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
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
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
Yuppies Yuppies Dull Tools Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Yuppies come at you from all angles on self-titled debut! Album Review: Over the decades of music there has always been bands that just came off as weird. Not bad weird but good music odd weird. You know the bands I am talking about – gorgeous … Read more
Wymond Miles Cut Yourself Free Sacred Bones Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Fresh & Onlys guitarist gets dark on his second solo album. Album Review: Anyone expecting the kind of garage psych-pop his main band deals in would have been sadly disappointed with Wymond Miles’ debut offering last year. Under The Pale Moon was … Read more
Mirror Travel Mexico Modern Outsider [2013] Fire Note Says: Mirror Travel walk in the desert with the dream-scuzz of debut Mexico. Album Review: Austin, Texas’ Mirror Travel is a bit of a strange bird. This could be considered funny since the group used to go by Follow That Bird. Tiffanie Lanmon, Paul Brinkley, and Lauren … Read more
First Base First Base HoZac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: No down time with the upbeat and energetic debut from First Base. Album Review: Most of the time I like music when it is presented in its most simple form. No frills, no effects, no layers, no slick production – just raw instruments, snappy songs … Read more
The 1975 The 1975 Vagrant Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The 1975’s debut is promising but its identity is hazy. Album Review: The 1975 are an English band consisting of Matthew Healy (vocals, guitar), Adam Hann (guitar), George Daniel (drums), and Ross MacDonald (bass). Healy (not related to Fran Healy of Travis) and company have … Read more
The Fratellis We Need Medicine BMG [2013] Fire Note Says: The Fratellis return with the safe-but-fun We Need Medicine. Album Review: The Fratellis have returned with their third long player, We Need Medicine. The Fratellis are a three-piece band from Glasgow, Scotland, made up of Jon Fratelli (nee John Lawler), Barry Fratelli (Barry Wallace), and … Read more
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts Unvarnished Blackheart Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Attention: Joan Jett is not dead! Album Review: At this point in Joan Jett’s career, I don’t think there are any expectations of what a new record should sound like. I am sure there are tons of opinions but especially when Unvarnished is … Read more
The Flaming Lips Peace Sword EP Warner Brothers Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Flaming Lips revisit planet earth with more conceptually-based space. Album Review: The Flaming Lips have always been an interesting force in music. Keeping watch over the alternative rock music scene since 1983—for better or worse—nothing seems to deter them. A now-canceled … Read more
La Luz It’s Alive Hardly Art Records [2013] Fire Note Says: La Luz’s debut is full of surf rock surprises. Album Review: Surfy rock from the Pacific Northwest? Sign me up! The all-female Seattle four piece, La Luz have just released their debut, It’s Alive, and it is a very modernized surf record by heart … Read more
Midlake Antiphon ATO Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Midlake reboot reasserts their claim to being the best ever soft rock band out of Denton. Album Review: A band in crisis sometimes finds its way and survives. Sometimes even excel. Midlake found themselves without the services of lead singer and songwriter Tim Smith halfway through … Read more
Kodaline In A Perfect World RCA Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Kodaline’s In A Perfect World is a likeable, if familiar, debut. Album Review: Do you know someone who likes Coldplay? How about Mumford & Sons? May I suggest a stocking stuffer for that person? Kodaline’s In A Perfect World is a nice blend between … Read more
Cults Static Columbia Records [2013] Fire Note Says: With their sophomore album, Cults put a pop/rock spin on their west-coast sound. Album Review: With their sophomore album, Cults put a pop/rock, electronic spin on their west coast sound. Most of the songs feature female vocalist Madeline Follin, while other tracks are accompanied by Brian Oblivion, … Read more
Quasi Mole City Kill Rock Stars [2013] Fire Note Says: Quasi’s eighth album is a head trip that encompasses every twist and turn the band has made in their 20 year existence. Album Review: This long running Portland duo, Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss, have been making music as Quasi since the mid 90’s. Janet’s … Read more
Red Fang Whales And Leeches Relapse Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Red Fang’s third album fails to surprise nor does it completely disappoint either. Album Review: When I first heard “Prehistoric Dog” off Portland stoner-metal band Red Fang’s debut album I was more or less convinced that these guys were the future of metal – … Read more
Holy Ghost! Dynamics DFA Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Holy Ghost! could use another exclamation point or two on the latest, Dynamics. Album Review: Holy Ghost’s sophomore LP, Dynamics, had a lot to live up to. While not universally fawned upon by the public, their eponymous debut had a lot of great moments and it … Read more
Dent May Warm Blanket Paw Tracks [2013] Fire Note Says: Dent May’s latest provides a Warm Blanket of smooth, quirky indie pop. Album Review: Dent May’s music doesn’t sound like the product of someone from Mississippi. From the opening chords of “Turn Up the Speakers,” it’s apparent that this is no “southern rock” album, if … Read more
White Denim Corsicana Lemonade Downtown Music [2013] Fire Note Says: White Denim pours a tall cool glass of their blend of classic guitar rock. Album Review: White Denim, the Austin TX four piece, comes blasting out of the gate on their new album Corsicana Lemonade. These guys are all over the map when it comes … Read more
Bardo Pond Peace On Venus Fire Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Bardo Pond lays down the heavy droning lysergic riffs as they travel the spaceways. Album Review: One does not simply put on a Bardo Pond album and think, let’s review this thing. It doesn’t work that way. The long time psychedelic band from Philadelphia, … Read more
Night Beats Sonic Bloom Reverberation Appreciation Society [2013] Fire Note Says: Night Beats invoke a heavy recollection of the hazy 60‘s with their second LP Sonic Bloom Album Review: I hate to call it a bummer, but that‘s the only word that comes to mind when thinking about Sonic Bloom-that may be too harsh. I … Read more
Minor Alps Get There Barsuk Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Juliana Hatfied and Matthew Caws (Nada Surf) make Minor Alps a success. Album Review: I don’t think two indie voices out there right now could be more destined to join forces than Juliana Hatfield and Matthew Caws. The alt-rock veterans have tons of cred with … Read more
Sunwolf Angel Eyes EP Dischord Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Sunwolf invokes short, punchy fun with Angel Eyes. Album Review: In the wake of Washington D.C.’s garage rock revival many have been answering the call to arms. The brainchild of Rob “Kalani“ Tifford, Sunwolf mixes the lo-fi fuzz of raw, 60‘s L.A. rockers The Seeds … Read more
Mike Donovan WOT Drag City Records [2013] Fire Note Says: A fine solo debut from Mike Donovan formerly of Sic Alps. Album Review: With the demise of Sic Alps earlier this year, it was only a matter of time before Mike Donovan launched his solo career. While the Sic Alps specialized in 60’s influenced guitar/garage … Read more