The Vaccines Melody Calling EP Columbia Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Vaccines contine to evolve. Album Review: London’s Vaccines have had their ups and downs with critics since their 2011 debut What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?. I really liked that record but thought their sophomore outing Come Of Age (2012) was not … Read more
Sara Jackson-Holman Cardiology Expunged Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Fans of quirky, soulful female artists will love Sara Jackson-Holman’s Cardiology. Album Review: With similar fun, quirky, and soulful tracks like that of Ingrid Michaelson, Feist, and Fiona Apple, Sara Jackson-Holman’s sophomore album, Cardiology, provides a variety of beats and sounds. Each track has a different … Read more
The Julie Ruin Run Fast TJR Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Bikini Kill legend Kathleen Hanna returns with the debut of new group The Julie Ruin. Album Review: There really is no argument on how legendary riot grrrl pioneer Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill, Le Tigre) has impacted the music scene today. It also seems that … Read more
Richard Buckner Surrounded Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Buckner expands his sonic palette on his tenth studio record. Album Review: Buckner spent nearly five years working on the follow up to his 2006 lp, Meadow. When 2011’s Our Blood was finally released, after having been rerecorded three times, most were pleased with the results. … Read more
Pond Hobo Rocket Modular Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Perth natives continue to stir the Pond into a strange, interstellar brew. Album Review: Why can’t we just grade albums a fun factor anymore? If that was the case 5 headphones for Pond, done and done. This album was made by fans of music for fans … Read more
Nine Inch Nails Hesitation Marks Columbia Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Nine Inch Nails returns with the large sonic palette Trent Reznor calls Hesitation Marks. Album Review: Jumping into the new Nine Inch Nails, Hesitation Marks, feels like deciding to take a swim from Cuba to Florida. It is possible but it is a really … Read more
Man Man On Oni Pond ANTI- Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Man Man‘s fifth full length shows the group using many different sounds. Album Review: I‘m quite the Man Man fan. I‘ve heard at times that this fearsome Philly five-some can be hard to get into, that their unique sound could be mistaken for “insane … Read more
A.S. Exile Inedible Records [2013] Fire Note Says: A.S.’s second album Exile is moody and atmospheric. Album Review: The enigmatically named band A.S. consists of Nick McRoberts (voice, piano) and Idriss Halfaoui (guitars). The duo is based out of Paris (and sings in English) and it’s safe to say that the occasional grayness of the … Read more
The Dodos Carrier Polyvinyl Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Dodos stay true to their sound with Carrier. Album Review: The Dodos have released their fifth album, which has the name Carrier. The San Francisco duo of Meric Long and Logan Kroeber are following up on 2011’s No Color. No Color was one of my … Read more
Holograms Forever Captured Tracks Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Swedish post-punk band proudly fly the Factory Records flag on solid second album. Album Review: Stockholm is usually perceived as a peaceful, almost Utopian, place. That image was shattered after ten days of intense rioting in May of this year as immigrant youth took to the … Read more
Jonathan Rado Law & Order Woodsist Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Foxygen’s Jonathan Rado steps out on his own with a fine collection of 60’s influenced pop. Album Review: Foxygen have been one of the bigger buzz bands of the year, their latest album, We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic, will … Read more
Belle And Sebastian The Third Eye Centre Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Second collection of B-Sides and stray tracks presents an interesting alternate look at the past decade of Belle and Sebastian’s career. Album Review: When I heard that the new Belle and Sebastian album, The Third Eye Centre, was going to be a … Read more
Crocodiles Crimes Of Passion Frenchkiss Records (2013) Fire Note Says: Crocodiles hit the right (and one-) note with Crimes of Passion. Album Review: Ever wonder when you can have too much of a good thing? I love me some power pop and really got into Crocodiles’ last record Endless Flowers. I saw them open up … Read more
Spineriders Hello Future Tinglies Misra Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Archival release from Jason Molina’s first band benefits a great cause. Album Review: Spineriders were a four piece band hailing from Lorain, Ohio in the late 80’s early 90’s. Consisting of bandmembers, Todd Jacops, Mike McCartney, Jason Molina, and Carl Raponi, they recorded Hello Future … Read more
The Paper Kites Young North EP Nettwerk Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Young North presents a band poised for greatness. Album Review: Chances are if I said “name a band from Australia,” the list of answers I’d get would include acts like Tame Impala, The Bee Gees, or maybe even Men at Work. If the … Read more
Dirty Streets Blades Of Grass Alive Naturalsound Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dirty Streets steep 60’s blues rock, touches of soul, and more contemporary influences on Blades of Grass. Album Review: The Alive Natural Sound catalogue was and is rife with great artists: The Black Keys; Buffalo Killers; Radio Moscow; Left Lane Cruiser; Swamp Dogg; … Read more
Travis Where You Stand Red Telephone Box [2013] Fire Note Says: After a five year hiatus, Travis are back with the breezy Where You Stand. Album Review: I still scratch my head over the lack of success by Travis as the band helped pave the way for groups like Coldplay, Muse, Keane and Snow Patrol. … Read more
Weekend Jinx Slumberland Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Brooklyn via San Francisco band add some New Wave flavor to their second album. Album Review: Weekend’s 2010 debut, Sports, was a loud, distorted and uncompromising affair. It was also almost unlistenable. Even front man Shaun Durkan has admitted to having difficulty sitting through it in its … Read more
Barbarossa Bloodlines Memphis Industries [2013] Fire Note Says: Barbarossa is Thom Yorke’s more soulful, less robotic cousin. Album Review: James Mathé, the man behind the Barbarossa moniker, is a London-based musician whose brand of soul-inflected, electronically augmented tunes run the gamut from sparse balladry to glitchy experimentalism to bluesy funk pop. A former member of … Read more
Pop. 1280 Imps Of Perversion Sacred Bones Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Pop. 1280 return with more noise rocking on sophomore record Imps Of Perversion. Album Review: Are you searching for a new record to get your blood pumping? Look no further than this sophomore effort from Brooklyn’s Pop. 1280 because Imps Of Perversion is … Read more
Long Lost Save Yourself, Start Again No Sleep Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Long Lost’s debut is a catchy collection with Save Yourself, Start Again. Album Review: Long Lost is the culmination of collaboration between Transit’s Joe Boynton and Vinny Comeau. The pair worked with Aviv Moritz (drums), Mat Morin (guitar), and Mike Moschetto (bass) … Read more
Barrence Whitfield & The Savages Dig Thy Savage Soul Bloodshot Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Barrence Whitfield is back to shake your soul! Album Review: Bloodshot Records has had an injection of “soul” lately with the recent release of JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound (TFN Review) and now Boston’s legendary Barrence Whitfield & The … Read more
Washed Out Paracosm Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Washed Out offers up a warm pop vibe on the likable Paracosm. Album Review: What do you do when your genre fades away? That is the question that Washed Out’s Ernest Greene had to answer as his debut full length, Within And Without, was a … Read more
Vacation Candy Waves Don Giovanni Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Vacation’s sophomore record takes you on a punk fueled trip! Album Review: Cincinnati’s Vacation comes at you with their style of loud rowdy rock on their sophomore record Candy Waves that immediately will get you going. The album has a raw flare and venom of … Read more
Dumb Numbers Dumb Numbers Joyful Noise Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Dumb Numbers is an indie supergroup on paper and succeeds as a band on record! Album Review: So I am thinking if I started a band today and asked some of my friends to play in it – who would join? OK – I … Read more