Manchester Orchestra Cope Loma Vista / Republic Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Manchester Orchestra goes bigger on their fourth album Cope. Album Review: The muscular guitar opening of “Top Notch” on Manchester Orchestra’s fourth album Cope is all business as the band makes the full transition from indie start-ups to mainstream alternative rock act. 2011’s … Read more
Mount Carmel Get Pure Alive Naturalsound Records [2014] Fire Note Says: If you are starving for raw blues rock then Mount Carmel will satisfy your hunger. Album Review: Columbus Ohio’s Mount Carmel was once described as “the only non-bullshit hard rock band in goddamn America.” Those are high standards to live up to but for … Read more
Arms Of Tripoli Dream In Tongues Fluttery Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Sonic architects Arms of Tripoli encompass many emotions with Dream In Tongues Album Review: Right out of the gate I have to say that LA’s Arms of Tripoli are a refreshing listen when it comes to instrumental/math rock/post rock bands. But for these … Read more
Mac DeMarco Salad Days Captured Tracks [2014] Fire Note Says: There isn’t a song less than great on Salad Days! Album Review: Salad Days, the second album (or third if you count Rock and Roll Nightclub as an lp) from Mac DeMarco could easily have been a letdown, but instead it ends up being incredibly … Read more
Baby Baby Big Boy Baller Club The Gospel Of Rhythm Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: Fun Atlanta group Baby Baby have a party ready for you on sophomore album. Album Review: When is the last time you listened to a fun record? I am talking about some guilty pleasure, a free spirited pop-punk record or … Read more
Cloud Nothings Here And Nowhere Else Carpark Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Cloud Nothings reminds us all over again with Here And Nowhere Else Album Review: It‘s lucky for us that Dylan Baldi was convinced to drop out of college, take Cloud Nothings out of the basement, pursue music full time, and expand the project … Read more
Supersuckers Get The Hell Acetate Records [2014] Fire Note Says: If you love rowdy, dirty, raunchy, drunk, gritty, punk infused rock and roll, well, Get The Hell might be your next party album. Album Review: The Supersuckers have been bringing their spirited, rowdy and shit kicking brand of Rock and Roll for over 25 years … Read more
The Singles Look How Fast A Heart Can Break Sound Artifacts Music [2014] Fire Note Says: The Singles hit a home run on their third swing. Album Review: This long-awaited, third full-length release from former Detroit band The Singles may be the ideal record for summer 2014. Look How Fast a Heart Can Break, the … Read more
WV White West Virginia White Anyway Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Columbus Ohio’s WV White shines on debut full length on Anyway records. Album Review: It would be easy to classify this release under the slacker rock category, but rest assured that the slacker term does not apply to the songwriting execution on this excellent … Read more
Owls Two Polyvinyl Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Owls craft something compelling and infinitely re-listenable, out of its unorthodox and complex style! Album Review: Odds are pretty good that you have never heard of Owls, or understand why you should be excited that they are releasing their second album after a 13 year absence. I … Read more
The Fleshtones Wheel Of Talent Yep Roc Records[2014] Fire Note Says: America’s garage rock band prove they’ve still got it on album number 22. Album Review: The history of The Fleshtones is seriously unlike any other. Formed in Queens in 1976, they played their first gigs at CBGB and Max’s Kansas City. They were also … Read more
The Hold Steady Teeth Dreams Washington Square/Razor & Tie Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Hold Steady beef up the guitars and expand the songs on the arena ready Teeth Dreams. Album Review: In today’s music scene I challenge you to start naming legitimate rock groups that have only released albums this decade. Sure, you … Read more
Wolfmother New Crown Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: It’s hard to teach an old Wolfmother new tricks. Album Review: Way back in 2006, when I first heard “Woman,” Wolfmother’s self-titled debut took me by storm. I was really into playing guitar at the time, so of course I surrounded myself with heroes such as Cream, … Read more
Eternal Summers The Drop Beneath Kanine Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Eternal Summers bring some warm jangle and bit of searing punk to melt away this year’s seemingly eternal winter. Album Review: Roanoke, VA trio Eternal Summers give their listeners another steady dose of jangly dream-punk with their newest release, The Drop Beneath. I had … Read more
Tony Molina Dissed And Dismissed Melters/Slumberland Records [2013/2014] Fire Note Says: Tony Molina only needs 12 minutes to win you over! Album Review: Veteran Bay Area musician Tony Molina released a limited run record last year that I guarantee not enough people heard. His twelve minute album, Dissed And Dismissed, came out on the small … Read more
Warm Soda Young Reckless Hearts Castle Face Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Young Reckless Hearts should have been a contender, but instead is a bit of a head scratcher. Album Review: Warm Soda’s debut album, Someone For You, was one of those albums that hung around my playlist all year long in 2013. It was … Read more
Perfect Pussy Say Yes To Love Captured Tracks [2014] Fire Note Says: Perfect Pussy live up to their name and hype! Album Review: If you are into vinyl then you know the feeling you get when the needle hits the first groove. You hear just a little bit of white noise before the special wax … Read more
Temples Sun Structures Fat Possum Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Temples’ impressive debut is melodic psych done right Album Review: Temples is a four-piece hailing from the small English town of Kettering and while they haven’t been around for long, their brand of pop-inflected psych rock has garnered a lot of attention. Listening to Sun … Read more
September Girls Cursing The Sea Fortuna POP! [2014] Fire Note Says: Cursing the Sea is an exciting debut album from a band to keep an eye on in the future! Album Review: Cursing the Sea, the debut album from Ireland’s September Girls, is right in my wheelhouse. Hazy psychedelic pop music, heavily influenced by the … Read more
Holy Wave Relax The Reverberation Appreciation Society [2014] Fire Note Says: With Relax, Holy Wave heed their own advice. Album Review: Holy Wave’s last outing, Evil Hits, struck me as a great surprise. Labeled by yours truly as “a water slide of groove driven wonder,” the wide open song structures, authenticity, and fantastic psychedelic momentum … Read more
Lakefield Swan Songs EP Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Lakefield makes a triumphant exit on their final release. Album Review: A full-length album and some touring under their belt, Lakefield has decided to call it quits six years after they formed. As a thank you to fans the Vancouver band has recorded Swan Songs, a … Read more
The War On Drugs Lost In The Dream Secretly Canadian Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Lost In The Dream is an instant classic. Album Review: Hailing from Philadelphia, The War on Drugs is the musical brainchild of Adam Granduciel, but also includes Dave Hartley and Robbie Bennett. The band had previously existed somewhat in the … Read more
Kalle Mattson Someday, The Moon Will Be Gold Parliament Of Trees [2014] Fire Note Says: On Someday, The Moon Will Be Gold, Kalle Mattson expands his sound with collaborators. Album Review: Indie folk has always seemed to me to be a hard genre to break into—unless you have really strong songs, the genre itself seems … Read more
Death Vessel Island Intervals Sub Pop Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Death Vessel return after six years with an upgraded sound and Northern outlook on life. Album Review: The first thing you should know about Death Vessel is that the voice behind the music is Joel Thibodeau. This will save you from some embarrassing remark … Read more
Foster The People Supermodel Columbia Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Foster The People steer their kicks in a new direction. Album Review: Foster The People blew up in 2011 with their debut Torches and its infectious track “Pumped Up Kicks” but overnight success is an extremely hard act to follow. Place that pressure with the … Read more