FUZZ Live In San Francisco Castle Face Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Live In San Francisco series keeps cooking with the ever burly FUZZ. Album Review: I‘m a huge FUZZ fiend. Not only was their debut s/t album something to get excited for (TFN Review), but the collection of 45s leading up to its … Read more
Younger Lovers Sugar In My Pocket Southpaw Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Super catchy lo fi indie pop with high replay value. Album Review: Sugar in My Pocket, the new album from Younger Lovers is exactly the kind of record I enjoy discovering. Its 12 songs fly by in just about 22 minutes, so It … Read more
Black Books Black Books Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: This may be Black Books’ first album, but they’ve clearly done their homework. Album Review: The biographical blurb on Black Books’ BandCamp page notes that the band has been “playing music together since forever.” It shows. Their debut album is by no means a classic, but … Read more
Jeffrey Novak Lemon Kid Trouble In Mind Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Lemon Kid puts a different twist on that familiar Garage Rock sound. Album Review: The music of Tennessee native, Jeffrey Novak, calls to mind another Tennessean, Jay Reatard. Novak doesn’t particularly sound like Reatard, but he does share a unique ability to pull … Read more
Bill Mallonee & Muriah Rose Town Hall Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Bill Mallonee is a singer/songwriter to discover – again. Album Review: Bill Mallonee is probably one of the more talented singer/songwriters out there that most people have simply forgot about. He is still better known as the lead singer of Athens, Georgia group … Read more
Yes The Studio Albums 1969-1987 Atlantic Records [2013] Fire Note Says: A box set from progressive rock kings Yes – just in time for Christmas! Album Review: There is absolutely no need for this box set’s existence and yet I am overjoyed that it’s here. The only thing that’s new here is a re-mastered version … Read more
Neil Young Live At The Cellar Door Reprise Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Neil in his prime! Album Review: By now, Neil Young has become a rock music icon, best remembered for a variety of traits: early seminal work with Buffalo Springfield, his hard rocking anthems with Crazy Horse, his role as the ornery one … Read more
Jorma Whittaker Jorma Joyful Noise Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Singer/songwriter Jorma Whittaker will fill your winter indie blahs. Album Review: Do you ever like to sit alone, put on some headphones and just let a singer/songwriter take over your brain? If that is the case then the new solo disc from Marmoset frontman, Jorma … Read more
Autistic Youth Nonage Dirtnap Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Autistic Youth bring the punk on their junior LP Nonage. Album Review: Punk rock has been in a weird place for a while now but that does not mean there has not been several quality records released. In fact, it just means there are plenty of … Read more
Black Flag What The… SST Records [2013] Fire Note Says: First New Black Flag studio album in 26 years is better than you have heard. Album Review: It’s been 26 years since Black Flag last roared out of SoCal with a new album. 26 years, that’s hard to believe isn’t it? On their new album, … Read more
Epicycle You’re Not Gonna Get It HoZac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Chicago area powerpop/punk band get the anthology treatment. Album Review: File under: could have been big. Or three years of bratty suburban mayhem distilled into one really cool record. During their original incarnation Epicycle put out one LP and a handful of 7″ … Read more
Magik Markers Surrender To The Fantasy Drag City Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Noise rockers present Surrender To The Fantasy, but is their creativity drying up? Album Review: Magik Markers’ Elisa Ambrogio has said “Nobody would make art if it was sensible, logical, or responsible.” “That‘s why we called the album Surrender To The Fantasy,” … Read more
Sink Tapes How You Mean Mint 400 Records[2013] Fire Note Says: Kick back, relax and let Sink Tapes brand of easy pop wash all over you. Album Review: I first encountered Sink Tapes on their excellent second album, Please Touch. It had a casual confidence to it that I really enjoyed. So needless to say … Read more
Robert Pollard Blazing Gentlemen Guided By Voices Inc. [2013] Fire Note Says: Pollard brings the rock on his second solo record in 2013 – Blazing Gentlemen. Album Review: Did you think you could close out 2013 without hearing from Robert Pollard one last time? Hell no! As he says, “writer’s block is for pussies!” Pollard’s … Read more
Shearwater Fellow Travelers Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Jonathan Meiburg’s latest re-works the songs of tourmates past and present. Album Review: Ah…the dreaded covers album. From David Bowie to Nick Cave, The Ramones to Ozzy, Tori Amos to Nada Surf, it seems sooner or later every artist gets the itch to record an … Read more
Thee Oh Sees Singles Collection Volume 3 Castle Face Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Thee Oh Sees brandish their catalogue rarities/gems’ with the same familiar fun and intensity. Album Review: I‘m a huge Thee Oh Sees fan as Floating Coffin (TFN Review), for me, is a top fifteen of the year. But this isn’t going … Read more
Mike Doughty Circles Super Bon Bon Sleepless… Snack Bar / Hornblow Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Mike Doughty returns to his Soul Coughing days with 13 reimagined versions. Album Review: It has been well documented over the years that Mike Doughty despised his time in Soul Coughing. In fact, he hated everything that those songs … Read more
Emerson Lake & Palmer Live in Montreal 1977 Shout! Factory [2013] Fire Note Says: Live in Montreal features ELP backed by a 70 piece orchestra on their Works tour! Album Review: Emerson Lake and Palmer’s 1977 tour was an ambitious undertaking, a failure on some levels, and an absolute triumph on other levels. The band … Read more
Brendan Benson You Were Right Readymade Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Brendan Benson returns to his power pop roots with an added twinge of Nashville. Album Review: Brendan Benson has had a solid run so far even if he is still not a household name. The singer/songwriter probably has a much higher profile than most … Read more
Kurt Vile It’s A Big World Out There (And I Am Scared) Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Kurt Vile issues more tracks from the Wakin on a Pretty Daze sessions. Album Review: Kurt Vile has had my ear since I first heard Constant Hitmaker in 2008. Each album has gotten better, culminating with this … Read more
Bailterspace Trinine Arch Hill Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Shoe-gazing noise merchants try to reemerge with a case on why they still matter. Album Review: It’s never a good thing to be nervous after the first track of an album. You want to be as excited as you can about an artist, especially when phrases … Read more
Bad Religion Christmas Songs Epitaph Records [2013] Fire Note Says: We wish you a merry Bad Religion Christmas! Album Review: I am a sucker for Christmas albums. I mean how excited can you really be to hear another version of “Little Drummer Boy” right? Well, I always seem to muster up some spirit this time … Read more
Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs Under The Covers Vol. 3 Shout! Factory [2013] Fire Note Says: Sweet and Hoffs revisit the 80’s on their latest Under The Covers installment. Album Review: It’s felt like too long a wait for those who enjoyed Susanna Hoffs and Matthew Sweet’s collection of 60’s and 70’s covers that made … Read more
The Slims Slowpoke Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Morningbell-affiliated The Slims put together an album of eclectic late-night soul with Slowpoke. Album Review: Gainesville, Florida’s Morningbell just released their Fire Note “Headphone Approved” LP Bôa Noite earlier this year [TFN Review], but that hasn’t stopped frontman Travis Atria from immediately jumping into another musical project. … Read more
Soundgarden Screaming Life/Fopp Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Soundgarden are one of the most important bands to emerge from early 90’s Seattle. Album Review: I caught the Soundgarden bug during my freshman year at college when a friend bought Louder Than Love and proclaimed it the best rock album of the year. I … Read more