Local Natives Hummingbird Frenchkiss Records [2013] Fire Note Says:No sophomore slump for the Local Natives with Hummingbird. Album Review: Local Natives’ first album, Gorilla Manor, was one of my favorite albums of 2010. With tracks like “Airplanes,” “Camera Talk,” “Wide Eyes,” and “Sun Hands” the Los Angeles-based band had an accessible sound that also challenged … Read more
Coheed And Cambria The Afterman: Descension Everything Evil/V2 Records [2013] Fire Note Says: A solid release, even for a sequel. Album Review: I was excited when I learned I’d be reviewing Coheed & Cambria’s The Afterman: Descension. After reviewing the first part of this double concept record, I had been looking forward to hearing its … Read more
Various Artists Son Of Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys ANTI- Records[2013] Fire Note Says: Sometimes a sequel is better than the original — but not this time. Album Review: As Ralphie declared, hunched over his Little Orphan Annie decoder ring and discovering the secret message was nothing more than an ad for … Read more
Dead Confederate Peyote People Spiderbomb Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dead Confederate’s mini album Peyote People gives an interesting look on what’s to come. Album Review: Rollin’ across the southern sands, like a psychedelic tumbleweed out of Augusta, Georgia we have Dead Confederate which may be new to you but the band has some history. … Read more
Grouper The Man Who Died In His Boat Kranky Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Grouper creates a siren song that’s delicate, deep, and engaging. Album Review: The world of ambient music can always be a mixed bag from the post rock haze ambience of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, to the technocratic textures of Brian Eno, … Read more
Roger Knox & The Pine Valley Cosmonauts Stranger In My Land Bloodshot Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Roger Knox highlights the complexities of life through the eyes and lyrics of Aborigine artists. Album Review: Roger Knox aka the Koori King of Country or Black Elvis as he’s known in his homeland of Australia brings a … Read more
Cheatahs Extended Plays Wichita Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Extended Plays is one of the most exciting debut records in years. Album Review: Extended Plays, the debut album from Cheatahs, is actually a compilation of two eps that the band released last year, SANS and Coared. If Swervedriver, Ride, and Slowdive are amongst your favorite … Read more
Foals Holy Fire Warner Bros. Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Foals are on the verge of breaking big with Holy Fire! Album Review: Foals come out of the gate on their third album, Holy Fire, like an unholy alliance of Muse, Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party. This is huge music with gigantic stadium sized hooks, … Read more
Hayden Us Alone Arts & Crafts [2013] Fire Note Says: Hayden returns to a bigger stage with his new record Us Alone. Album Review: Hayden has been a name in the business since his successful 1995 debut Everything I Long For and its US reissue in 1996 that was accompanied by MTV exposure (yes they … Read more
Shy Mirrors Negative Collector Big School Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Shy Mirrors come at you with all their indie punk barrels loaded on Negative Collector. Album Review: Shy Mirrors may have a Swedish postal address but the band is 100% American rock n roll as founder Mike Downey hails from Champaign, IL and is … Read more
Psychic Ills One Track Mind Sacred Bones Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Psychic Ills’ One Track Mind might be too honest for its own good. Album Review: I’ve always had a liking toward the psychedelic music genre and enjoy searching out which artist can create the biggest noise wall, which can have the best acid … Read more
The Spinto Band Cool Cocoon Spintonic Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Spinto Band are back with another batch of 60’s influenced pop nuggets! Album Review: The Spinto Band aren’t exactly tossing out the playbook and starting over fresh with their new album, Cool Cocoon, but why should they? At this point, the band knows … Read more
Steve Adamyk Band Third Dirtnap Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Steve Adamyk Band is back with another quick shot of punk rock for the soul! Album Review: Canada’s Steve Adamyk Band have emerged over the last several years as a top group in the punk pop world with their no-nonsense approach to the genre … Read more
Frightened Rabbit Pedestrian Verse Canvasback/Atlantic Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Pedestrian Verse is an honest, mature album that grows more immediate with every listen. Album Review: On their fourth LP, Frightened Rabbit offers a set of songs that feel like the soundtrack to a late night in their home city of Glasgow. Drawing on the … Read more
The Changes American Master Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: After seven years, The Changes release an excellent sophomore record in American Master! Album Review: The Changes released their debut, Today Is Tonight, back in 2006 and at the time I thought for sure the Chicago band would quickly burst out of the scene. Well not … Read more
Missing Number Contrast EP Self-Released [2012] Fire Note Says: Make your ears happy by listening to Missing Number’s Contrast. Album Review: I’m gonna take just a second to be a hipster and point out that I was a fan of these guys before they even began recording this EP. I want everyone to know that … Read more
Veronica Falls Waiting For Something To Happen Slumberland Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Veronica Falls avoid the slump with their solid sophomore record Waiting For Something To Happen. Album Review: I love when albums sneak up on you and stick in the back of your head to the point where you unexpectedly start blurting out … Read more
The Casket Lottery Real Fear No Sleep Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Casket Lottery reunite and produce some radio friendly post-hardcore tracks. Album Review: After The Casket Lottery’s last full length, Possiblies & Maybes (2003), the band took a bit of a hiatus. Members took off to focus on other musical projects, singer Nathan … Read more
Airstrip Willing Holidays For Quince Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Willing is a promising stoner/psych debut from Airstrip! Album Review: Airstrip is a psychedelic stoner rock band from North Carolina, masterminded by Matthew Park. Their debut lp, Willing, out now on Holidays For Quince, is not your run of the mill stoner rock album though. … Read more
Pissed Jeans Honeys Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Honeys is a musical middle finger-and that happens to be a good thing. Album Review: Pissed Jeans from Allentown, Pennsylvania has been on a conquest for domination ever since they started with their debut Shallow released in 2005 on label Parts Unknown. Now, some years … Read more
Big Harp Chain Letters Saddle Creek Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Big Harp’s sophomore album is a bluesy, boozy, bassy ride. Album Review: Big Harp is the husband-wife duo of Chris Senseney and Stefanie Drootin-Senseney, who joined musical forces in 2010. Chain Letters is the sophomore follow-up to the 2011 release White Hat. Not being … Read more
Richard Thompson Electric Proper/New West Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Richard Thompson is back as strong as ever on his engaging new album Electric. Album Review: There is a reason that Rolling Stone listed Richard Thompson as one of the top 20 guitarists of all time as album after album he proves his talent. As … Read more
Thao & The Get Down Stay Down We The Common Ribbon Music [2013] Fire Note Says: We the Common delivers on the promise of earlier work and is the finest album yet from Thao & The Get Down Stay Down! Album Review: Thao Nguyen first came to my attention with 2008’s We Brave Bee Stings … Read more
Broadway Calls Comfort/Distraction No Sleep Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Broadway Calls are one of leaders in the current punk pop genre and Comfort/Distraction firmly holds their place at the top! Album Review: I remember back in the mid-90’s when punk pop was around every corner and soared on mainstream rock radio. It was simpler … Read more
Night Beds Country Sleep Dead Oceans Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Night Beds debut Country Sleep will win your attention in its first 71 seconds. Album Review: I am a sucker for the type of record Night Beds has released in Country Sleep. The album begins with just a simple unaccompanied tender voice in the … Read more