Black Marble A Different Arrangement Hardly Art Records [2012] Fire Note Says: For those who want (slightly) more ‘joy’ in their Joy Division. Album Review: Influences can be a tricky thing, especially if you wear them on your sleeve as plainly as Brooklyn duo Black Marble does. Chris Stewart and Ty Kube’s debut LP A … Read more
How To Destroy Angels An Omen EP Columbia Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Reznor’s new How to Destroy Angels EP is a blend between beautiful and forgettable. Album Review: Back in the 90’s, Reznor and others through music, art, and music video made being an angst ridden freak an interesting idea. But with Nine Inch … Read more
Peter Buck Peter Buck Mississippi-MRP Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Peter Buck goes solo (with help from some friends) and branches out in new yet familiar ways. Album Review: Peter Buck’s voice sounds like a belch being let out slowly through an old-time fire-stoker. In spite of this I really enjoyed Peter Buck’s new solo … Read more
Sleeping Bag Women Of Your Life Joyful Noise Recordings [2012] Fire Note Says: Sleeping Bag’s sophomore record is another great slice of well-done slacker rock! Album Review: I am a big sucker for slacker rock and Bloomington, Indiana band Sleeping Bag nail it. Their self-titled debut was just out last year in August and ended … Read more
The Babies Our House On The Hill Woodsist Records [2012] Fire Note Says: No “Sophomore Slump” for The Babies on Our House on the Hill! Album Review: Although originally conceived as a side project between Woods member Kevin Morby and Cassie Ramones from Vivian Girls, one thing is clear from the first song on The … Read more
Cemeteries The Wilderness Lefse Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Cemeteries sophomore album proves they’re a band worth watching. Album Review: Cemeteries is an ambient, dream pop band rising up from Buffalo, NY. With The Wilderness, writer and vocalist Kyle J. Reigle brings a theatrical, yet mellow sound to life. Like they’re telling a story, the … Read more
Midway In Wake We Will Remain Sedate Lowatt Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Midway In Wake take you on a well crafted Bedroom Pop journey. Album Review: We Will Remain Sedate is the debut album from El Paso’s Midway in Wake. Greg Reynaud is the creative force of the band, writing, recording, and playing all … Read more
Smoking Popes Born To Quit [Reissue] SideOneDummy Records [2012] Fire Note Says: One of the more underrated albums from the 90’s alternative nation gets a facelift. Album Review: If you pinned me down and made me list several albums from the 90’s that I still go back to on occasion I guarantee that the Smoking … Read more
Scott Walker Bish Bosch 4AD Records [2012] Fire Note Says: With Bish Bosch, Scott Walker gives listeners another sonic puzzle to solve! Album Review: After talking eleven years to follow up 1984’s Climate of the Hunter with 1995’s Tilt, and talking eleven more years to follow-up Tilt with 2006’s The Drift, Scott Walker has picked … Read more
Sea Wolf Old World Romance Dangerbird Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Old World Romance delivers a solid effort that has been crafted for lovers of indie rock. Album Review: Sea Wolf released Old World Romance, their third long-player, in September 2012. Sea Wolf is fronted by Alex Brown Church and has been comprised of many … Read more
The Gaslight Anthem Hold You Up 10” EP Mercury Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Gaslight Anthem offer up 3 new acoustic tracks on RSD 10″ release. Album Review: This new 10” EP from The Gaslight Anthem was just released several weeks ago on Record Store Day Black Friday. The EP continues the trend for … Read more
Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit Live In Alabama Lightning Rod Records (2012) Fire Note Says: This hot live set from Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit hits on Isbell’s solo career as well as his DBT classics! Album Review: It’s hard to believe that Jason Isbell has been a solo act for almost as … Read more
Rage Against The Machine XX – 20th Anniversary Edition Epic/Legacy Recordings [2012] Fire Note Says: 20 Years later – raging against the machine still feels as good as it ever did. Album Review: I consider myself a lucky man, at 27 years of age I’ve been able to see Rage Against The Machine, and I … Read more
All That Remains A War You Cannot Win Razor & Tie Records [2012] Fire Note Says: All That Remains seem to be fighting a war they cannot win. Album Review: In 2008, All That Remains released Overcome; the album that I argue is their definitive masterwork. The problem in creating an album like Overcome is … Read more
The Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness [Deluxe Box Set] Virgin/EMI Music [2012] (5CD/1DVD Set) Fire Note Says: Even though 64 extra tracks seem daunting it is only fitting for such a monumentally epic record. Album Review: I will totally admit that I let out a somewhat disapproving sigh when I first received … Read more
Dinosaur Jr. Chocomel Daze (Live 1987) Merge Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Celebrate 25 years of You’re Living All Over Me with Chocomel Daze, a rare live show from that era! Album Review: Merge is releasing Chocomel Daze to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Dinosaur Jr’s landmark release, You’re Living All Over Me. Recorded in … Read more
Weinland Los Processaur Woodphone Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Weinland returns with a bigger sound driven by the same solid emotion. Album Review: Immediately from opening track “Bones Checking In” you hear an evolving sound from Portland OR’s Weinland as they move away from their more hush like moments on 2009’s Breaking The Sun into … Read more
Naomi Punk The Feeling Captured Tracks Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Naomi Punk is at the forefront of shoegrunge on their debut lp! Album Review: If you have ever wondered what you would get if you crossed shoegaze with grunge, take a seat, I have a band for you to check out. Their name is … Read more
Mike Doughty The Flip Is Another Honey Snack Bar Records [2012] Fire Note Says: This covers record is respectful, soulful and possesses plenty of laid back fun! Album Review: Cover albums can be a tricky thing for an artist of any talent so it always worries me a little when someone I like decides to … Read more
Deftones Koi No Yokan Reprise/Warner Bros. Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Hope that you’re not tone deaf for the Deftones. Album Review: Roaring to life once again Sacramento, California’s own alt-metalers Deftones present us with a fine outing in the form of Koi No Yokan, meaning promise of love or premonition of love after a … Read more
Don Caballaro Gang Banged With A Headache, And Live Joyful Noise Recordings [2012] Fire Note Says: The new Don Cab is intense, brutal, and also a great introduction to the Math Rock pioneers! Album Review: Gang Banged With A Headache, And Live, is an ‘authorized bootleg” from Math/Instrumental Rock dynamos, Don Caballaro. This is one … Read more
Run, Forever Settling Tiny Engines Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Indie rock done right with a purpose, message and substance. Album Review: There can never be enough said about a solid indie rock record from a band that have spent much of their last two years on the road playing tiny clubs, basements and house … Read more
Brian Eno Lux Warp Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Brian Eno is a connoisseur of the floating world and you can trust him as your guide. Album Review: The new Brian Eno album brings us more of ambient Eno, of soundscape Eno. But it’s not thematic like his space-y Apollo. Nor is it as calculated … Read more
Dirty Projectors About To Die EP Domino Records [2012] Fire Note Says: About To Die serves as a nice coda to the Swing Lo Magellan lp and puts a nice bow on the year for their fans. Album Review: By all accounts there were close to 40 songs worked on during sessions for this year’s … Read more
Human Cannonball Let’s Be Friends Self-Released [2012] Fire Note Says: Jesse Remnant dons Human Cannonball moniker again, returns with members of Shrug, and crafts folkie, pop fun on Let‘s Be Friends. Album Review: Here is an album that was two and a half years in the making (mostly due to Remnant playing bass and supplying … Read more