound Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The sounds of the South straight from Queens, New York. Album Review: The opening title track on Hollis Brown’s new record will instantly give you a straight up southern flavor of rock n roll from the Queens, New York quartet. The … Read more
Highasakite In And Out Of Weeks EP Propeller Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Norwegian indie-pop quintet Highasakite make US debut with engaging EP. Album Review: Norwegian indie-pop quintet Highasakite are ready to break out in the US with their debut EP In And Out Of Weeks. It is a compact 5 songs of infectious hooks, … Read more
Cy Dune No Recognize EP Family Tree Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Cy Dune brings the fuzz, blues and rock n roll all in a mere 16 minute EP. Album Review: Right from the opening guitar sprawl on “Where The Wild Things” you know that Cy Dune is going to fit into the 2013 scene … Read more
Ron Sexsmith Forever Endeavor Cooking Vinyl Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Forever Endeavor revels in all of its melancholy glory! Album Review: Forever Endeavor, the 12th album from Ron Sexsmith, finds the Canadian singer/songwriter in an even more reflective mood than normal. While he has never been accused of being upbeat, a throat cancer scare … Read more
Sin Fang Flowers Morr Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Sin Fang takes some risks on third LP Flowers – and they payoff! Album Review: Indie pop this sweet and orchestrated has some sort of crazy appeal to my listening taste. On Sin Fang’s third solo record, Flowers, the Seabear frontman once again finds the right … Read more
Lost Animal Ex Tropical Hardly Art Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Lost Animal’s debut is an odd mix of ambient keyboards, colorful electronics, and half-sung half-spoken musings. Album Review: Ex Tropical finds Jarrod Quarrell—the sole member of Lost Animal—using a bank of keyboards to craft a ten-track set of strange, atmospheric tunes. Drawing inspiration from … Read more
Holy Wave Evil Hits The Reverberation Appreciation Society [2013] Fire Note Says: Prepare for a bit of an acid wash as Holy Wave rages with a technicolor, psychedelic, surf swirl. Album Review: Holy Wave is a band that could crash along the So Cal shore but here that isn’t the case. These psychedelic 60’s surf … Read more
Atoms For Peace AMOK XL Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Atoms for Peace’s AMOK takes us deeper down the electronica rabbit hole. Album Review: After fronting the musical monolith that is Radiohead, what do you do with yourself? Maybe you branch off a bit and indulge deeper into some of your favorite musical tastes that … Read more
Arlo Aldo Zelie Teamadelle Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Arlo Aldo arrives on the alternative folk music scene with their debut album, Zelie. Album Review: With their debut album Zelie, Arlo Aldo demonstrates a firm arrival onto the alternative folk music scene. The band is many different things, borrowing sounds from folk, blues, indie, country, … Read more
Mount Moriah Miracle Temple Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Mount Moriah offer a lesson in restraint on their engaging sophomore outing Miracle Temple. Album Review: Mount Moriah’s new sophomore record, Miracle Temple, is one of those albums that just gets embedded in your head as it plays with its countrified rhythms, charismatic lead vocals … Read more
Johnny Marr The Messenger Sire/ADA Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The long awaited “real” debut from guitarist Johnny Marr. Album Review: Johnny Marr is best known as the creative mind and guitarist for The Smiths. Since that historic groups split, Marr has spent the last 20 years playing with a diverse set of artists that … Read more
Big Dick Big Dick Dirt Cult Records [2013] Fire Note Says: If you like post punk, you are going to love Big Dick. Album Review: I almost passed on this record without giving it a listen. How can a band named Big Dick be any good? It has to be some sort of moronic jokey … Read more
Ex Cops True Hallucinations Fat Possum Records [2013] Fire Note Says: So much style, it doesn’t need flare. Album Review: This album is odd, for a couple of different reasons. First of all is its mellow mood. In a world filled with high-energy indie rock, Ex Cops presents a simple, quiet record. Many of the … Read more
Popstrangers Antipodes Carpark Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Popstrangers Antipodes is an unconventional album that gives back if you’re willing to put in the time. Album Review: Who knew that of all places, New Zealand could surprise and give us more talent? They’ve brought us Ruban Nielson, Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s front man, and now they … Read more
Ra Ra Riot Beta Love Barsuk Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Ra Ra Riot return with a kinetic, easygoing album that asks: “can robots love too?” Album Review: Ra Ra Riot trades in strings for synths on their third album, a short but sweet set of eleven upbeat, optimistic tracks that barely breaks the half-hour … Read more
Beach Fossils Clash The Truth Captured Tracks Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Beach Fossils change the sonic output but retain the quality! Album Review: What is the saying? All good things must come to an end? Well Beach Fossils won’t be the first lo-fi basement do-it yourself band to move out of the cellar as … Read more
Tom Morgan Orange Syringe Fire Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Orange Syringe is a stark and beautiful record that is well worth checking out. Album Review: Let’s get one thing out of the way right now; no one is ever going to call Tom Morgan a great singer. His vocal range is limited and is … Read more
Dawn McCarthy & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy What The Brothers Sang Drag City Records [2013] Fire Note Says: McCarthy and Billy pay respect to one of the most famous pairs in rock history. Album Review: I will be the first to admit that an album of Everly Brothers covers seems to be a stretch even for … Read more
Iceage You’re Nothing Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Iceage returns stronger than ever on sophomore record You’re Nothing. Album Review: When Danish group Iceage burst on the scene two years ago with their debut New Brigade most people were not only taken back by their DIY post-punk rock but just as surprised that they … Read more
STRFKR Miracle Mile Polyvinyl Records [2013] Fire Note Says: STRFKR’s Miracle Mile is an indie pop, dance blasted, mother funker that’s worth running! Album Review: So when you see a name such as STRFKR, you might have to ask yourself a question. What in the hell is a STRFKR? Does the Galactic Empire not care … Read more
Various Artists Reason to Believe: The Songs of Tim Hardin Full Time Hobby Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Filtered through a diverse set of artists, Tim Hardin’s voice comes through loud and clear. Album Review: Oregon folkie Tim Hardin was never a massive superstar. His life cut short in 1980 from a heroin overdose at … Read more
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Push The Sky Away Bad Seed Ltd. [2013] Fire Note Says: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds get right to business on the sophisticated and brooding Push The Sky Away. Album Review: At this stage in the game I don’t think anyone will deny the influential rock status of … Read more
FIDLAR FIDLAR Mom + Pop Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Living the life of a skate punk never sounded as good as it does on the debut album from FIDLAR. Album Review: FIDLAR write songs about drinking beer, getting stoned, riding skateboards, having slutty girlfriends, going surfing….REPEAT. It helps that the songs are not just … Read more
Tegan and Sara Heartthrob Warner Bros. Records [2013] Fire Note Says: With Heartthrob, Tegan and Sara mix in new sounds with familiar stories of love and heartbreak. Album Review: Tegan and Sara’s seventh studio album, Heartthrob, strays slightly from the duo’s previous albums, mixing pop and club music with their familiar singer/songwriter sound. True to … Read more