Cloud Nothings Life Without Sound Carpark Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Leaving some of the angst behind, Baldi and co. turn the music towards inspiration. Album Review: Ever since we reviewed their sophomore album, 2012‘s Attack On Memory, Cloud Nothings had made nothing but the strongest impression on me and The Fire Note. Their follow … Read more
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears Backlash INgrooves Music Group [2017] Fire Note Says: Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears make the soulful rock return you expect! Album Review: Austin’s Black Joe Lewis is back and once again is adding The Honeybears into the moniker after his 2013 solo titled record Electric Slave. If you … Read more
Sinai Vessel Brokenlegged Tiny Engines [2017] Who: Sinai Vessel began as a one-man project for singer/guitarist Caleb Cordes which released a debut full length in 2011 and his Profanity EP in 2014, with the help of some volunteer musicians. The band we hear today formed after the 2014 release so Brokenlegged feels like a true … Read more
The Bitter Chills Feel-Good Songs For Feel-Bad People Mint 400 Records [2017] Fire Note Says: The Bitter Chills take a big step forward, on their witty, often funny folk rock songs. Album Review: If you’re like me, and who isn’t, perhaps you’ve been taking life a little too seriously of late, maybe you find yourself … Read more
Ty Segall Ty Segall Drag City Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Segall delivers one of the best albums of his career. Album Review: Opening with the thunderous guitar riff of “Break a Guitar” it is immediately obvious that Ty Segall is going to be a pretty special album. Last year’s Ty Segall offering Emotional Mugger … Read more
Surfer Blood Snowdonia Joyful Noise Recordings [2017] Fire Note Says: Surfer Blood stay true to their roots after their loss. Album Review: Surfer Blood lost Thomas Fekete, their original drummer, to cancer in 2016. He had left the band a year earlier to receive medical treatment; the band raised funds for his treatment in 2015 … Read more
Conor Oberst Ruminations Nonesuch [2016] Fire Note Says: Oberst makes an intimate recording of his deeper, darker thoughts. Album Review: In 2004/5 Conor Oberst had his 15 minutes as the Next Big Thing, drawing comparisons to Bob Dylan, when his band Bright Eyes drew national attention with two very different releases, and ended up touring … Read more
The Harlequins One With You Dizzybird Records [2016] Who: The Harlequins are a psychedelic garage-pop trio that have been one of Cincinnati’s best indie secrets since they formed in 2007. They have plenty of music in their arsenal but One With You represents their first proper LP. Sound: The Cincinnati trio have plenty of reverb … Read more
Delicate Steve This Is Steve Anti- [2017] Fire Note Says: Guitar fans will want to connect with this talented musician’s rock insturmentals. Album Review: Perhaps you’re not yet familiar with the fine guitar stylings of Delicate Steve, aka Steve Marion, but it’s very likely that you’ve heard his playing before. Marion provide slide guitar from … Read more
Japandroids Near To The Wild Heart Of Life ANTI- [2017] Fire Note Says: Rock lovers rejoice: Japandroids have returned! Album Review: Are you ready to rock? If so, Canadian duo Japandroids have something for you on their third LP, Near To The Wild Heart of Life. An alternative title to the album could be We’ve … Read more
Sleater-Kinney Live In Paris Sub Pop Records [2017] Fire Note Says: The stage is where Sleater-Kinney shine! Album Review: Did it really take this long to get a live set from one of the greatest power trios the stage has seen? I guess it did but I will tell you up front that it was … Read more
Feral Ohms Live In San Francisco Castle Face Records [2016] Who: Hailing from Oakland, Ca. power trio Feral Ohms is like a good friend. Feral Ohms doesn’t overstay their welcome, they have fun all the while kicking your ass, and finally you have to know when you can hang out again. Sound: What really caught … Read more
Cherry Glazerr Apocalipstick Secretly Canadian [2017] Who: Clementine Creevy is a headstrong 19-year-old that dreamed up Cherry Glazerr in her LA bedroom alone. The groups debut was on Burger Records and they released a 7” on Suicide Squeeze so they have plenty of indie credibility. Apocalipstick is their Secretly Canadian debut and features two new … Read more
