John The Conqueror John The Conqueror Alive Natural Sound Records [2012] Fire Note Says: John The Conqueror hit the right bluesy rock nerve on their excellent self-titled debut! Album Review: Philadelphia’s John The Conqueror brings a very familiar sounding dirty blues rock right at you full throttle on their self-titled debut. The trio have a … Read more
Titus Andronicus Local Business XL Recordings [2012] Fire Note Says: The most fun celebrating life’s meaninglessness that you’ll ever have! Album Review: Usually when you think Titus Andronicus a bunch of things come to mind: a shouted, garble growl of lyrics, abrasiveness, historical references, New Jersey, worthlessness, life’s meaninglessness , mortality, drowning your sorrows, drunken … Read more
Daphni Jiaolong Merge Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Dan Snaith takes on the alias Daphni and delivers a great and necessary album. Album Review: First, know that this album is impeccable. From start to finish, Dan Snaith—the lone ranger behind both Daphni and Caribou—delivers beat-heavy perfection. Often the tracks defy sense, seeming both skeletal and … Read more
Godspeed You! Black Emperor Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! Constellation Records [2012] Fire Note Says: This is more than a comeback record, it’s a landmark! Album Review: Here’s the thing about instrumental post rock, you almost always know what you are going to get before you put the record on. It’s going to be dramatic, it’s … Read more
Pinback Information Retrieved Temporary Residence LTD. [2012] Fire Note Says: Time means nothing to Pinback as they return strong as ever! Album Review: It has been 5 years since Pinback released their last studio album, Autumn of the Seraphs [2007], and you absolutely wouldn’t know it after taking in the sonic adventure that is their … Read more
Tame Impala Lonerism Modular Recordings [2012] Fire Note Says: Like a black hole this album sucks you in and then proceeds to explode like a super nova! Album Review: If Tame Impala’s first album Innerspeaker [2010] is their Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band then Lonerism has to be their Dark Side of the Moon. … Read more
Ty Segall Twins Drag City Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Segall saves his best of three albums in 2012 for last! Album Review: Ty Segall is walking in rarified air these days. There aren’t many artists who can put out three excellent albums in a year. Ryan Adams tried it with his trilogy of Cold … Read more
Lord Huron Lonesome Dreams IAMSOUND Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Lord Huron delivers a sparkling, thoughtful full-length debut with Lonesome Dreams. Album Review: Let’s not talk about Fleet Foxes or Band of Horses, nor Crosby, Stills & Nash. Doubtless most considerations of Lord Huron’s first full-length album will be full of backward-looking and sidelong scrutinies. … Read more
METZ METZ Sub Pop Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Grab a helmet because METZ are on the sonic attack with their excellent (and thundering) self-titled debut. Album Review: Right from the opening pounding drums on first track “Headache” you just know that the Canadian outfit METZ is totally going to kick your ass! The noise … Read more
Thee Oh Sees Putrifiers II In The Red Records [2012] Fire Note Says:Just when you think Thee Oh Sees cannot have any more tricks up their sleeves, they come back, surprise and mystify with Putrifiers II. Album Review: It seems that we’ve been going through a garage psych revival, with many bands writing reverb soaked, … Read more
WoodsBend BeyondWoodsist Records [2012] A new Woods lp is quickly becoming a reason to celebrate each year. Woods are now seven albums into their career, and by my count, the last three have all been bona fide classics. Now with Bend Beyond, you can add one more classic to that total. Bend Beyond finds Woods … Read more
Murder By Death Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon Bloodshot Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Murder By Death not only deliver the goods on their sixth full length, Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon, but have also released one of the best albums in 2012! Album Review: I love it when an album takes hold of me from the very first track … Read more
Mumford & Sons Babel Glassnote Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Highly anticipated sophomore record from UK’s Mumford & Sons has its moments. Album Review: Since the release of their debut Sigh No More, I am not sure anyone totally predicted the Mumford explosion that has taken place over the last several years but here we … Read more
How To Dress Well Total Loss Acephale Records [2012] Fire Note Says: How to Dress Well impresses with their second full-length Total Loss. Album Review: How to Dress Well is Tom Krell, a Brooklynite who produces and sings on the second full-length album Total Loss. Much of the album is sung in falsetto, which reminded … Read more
Grizzly Bear Shields Warp Records [2012] Fire Note Says: While it feels like the framework of greatness is there, Grizzly Bear’s new album, Shields, doesn’t quite match their last top performer Veckatimest. Album Review: Grizzly Bear’s last record, Veckatimest [2009], topped the chart and was number one in our 2009 Blazing Top 50 year end … Read more
Cat Power Sun Matador Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Cat Power changes up the approach which produces one of Chan Marshall’s strongest records to date! Album Review: Sun hails the return of Chan Marshall and her moniker Cat Power as it has been six long years since she last released a record of original material. … Read more
The Avett Brothers The Carpenter American/Universal Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Avett Brothers go beyond just providing a record and deliver an experience that will keep you coming back! Album Review: The Avett Brothers return to the music scene next week with the release of their seventh album, The Carpenter, which once again reunites … Read more
The Fresh & Onlys Long Slow Dance Mexican Summer Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Fresh & Onlys continue their musical progression and create one of their most engaging records to date! Album Review: Does anyone remember the phrase “artist development”? Probably not too many people in the days of streaming, iTunes singles and the … Read more
Bob Mould Silver Age Merge Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Bob Mould is back with a new loud and melodic record that clearly shows that he has no intention of ever slowing down! Album Review: I am not sure if there were any expectations for Bob Mould’s new full length, Silver Age, but I guarantee … Read more
Leeroy StaggerRadiant LandRebeltone Records [2021] I am not sure how many times I have to say it but I still can not believe that Canadian singer/songwriter Leeroy Stagger does not have a bigger following. He has consistently released solid records with his roots-rock Americana style and has all the sentiment and attitude of a Ryan … Read more
Redd Kross Researching The Blues Merge Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Redd Kross know power pop and bring it full force on their first album in 15 years – Researching The Blues! Album Review: It has been 15 years since Redd Kross last had a record on the shelves with Show World [1997] so it … Read more
Red River Dialect “awellupontheway” Self-Released [2012] Fire Note Says: You may not have heard of them yet but Red River Dialect have released a record that is one of the best albums of 2012! Album Review: Do you want to hear a totally under the radar psych-folk record that should easily land high on our … Read more
Dirty Projectors Swing Lo Magellan Domino Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Dirty Projectors give us a beautiful summertime headphone record! Album Review: Is it possible for a record to be both avant garde and accessible at the same time,to be both simple and complex? If the record is Swing Lo Magellan, the new album from … Read more
The Gaslight AnthemHandwrittenMercury Records [2012] Longevity is what every band dreams of from the very first day they place an ad in the paper to find a drummer, play at a dive bar, and then progress to sleeping on floors in unfamiliar towns, living out of a van. New Jersey’s Gaslight Anthem is no exception, … Read more
Holograms Holograms Captured Tracks Records [2012] Fire Note Says: All post-punk business from the Holograms stellar self-titled debut! Album Review: Stockholm’s Holograms are not messing around and their post-punk self-titled debut is loud, punchy and downright addicting. It is the type of modern gritty album that gets under your skin in a good way, makes … Read more