My Jerusalem Preachers The End Records [2012] Fire Note Says: My Jerusalem will grab your ear from the opening track as their sophomore record, Preachers, is a non-stop enjoyable ride. Album Review: Preachers is the sophomore album from Austin’s My Jerusalem and from the opening piano intensity on the opening title track you just know … Read more
Various Artists Alive at The Deep Blues Fest Alive Natural Sound Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Alive at The Deep Blues Fest is put together with perfection as every band here scratches that blues itch in its’ own special way. Album Review: I thought reviewing my first compilation might be a challenge but, thank goodness … Read more
Eric Burdon & The Greenhornes Eric Burdon & The Greenhornes EP Readymade Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Two eras of R&B garage style rock meet up for a stellar modern EP! Album Review: This EP release was one of the cool collaborations that came out last week on Record Store Day’s Black Friday. It features … Read more
… And You Will Know Us From The Trail Of Dead Lost Songs Superball Music [2012] Fire Note Says: Art rock at its distorted best. Album Review: Call me nostalgic, but I still think some of Trail of Dead’s best work came off of Source Tags & Codes, their third full-length studio album. They’ve always … Read more
The Soft MoonZerosCaptured Tracks [2012] Zeros is filled with hermetic, chamber music that simultaneously acts as a distorted reflection of eerie music and an embodiment of its essence. “Machines” swirls and pelts, while “Zeros” and “Lost Years” burst with disco shimmies and goth gasps. “Crush” engulfs us, and “Want” feels like the soundtrack to a … Read more
Motel Beds Dumb Gold No More Fake Labels [2012] Fire Note Says: Dumb Gold from Motel Beds is no fool! Album Review: It may have surprised some people when last year’s Motel Beds release, Tango Boys, made our Top 50 after only being out several days but with the release of their brand new full … Read more
Guided By Voices The Bears For Lunch GBV Inc. [2012] Fire Note Says: Third album released in 2012 from Guided By Voices makes for a perfect bookend. Album Review: The Bears For Lunch completes the trilogy of albums released this year from the classic lineup of Guided By Voices. It also now gives a final … Read more
Jason Collett Reckon Arts & Crafts Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Reckon is a dark and angry record, wrapped in a pretty folk package. Album Review: Reckon, the 6th solo lp from Broken Social Scene’s Jason Collett, is a protest album, but you might not get that from it on first listen, because Collett has … Read more
We Are The Physics Your Friend, The Atom This Is Fake DIY Records [2012] Fire Note Says: We Are The Physics turns up the speed and volume on Your Friend, The Atom. Album Review: We Are The Physics are a four-piece outfit from Glasgow, Scotland. Your Friend, The Atom is their second full-length release, following … Read more
Clinic Free Reign Domino Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Free Reign finds Clinic doing what they do best, and continuing to add new ingredients to their psychedelic sonic stew! Album Review: There was a point in the early 2000’s where I, like a lot of music fans, were riding hard on the Clinic bandwagon. What … Read more
Peter Gabriel So [25th Anniversary Special Edition] Real World/EMI Records [2012] (3CD Set) Fire Note Says: Music here is an easy 5 – the lack of extras holds this version slightly back from taking all gold! Album Review: I don’t think there should be much argument or even discussion about how great So is from … Read more
Trapper Schoepp & The Shades Run, Engine, Run SideOneDummy Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Get ready to run with Trapper Schoepp & The Shades as their third lp is a non-stop Americana romp! Album Review: Southern flavored music from a Milwaukee band on a typically punk label? That does not necessarily sound like a recipe … Read more
The Soft Moon Zeros Captured Tracks Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Soft Moon has something in a box it’d like to show you. Album Review: Zeros is full of hermetic, chain-chamber music that’s simultaneously a funhouse mirror image of scary music and the thing itself. “Machines” swirls and pelts. “Zeros” and “Lost Years” burst … Read more
The Who Live At Hull 1970 Geffen/UMG [2012] Fire Note Says: See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me, Release Me. Album Review: Originally released as part of the Deluxe Edition of Live at Leeds in 2010, The Who-Live at Hull 1970, has finally been given its own standalone release! Recorded the night after Leeds, February 15th … Read more
Soundgarden King Animal Universal Music Group [2012] Fire Note Says: Soundgarden return after 16 years with a fan satisfying album. Album Review: We have already seen plenty of classic groups come back together in 2012 and now Soundgarden add to the list after a 16 year absence since a studio record. As one of the … Read more
Further Seems Forever Penny Black Rise Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Further Seems Forever comes back to the scene strong. Album Review: Further Seems Forever returns with their first studio record in eight years, and the first to feature the full original line-up since 2001’s The Moon is Down. I’ve rocked Further Seems Forever before, … Read more
Green Day ¡Dos! Reprise/Warner Bros. Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The second offering of the Green Day trilogy works harder to find its own identity. Album Review: Green Day are back with the second installment of their trilogy, correctly titled ¡Dos!, and it once again throws caution to the wind with its free spirited vibe. … Read more
Helvetia Nothing In Rambling Joyful Noise Recordings [2012] Fire Note Says: Helvetia mix Olivia Tremor Control and My Bloody Valentine in a blender and come up with Nothing in Rambling! Album Review: Hevetia (pronounced hel-vee-shuh) play a brand of experimental psychedelic indie rock that calls to mind bands like Deerhunter and classic Elephant 6 bands … Read more
West End Motel Only Time Can Tell Warner Bros. Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Metal master mind’s West End Motel takes a direction that’s surprising and appreciated. Album Review: First before beginning I feel a disclaimer needs to be put in place – A lot of people know that Brent Hinds is one of the … Read more
Anberlin Vital Universal Republic Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Anberlin makes good on their promise to deliver their most aggressive record. Album Review: I’ve been listening to Anberlin for a few years now, ever since New Surrender [2008] dropped. Needless to say, I’ve been eagerly anticipating Vital, their seventh studio record. In June, frontman Stephen … Read more
Neil Young and Crazy Horse Psychedelic Pill Reprise/Warner Bros. Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Neil Young saddles up the Horse for a long psychedelic journey through the past! Album Review: Until this spring, it had been nearly a decade since Neil Young had saddled up his longtime backing band Crazy Horse and recorded with them. … Read more
Times New Viking Over & Over EP Siltbreeze Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Times New Viking make a triumphant return to Siltbreeze with their new EP! Album Review: You Can Never Go Home Again is the name of a posthumous book by Thomas Wolfe, in which he famously stated that once you have left your … Read more
A Shoreline Dream333Latenight Weeknight Records [2012] A Shoreline Dream comes to us all the way for Denver, Colorado bringing with them a moody blend of ambient psych with a nice post-rock tinge. A neat idea, the 333 album was actually released as three separate EPs each bearing the name of 3. Once everything was said … Read more
Basement Colourmeinkindness Run For Cover Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The sophomore album from Basement brings back the glory days of indie guitar rock for an entire new generation to enjoy! Album Review: I was just having this conversation last week about my wish (and the need) for solid straightforward guitar rock to make a … Read more
The Mountain Goats Transcendental Youth Merge Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Mountain Goats 14th LP Transcendental Youth is as earnest as ever. Album Review: The Mountain Goats is fueled by John Darnielle, who has collaborated with many performers over the years under the band’s moniker. On the band’s 14th album, Transcendental Youth, the quality … Read more