Tobin Sprout The Universe And Me Burger Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Tobin Sprout’s first album in seven years is wistful, poignant and brings the rock. Album Review: Tobin Sprout returns with his first solo record since 2010’s The Bluebirds of Happiness Tried to Land on My Shoulder. The Universe and Me is a real … Read more
The Flaming Lips Oczy Mlody Warner Bros. Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Exiting their world of loveless doom, The Flaming Lips return with a brighter fairy tale. Album Review: The Flaming Lips have been in the music game for at least 24 years. Within those 24 years they’ve made quite a impact from battling pink … Read more
Lydia Loveless Real Bloodshot Records [2016] Fire Note Says: In a more polished, pop oriented release, Lydia Loveless proves she’s the real thing. Album Review: With Real, the fourth full-length album from the Columbus OH native, Lydia Loveless continues to sing of love’s challenging foibles in rock & roll in a voice with a strong … Read more
The xx I See You Young Turks [2017] Fire Note Says: The xx takes a big step forward on I See You. Album Review: The xx, the London trio consisting of Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Sim and Jamie Smith, have released their third album, and their first in five years. Of course, Smith’s 2015 release … Read more
Sonny Knight & The Lakers Sooner Or Later Secret Stash Records [2016] Who: Sonny Knight is a 68-year-old retired truck driver that sings his soul out on his sophomore record accompanied by his multi-talented 7-piece band, The Lakers. Sound: Sonny Knight has a very traditional soul/R&B sound that is in the wheelhouse of Daptone talents … Read more
Cattle Nature’s Champion Hominid Sounds [2016] Who: Precise, rough-hewn heavy noise rock from Leeds. Sound: Cattle boasts an intense heavy sound that fans of Dope Body and Slint would appreciate. TFN Final Take: Cattle hit me right across the jaw with their opening track, “Tanking the Piss” off their new LP Nature’s Champion. This is … Read more
Kaiser Chiefs Stay Together Self-Released [2016] Fire Note Says: Kaiser Chiefs have turned from political, guitar-driven garage rock to a decidedly poppy direction. Album Review: On their 6th album in a little over a decade, Kaiser Chiefs, the British indie rockers have turned in from their more political, guitar-driven garage rock in a decidedly poppy … Read more
Sloucher Certainty Swoon Records [2016] Who: After writing a batch of songs on his downtime as drummer in Cayucas and Hibou, Jay Clancy recruited guitarist Kyle Musselwhite (The Globes) and drummer Jack Hamrick to solidify Seattle’s Sloucher as a trio. Sound: Is pop perfect guitar rock a description? It is for sure when talking about … Read more
Mitski Puberty 2 Dead Oceans [2016] Who: Mitski Miyawaki aka Mitski released her fourth album overall and first through Dead Oceans. The singer-songwriter always delivers honest and somewhat dark lyricism that is supported by edgy indie rock! Sound: PJ Harvey meets Angel Olsen croon, electronic drum machines meets Pixies-ish style guitars while quiet moments can … Read more
Drive-By Truckers American Band ATO Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Politically charged album from one of America’s best bands! Album Review: It has been said that the only two things in life you can count on are death and taxes. Well I’m saying there are at least three things, death, taxes, and Drive-By Truckers. The … Read more
Grouplove Big Mess Canvasback Music [2016] Fire Note Says: Grouplove delivers a big bold pop sound and groovy rhythms. Album Review: Grouplove’s 2011 debut may have been titled Never Trust a Happy Song, but let’s face it, this band may look like some hippy jam band of alt-rockers, but they produce some of the giddiest, … Read more
Two Door Cinema Club Gameshow Glassnote Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Try not to dance to the newest from Two Door Cinema Club. Album Review: It’s taken Two Door Cinema Club four years to release their third full-length album. The Irish three-piece took their time to craft a confectionary gem with Gameshow. It’s dance rock … Read more