The People’s Temple Musical Garden HoZac Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The new album from The People’s Temple is a fertile Musical Garden. Album Review: The People’s Temple has been one of my go to bands for whenever I want a 60’s garage rock fix. Hailing from Lansing, Michigan, these guys bring the psychedelic leanings … Read more
Guided By Voices Cool Planet GBV Inc. [2014] Fire Note Says: Cool Planet is a strong follow-up to Motivational Jumpsuit. Album Review: Another month, another GBV/Robert Pollard-related release. Some critics argue that Robert Pollard needs an editor, someone to cherry-pick the best of his numerous compositions—and it’s an understandable opinion. Between his “solo” records, GBV, … Read more
The Moles Flashbacks And Dream Sequences: The Story of The Moles Fire Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Amazing career retrospective from one of the great “lost” bands of the 90’s. Album Review: Are The Moles one of the great lost bands of the 90’s? Fire Records makes a strong argument for this with the release … Read more
Me First And The Gimme Gimmes Are We Not Men? We Are Diva! Fat Wreck Chords [2014] Fire Note Says: Me First are back with 12 diva delights! Album Review: To some, it may be a surprise that Me First and the Gimme Gimmes have been cranking out cover records since their 1997 debut Have … Read more
The Strypes Snapshot Virgin EMI Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Strypes show that age means nothing on contagious debut! Album Review: Every now and then you run across a new band whose debut is so strong that you want to remember the first time you heard them. First time, many of us heard The … Read more
PAWS Youth Culture Forever FatCat Records [2014] Fire Note Says: PAWS are poised for their breakthrough moment with their sophomore effort! Album Review: PAWS burst onto my radar with their 2012 debut album Cokefloat!, which rushed by like a sugar addled adrenaline rush. I thought it was a promising debut and though not terribly original, … Read more
Buffalo Killers Heavy Reverie Sun Pedal Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: The Buffalo Killers return with a sonically polished 5th studio effort entitled Heavy Reverie. Album Review: The Buffalo Killers are no strangers to success. In fact, their previous four albums have gained them critical claim from Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes who knows … Read more
Cheap Girls Famous Graves Xtra Mile Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: Cheap Girls are ready to be your favorite new rock n roll band. Album Review: There is nothing like hitting the local pub and hearing a band that just blows its walls off. You know the type of group I am talking about – … Read more
tUnE-yArDs Nikki Nack 4AD Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Merrill Garbus finally returns with the music revolution Nikki Nack. Album Review: There are many things that could be said about Merrill Garbus: I’ve heard her described both as annoying and having fantastic pipes; for my money, w h o k i l l especially is … Read more
Pink Mountaintops Get Back Jagjaguwar Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Pink Mountaintops bring us a mixed bag of instantly catchy drug and sex saturated rock, and some rather understated moments with their latest release, Get Back. Album Review: I have been a regular listener of Pink Mountaintops since their 2004 self-titled debut LP. They have … Read more
Damon Albarn Everyday Robots Parlophone Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Everyday Robots tries to make sense of the fragility of human emotion in relation to technology. Album Review: Everyday Robots is the first official solo record from Damon Albarn, better known as singer for Blur and Gorillaz. You probably know that already, but what you … Read more
Faces On Film Elite Lines Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Faces On Film are ready for their close-up with Elite Lines. Album Review: Faces On Film, based out of Boston, has self-released their third LP Elite Lines. With a very exhaustive 10-minute google search it was impossible to discern if Faces On Film is a … Read more
Lykke Li I Never Learn Atlantic Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Lykke Li’s third album is not only her best yet but also one of the top break up records released this decade. Album Review: There is nothing like a good breakup record. Time and time again these type of heart driven albums make for … Read more
Old 97’s Most Messed Up ATO Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Old 97’s bring a catchy recklessness to their tenth album Most Messed Up. Album Review: I still remember when the Old 97’s style of rambunctious alt-country music was being hailed as the freshest thing on the block back in 1994. I am not sure … Read more
Against Me! Transgender Dysphoria Blues Red Distribution [2014] Fire Note Says: Against Me! has made an album that deserves the attention it has received. Album Review: It can be difficult to separate the story from the music. This is the case with Against Me!, and fairly or not, the punk band does nothing to separate … Read more
Thee Oh Sees Drop Castle Face Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Dwyer loads Thee Oh Sees back into the garage—and there’s a bit of time travel going on. Album Review: To go over John Dwyer‘s catalogue it quite a task: Yikes! And the Hospitals, some Pink and Brown LP‘s, many Coachwhips LP’s, solo recordings under … Read more
Wye Oak Shriek Merge Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Wye Oak trades guitars for synths with (mostly) positive results Album Review: It seems a lot of bands these days are switching out guitars for keyboards, often totally changing their sound in the process. For Wye Oak, at least it makes some practical sense: a duo … Read more
Chuck E. Weiss Red Beans And Weiss ANTI- Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Chuck E. Weiss’ new record is a way cool concoction. Album Review: There was a time, back in the day, when it wasn’t just “cool” to be into jazz, beat poets, talkin’ blues and scat singing, but it was commercially fortuitous. Joni … Read more
Gem Club In Roses Hardly Art Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Take a serene walk through the park with Gem Club. Album Review: Gem Club is a chamber pop trio that hails from Somerville, Massachusetts. The group is comprised of Christopher Barnes (piano and vocals), Kristen Drymala (cello), and Ieva Berberian (vocals). They released their … Read more
Chad VanGaalen Shrink Dust Sub Pop Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Shrink Dust is an “everything but the kitchen sink” album that works. Album Review: Chad VanGaalen seems like he’s probably a pretty busy guy. When he’s not building monster heads to mount on the roof of his house or creating animated sci-fi movies, he … Read more
Sonic Avenues Mistakes Dirtnap Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Sonic Avenues keep things classy on third LP Mistakes. Album Review: Punk rock is still trying to find its place in 2014 and if you look hard enough there are plenty of bands keeping it real and producing quality albums. Montreal’s Sonic Avenues is one of … Read more
Easton Stagger Phillips Resolution Road Campfire Propaganda/Rebeltone Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Easton Stagger Phillips return with a sophomore record that is a breath of fresh Alaskan air! Album Review: What happens when you get three extremely talented singer/songwriters in one room together? You guessed it – great songs, great harmonies and a record that … Read more
Tokyo Police Club Forcefield Mom+Pop Music [2014] Fire Note Says: Tokyo Police Club’s Forcefield is both full of hooks and subtle. Album Review: Canadian band Tokyo Police Club recently released Forcefield, their fourth long player. It seems like this band has always been on the cusp of making it big (like Young The Giant or … Read more
Black Pistol Fire Hush Or Howl Modern Outsider Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Black Pistol Fire hits the target with their second album. Album Review: Black Pistol Fire has followed up their strong debut from last year, Big Beat ‘59, with an even better sophomore effort with Hush or Howl. The duo, consisting of Canadians … Read more
Bobby Bare Jr. Undefeated Bloodshot Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Undefeated is full of dark tales and nasty breakups, but laced with the wit and wisdom that only Bare can provide. Album Review: I don’t think I have ever instantly fallen in love with a Bobby Bare Jr album. I didn’t instantly fall in love … Read more