Julien Baker Sprained Ankle 6131 Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Julien Baker’s debut record is one that you need to sit a little closer to the speakers for or turn the dial up a few notches on your headphones because Sprained Ankle is a quiet piece of art that is easy to miss if … Read more
Frankie Cosmos Fit Me In EP Bayonet Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: My only complaint about the new Frankie Cosmos is that it is too short. Sure, I know it is an EP but its eight minutes is just an excellent tease of what is for sure to come from this soon to breakout … Read more
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Paper Mâché Dream Balloon ATO Records [2015] Fire Note Says: KGATLW goes all flute on you with plenty of quirky and catchy outcomes. Album Review: Hopefully we have featured King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard enough lately that you shouldn’t be scared of the name because they definitely stands … Read more
The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die Harmlessness Epitaph Records [2015] Fire Note Says: A surprise candidate for Album Of The Year emerges from the post-emo scene. Album Review: I was first drawn to this band by all the hype surrounding their debut album, Whenever, If Ever. The … Read more
Clutch Psychic Warfare Weathermaker Music [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: To say that I’m impressed with Clutch is a bit of an understatement. Psychic Warfare is their 11th studio album and the Maryland based group is also celebrating their 25th anniversary. In the riff based hard-rock and stoner-rock genres, Clutch have released some impressive albums … Read more
Kishi Bashi String Quartet Live! Joyful Noise Recordings [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Several years ago you would have never heard me go on and on about a violin player but K. Ishibashi (aka Kishi Bashi) changed all of that with his genre changing debut 151a (2012). String Quartet Live! features reimagined versions from not … Read more
together PANGEA The Phage EP Burger Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Santa Clarita’s finest offer up six songs to make your day a little better. Album Review: When this hit my in-box I must admit that I was somewhat dismayed. Twenty months after their third LP, the terrific Badillac, I was disappointed that all I … Read more
Martin Courtney Many Moons Domino [2015] Fire Note Says: Hear the smooth warm sounds from Real Estate frontman Martin Courtney. Album Review: Several other members of Real Estate have already ventured out with side projects like Ducktails and Alex Bleeker and The Freaks, so the time seems right from frontman Martin Courtney to strut his … Read more
Yoko & The Oh No’s Yoko & The Oh No’s Autumn Tone Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: If you like a blend of classic rock riffs, distorted R&B beats and flowing soulful vocals then Chicago’s Yoko & The Oh No’s will be your new favorite band. The group cranks their way through this 10 … Read more
The Yawpers American Man Bloodshot Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: The Yawpers highlight all that is good with the rowdy bar band vibe as they pull off a Steve Earle fronts Old 97s sound with a blue collar work ethic of Uncle Tupelo. American Man is just that kind of record as the group’s … Read more
White Fang Chunks Burger Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: The press release for White Fang’s new album, Chunks, says that it “will put you back in touch with who you were before you became what you are.” That couldn’t be a more accurate statement as this record is full of goofing off, having a … Read more
Helvetia Dromomania Joyful Noise Recordings [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Jason Albertini (Duster and Built to Spill) and his band, Helvetia have a wonderful new LP out now. Dromomania is a tasty bit of psych/slacker rock. If you are not familiar with Helvetia, you really need to get that situation rectified. Dromomania would make a … Read more
Beach House Thank Your Lucky Stars Sub Pop Records [2015] Fire Note Says: 2015 has been a good year for Beach House. Album Review: Seems like I was just writing a review for a new Beach House album because, well, I was. The Baltimore duo has followed up their August release (Depression Cherry) two months … Read more
Beach Slang The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us Polyvinyl Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Did you think Beach Slang was going to slow down on their debut? Think again! Album Review: Beach Slang is for everyone that wants to rock. In the spirit of The Replacements, early Goo Goo Dolls, … Read more
Majical Cloudz Are You Alone? Matador Records [2015] Fire Note Says: An album that searches for sincerity in a space that has been salted with cliché, Are You Alone? builds an immersive world around love and loneliness. Album Review: When my infant daughter couldn’t sleep in the depths winter, I’d sometimes let her lie on … Read more
New Swears Junkfood Forever, Bedtime Whatever Dirt Cult Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: There’s no way that Ottawa’s number one party band can possibly top their last album, the audio equivalent of a kick-ass blaster that was Funny Isn’t Real, right? Wrong, they can top it, and in fact they not only topped it, … Read more
EL VY Return To The Moon 4AD Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: EL VY is the musical collaboration between Matt Berninger, from The National, and Ramona Falls’ frontman Brent Knopf. In my book, Berninger has one of the most distinguishable and cool voices in the indie business right now so breaking away from his … Read more
SPORTS All Of Something Father/Daughter Records [2015] Fire Note Says: SPORTS pulls out a winner with sophomore record All of Something! Album Review: SPORTS is a basement rock band, started in 2012 at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. The group has had all the normal up and downs of beginning young bands but on its … Read more
The Mantles All Odds End Slumberland Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Bay area band tighten up their sound – just a bit – on their third LP. Album Review: If treading water made a sound (and I’m quite sure that it does) The Mantles may have nailed it on their third proper full-length, All Odds … Read more
Circus Devils Stomping Grounds Happy Jack Rock Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Stomping Grounds offers up a healthy serving of bizarro-rock mini masterpieces Album Review: Last year Robert Pollard and the Tobias brothers released Escape, an album that pulled off the usual Circus Devils trick of being completely different from the previous dozen or so … Read more
Drive-By Truckers It’s Great To Be Alive! ATO Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Southern storytellers weave their ultimate tale on epic 35 song triple live album! Album Review: A convincing argument could be made that the Drive-By Truckers are the best American rock band of the past 15 years or so. DBT seems to be … Read more
Django Django Born Under Saturn Ribbon Music [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Scottish band Django Django have been on my radar since their Mercury Prize nominated 2012 self-titled debut. The band typically draws comparisons to other modern progressive UK bands like Beta Band, Super Furry Animals and Clinic. On the group’s sophomore outing, Born Under … Read more
Car Seat Headrest Teens Of Style Matador Records [2015] Fire Note Says: This lo-fi pop shows true promise! Album Review: Discovery of new music is a wonderful thing. I can name countless bands that I thought should be huge and just wowed me after I heard their basement tapes. I can also think of a … Read more
The Stops Nameless Faces Dirt Cult Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Nothing like picking out a killer band from your backyard as the now Portland, Oregon based Dirt Cult Records has released the debut LP from the all-female punk rock group The Stops. The 10 song, 23 minute record, Nameless Faces, wastes no time … Read more
Heaters Holy Water Pool Beyond Beyond Is Beyond Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: For me, the resurgence of psych rock has been spectacular and Michigan’s Heaters is another fine band to add to the growing quality list. Their new full length, Holy Water Pool, is drenched in reverb 60’s soul that meanders in the … Read more