Twin Shadow Confess 4AD Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Twin Shadow explores the darker side of pop music with his second lp, Confess. Album Review: Does anybody remember when Prince was the real King of Pop, and each album was an event to be studied and broken down into little pieces to be studied? I … Read more
DIIV Oshin Captured Tracks Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The debut from DIIV will be one of the best releases you hear in 2012! Album Review: Which came first? The music or the lyrics? When it comes to the new band from Beach Fossils touring guitarist Zachary Cole Smith called DIIV it might be a … Read more
Fiona Apple The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do Epic Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Fiona Apple returns after seven years with another collection of tracks that will put you in awe! Album Review: It has always been about … Read more
Guided By Voices Class Clown Spots A UFO GBV Inc. [2012] Fire Note Says: Class Clown Spots A UFO respectfully captures past GBV glories while making “the classic lineup” a force on the current indie rock scene! Album Review: Ready for round two? You better be as Class Clown Spots A UFO is the second … Read more
Japandroids Celebration Rock Polyvinyl Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Japandroids sophomore record Celebration Rock is true to its title and will turn out to be one of the best releases you hear in 2012! Album Review: “We yell like hell to the heavens” is a line out of the first track “The Nights Of Wine … Read more
King Tuff King Tuff Sub Pop Records [2012] Fire Note Says: King Tuff expands their rock n roll resume on the solid self-titled sophomore record. Album Review: I think it goes without saying that sometimes I really like odd music. Not in the sense that it is crazy or freaky if you would hear it … Read more
Archie Powell & The Exports Great Ideas In Action Good Land Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Archie Powell & The Exports perfect their good time rock out on sophomore outing Great Ideas In Action! Album Review: Sometimes it is best to not change a thing when you have a winning formula and that is exactly … Read more
The Walkmen Heaven Fat Possum Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Walkmen release another stellar album with the graceful Heaven! Album Review: One could say that The Walkmen have hit their stride but I believe this top end streak started about 4 years ago and has never halted evidenced by the excellent You & Me … Read more
Best Coast The Only Place Mexican Summer Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Best Coast shakes the lo-fi and puts a spotlight on Bethany Cosentino’s vocals for solid results! Album Review: Going into this sophomore record from indie darling Best Coast you need to ask yourself how important you thought the lo-fi aspect of their debut, … Read more
Beach House Bloom Sub Pop Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Bloom is another solid collection of indie dream pop from Baltimore’s Beach House! Album Review: Indie dream pop group Beach House once again have created a record that stays in its lane of expectations but swells up and beyond any type of ceiling you may … Read more
Father John Misty Fear Fun Sub Pop Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Josh Tillman follows up his exit with the Fleet Foxes with his excellent new project Father John Misty! Album Review: Father John Misty is the new band from ex-Fleet Foxes drummer and solo singer/songwriter Josh Tillman. Fear Fun is his debut record under … Read more
Allo Darlin’ Europe Slumberland Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Allo Darlin’ pour on the mature indie pop with their sophomore record Europe! Album Review: Allo Darlin’ are a London-based four piece that is fronted by the silky smooth pop vocals of Australian Elizabeth Morris. Her spot on delivery grabs you instantly on the first single … Read more
Brendan BensonWhat Kind Of WorldReadymade Records [2012] Benson is best known as the voice beside Jack White in The Raconteurs but back in 1996 he released a stellar debut called One Mississippi that was filled to the brim with a catchy guitar driven power pop and then he followed it up with the equally enjoyable … Read more
Jack White Blunderbuss Third Man/Columbia Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Jack White releases his debut solo record Blunderbuss that aims to entertain from beginning to end! Album Review: Right from the opening Rhodes piano playing you just have a sense that one of the true sides of Jack White has just been unleashed to the … Read more
Spiritualized Sweet Heart Sweet Light Fat Possum Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Spiritualized return with the excellent Sweet Heart Sweet Light that most definitely will be one of the best releases this year! Album Review: 15 years is a long time to hit all the right keys but I feel the seventh long player from … Read more
Kishi Bahsi151aJoyful Noise Recordings [2012] A soaring indie pop record primarily written on a violin might scare you a bit but that is exactly the creative process behind the debut 151a from K. Ishibashi aka Kishi Bashi. Now before you run off based on that intro know that 151a uses a full array of instruments … Read more
Chromatics Kill For Love Italians Do It Better [2012] Fire Note Says: Another synth driven record that works! Album Review: Right from the opening cover of Neil Young’s “Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)” you have a good idea that the new Chromatics album Kill For Love is going to challenge, reward and challenge … Read more
Lotus Plaza Spooky Action At A Distance Kranky Records [2012] Fire Note Says: A superb indie rock sophomore record from Lotus Plaza that just might be one of the best releases this year! Album Review: Lotus Plaza is the solo project of musician Lockett Pundt, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist of Atlanta-based indie group Deerhunter. Spooky Action … Read more
The Shins Port Of Morrow Aural Apothecary/Columbia Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Shins return with a bigger sound that results in the same outcome – stellar! Album Review: Five years is a lifetime in the music scene but that is exactly how long it has been since the release of The Shins last record … Read more
The Men Open Your Heart Sacred Bones Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Men release their most exciting record to date! Album Review: The Men proved to be one of the harder hitting post-punk groups out there after last years thrilling Leave Home record took everyone that listened by surprise. Just as jolting is that … Read more
Perfume Genius Put Your Back N 2 It Matador Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Another deep record from Perfume Genius that leaves the lo-fi behind this time and displays an entire new level of talent! Album Review: I don’t believe that most people think of albums as sequels but that is the exact way to … Read more
Frankie Rose Interstellar Slumberland Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Frankie Rose makes her best album yet! Album Review: Frankie Rose already has a superb indie resume as a member of the Vivian Girls, Dum Dum Girls, and Crystal Stilts plus an excellent solo debut released in 2010. It is a track record that has lead … Read more
Audra Mae & The Almighty Sound Audra Mae & The Almighty Sound SideOneDummy Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Audra Mae turns up the heat with her backing band The Almighty Sound and creates one hell of a sophomore record! Album Review: If you checked out Audra Mae’s debut, The Happiest Lamb [2010], then you already … Read more
Heartless Bastards Arrow Partisan Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Heartless Bastards once again shine bright with their pulsing rock record Arrow! Album Review: Erika Wennerstrom and her strong soulful vocals are back with the release of the Heartless Bastards fourth album Arrow. After relocating to Austin back before the release of The Mountain [2009], … Read more
Sharon Van Etten Tramp Jagjaguwar Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Sharon Van Etten will win you over quickly on her new long player Tramp! Album Review: If there is ever an artist that is on the verge of breaking out I would say that Brooklyn singer/songwriter Sharon Van Etten is close to the top of … Read more