Cloud Nothings Attack On Memory Carpark Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Cloud Nothings evolve again on their spectacular sophomore outing Attack On Memory! Album Review: Sometimes it is amazing how much can change in a year as the ever evolving Cloud Nothings follows up a really good self-titled debut record released last January with the … Read more
Nada Surf The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy Barsuk Records [2012] Fire Note Says: A big sprawling return of an album from Nada Surf that is full of hooks, guitars and energy! Album Review: As Matthew Caws sings the line “This new peace – I can feel it now,” in “Waiting For Something” on Nada … Read more
A Shoreline DreamLosing Them All This TimeLatenight Weeknight Records [2011] I think that there are tons of music fans out there that just really don’t get the shoegaze movement. That is totally fine but this disconnect translates into a much more underground scene that makes it harder to discover new bands for all of those … Read more
Guided By Voices Let’s Go Eat The Factory Guided By Voices Inc. [2012] Fire Note Says: Oh yeah, did you hear? Guided By Voices are back! Album Review: I can’t think of many other upcoming 2012 albums that people have been waiting 15 years to hear, so the new record from the “classic line up” … Read more
Motel Beds Tango Boys No More Fake Labels [2011] Fire Note Says: The Dayton, Ohio music scene is alive and well with the Motel Beds new long player Tango Boys! Album Review: Right from the cool indie swagger of the opening minute long intro, “Theme From Tango”, you get the sense that Dayton, Ohio’s Motel … Read more
Real EstateDaysDomino [2011] Simplistic splendor is one way to describe the sophomore full-length album, Days, from New Jersey’s Real Estate. The album possesses a pure flow that carries the listener seamlessly from track to track, anchored by the soft vocal delivery of singer/guitarist Martin Courtney. His voice engages in an internal struggle with the surrounding … Read more
The Gaslight AnthemiTunes SessionSideOneDummy Records [2011] The new iTunes session from The Gaslight Anthem showcases the band’s influences and provides fans with an excellent studio recording of tracks they may have previously experienced live. It’s probably no surprise that Brian Fallon and the band cover songs from The Who, Tom Petty, Pearl Jam, and The … Read more
Wild FlagWild FlagMerge Records [2011] I don’t think there are that many records that we know about a year in advance, but that is how long we have been tracking indie supergroup Wild Flag’s debut. The female four-piece brings a plethora of experience to the party, as Wild Flag consists of Sleater-Kinney guitarist/singer Carrie Brownstein … Read more
WoodsSun And ShadeWoodsist Records [2011] Sun And Shade is the lo-fi indie folksters Woods sixth full length album and it continues their streak of annual releases. Their blend of 60’s folk guitar pop is still in full force on Sun And Shade but the record also returns to some of the earlier more experimental work … Read more
The WombatsThis Modern GlitchBright Antenna Records [2011] The Wombats long overdue sophomore record, This Modern Glitch, is another solid entry into the dance rock indie scene with its sharp catchy tunes and big memorable choruses. First single “Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)” delivers exactly what you would want from a band like The Wombats, as its … Read more
Manchester Orchestra Simple Math Columbia Records [2011] Fire Note Says: Manchester Orchestra shines on the epic rock album Simple Math! Album Review: Concept albums always scare me a bit because they are typically either really good, really bad or tread water and never find a connection. On Manchester Orchestra’s third album, Simple Math, we hear … Read more
Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit Here We RestLightning Rod Records [2011] As a quality contributing past member of the Drive-By Truckers, I have always held the bar higher for Jason Isbell compared to some of his Americana peers. This may or may not be fair but I always thought that his past performance would … Read more
The FeeliesHere BeforeBar/None Records [2011] Twenty years can seem like an eternity for anyone, and for a band, it’s an especially long time. However, in 2011, The Feelies have made a remarkable return with their album Here Before, which features all the original members from the 1986 era. What’s truly impressive about this record is … Read more
Leeroy StaggerLittle VictoriesRebeltone Records [2011] Want to discover a singer/songwriter that absolutely won’t let your Americana ear down? Then look no more and check out the sixth long player, Little Victories, from Canadian Leeroy Stagger backed by his solid band The Wildflowers. I will warn you that Little Victories is one of the best depressing … Read more
The Joy FormidableThe Big RoarAtlantic Records/Canvasback Music [2011] Right from the opening track, “The Everchanging Spectrum Of A Lie”, you get a solid 7:45 complex song that captures the sonic experience you are in for on The Joy Formidable’s debut full length record. Exploding guitars, pounding drums and walls of sounds are contained all within … Read more
Motel Beds Feelings Fictionband Mechanics [2010] Fire Note Says: Motel Beds create the right indie mix on stereo debut Feelings. Album Review: Dayton, Ohio band Motel Beds successfully blend a shoegaze approach with sprawling melodies, catchy hooks and steady guitar work on their stereo full length debut Feelings. The band relies equally on all of … Read more
Richard Thompson Dream Attic Shout! Factory Records [2010] Fire Note Says: Dream Attic highlights why Richard Thompson just recently received the Les Paul Award at the 2010 MOJO Honours! Album Review: Richard Thompson will always go down in my book as one of the all-time great guitarist singer/songwriters of this era. Regardless of his age, … Read more
Sun Kil Moon Admiral Fell Promises Caldo Verde Records [2010] Fire Note Says: Sit down and reflect with Kozelek’s Sun Kil Moon. Album Review: Sun Kil Moon, aka Mark Kozelek, has always distinguished itself as a different outlet for Kozelek with a much more electric band direction compared to his solo work. Admiral Fell Promises … Read more
Tame Impala Innerspeaker Modular Recordings [2010] Fire Drill Album Review: My first listen to Aussie export trio Tame Impala really didn’t do too much for me. Sure – their debut Innerspeaker has plenty of fuzz and psychedelic 60’s rock but it was so dense that I kept grabbing the record in pieces. Big mistake. Innerspeaker … Read more
The Gaslight AnthemAmerican SlangSideOneDummy Records [2010] The critical acclaim showered upon The ’59 Sound (2008) certainly set a high bar for The Gaslight Anthem, putting significant pressure on them to equal or even surpass its greatness with their third album, American Slang, set to release next week. While the band may not have entirely reached … Read more
Teenage FanclubShadowsMerge Records [2010] It’s hard to believe that it has been 20 years since Teenage Fanclub launched their debut record, A Catholic Education in 1990. They are a band that has experienced it all, from being hyped as the next big thing to signing with major labels and building a solid career in an … Read more
WoodsAt Echo LakeWoodsist Records [2010] Last year to the day we introduced you to the lo-fi folk tinged songs of Woods and not only did their superbness take us by surprise but the record held up well throughout the year and ended up #24 in our Top 50 of 2009. Well, once again lead by … Read more
The Hold SteadyHeaven Is WheneverVagrant Records [2010] The Hold Steady make albums not singles. Their work takes time to absorb, multiple listens to like and relies on transitions and pacing to bring it all together. On the groups fifth long player Heaven Is Whenever, all of the previous points come into play. The big different … Read more
Beach HouseTeen DreamSub Pop Records [2010] Teen Dream is the third album from duo Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand, aka Beach House, which represents a new beginning for the band. The record is a true labor of love that showcases a full 12 months of hard work and sends its listeners on an atmospheric journey that … Read more
SpoonTransferenceMerge Records [2010] Sometimes simple is good and when you are on your seventh full length like Spoon, reverting back to your strengths is never a bad thing. Transference was self-produced by the band and peels back their more recent layers down to guitar, bass, drums, uncomplicated keys and Britt Daniel’s voice. With Spoon you … Read more