Duquette Johnston Rabbit Runs A Destiny Communicating Vessels [2013] Fire Note Says: Birmingham, Alabama singer/songwriter finally releases an album worthy if his considerable talent. Album Review: Since forming 90’s alt-rock band Verbena (with A. A. Bondy) Johnston has kept a relatively low profile. He quit the band prior to their signing to Capitol Records and … Read more
I Am Empire Anchors Tooth & Nail Records [2013] Fire Note Says: I Am Empire makes a compelling case with Anchors. Album Review: I Am Empire is a four-piece band coming out of San Jose, CA. Anchors is their third overall LP (second with their current label Tooth & Nail Records). For the most part … Read more
Ben Folds Five Live Sony Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Ben Folds Five puts out a fan-pleasing but uneven live album. Album Review: One of the songs that I most identify with high school is “Underground.” I remember driving my blue Chevy Beretta to school, listening to the radio (94.1) and there being this weird … Read more
The Lonelyhearts Years In The Great Interior Maximum Ames Records [2013] Fire Note Says: There’s a lot more going on with The Lonelyhearts than a first listen might suggest. Album Review: The practice of writing good and interesting lyrics is somewhat of a lost art. Folk singers were the true torch carriers throughout much of … Read more
Smith Westerns Soft Will Mom + Pop Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Smith Westerns return with a another batch of purposeful dream rock. Album Review: Coming off an excellent record like Smith Westerns sophomore effort Dye It Blonde (2011) is never easy. Once you add in the stress of playing the road till you about … Read more
And So I Watch You From Afar All Hail Bright Futures Sargent House Records [2013] Fire Note Says: ASIWYFA create melodic, engaging, (mostly) instrumental rock tunes. Album Review: Instrumental music, especially instrumental rock music, often walks a thin line between being something worthy of your full attention and merely pleasant background music. Thankfully for ASIWYFA, … Read more
Lemuria The Distance Is So Big Bridge Nine Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Lemuria are back with another engaging high energy indie rock record! Album Review: After 5 years I have started to sound like a broken record when reviewing Buffalo, NY group Lemuria but I will tell you that once again, with album number … Read more
The Veils Time Stays, We Go Rough Trade Records [2013] Fire Note Says: After a 4 year absence, The Veils return with yet another batch of elegant rock. Album Review: The Veils specialize in moody, sweeping, cinematic rock, and Time Stays, We Go, shows the band still mining familiar territory and creating yet another record … Read more
Portugal. The Man Evil Friends Atlantic Records [2013] Fire Note Says: A more progressive Portugal goes for bombast on Evil Friends. Album Review: I hate to say it but I have been losing faith in Portugal. The Man. Seeing them live seemed to damage my progressive psyche. I was expecting progressive laden guitar explosions, a … Read more
Surfer Blood Pythons Warner Bros. Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Surfer Blood’s sophomore effort is cleaner but less charming than their debut. Album Review: Surfer Blood’s debut album Astro Coast was one of the best albums of 2010. The four-piece from Florida wowed with their guitar skills and lo-fi production, which combined to form a … Read more
Filter The Sun Comes Out Tonight Wind-Up Records [2013] Fire Note Says: With feet firmly planted in the 1990s, Filter makes a fresh, nostalgic album. Album Review: It’s safe to say Filter commercially peaked on their first two albums, which produced the singles “Hey Man Nice Shot” and “Take a Picture.” I can still see … Read more
Woodsman Orphan My Name Is Ishmael Ali Obscure Me Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Charmingly sloppy backwoods psych-folk for the Elephant 6 crowd. Album Review: Anyone who pays attention to the music scene will have noticed the explosion of bearded folk rock acts that have gained notoriety in the last few years. Fleet Foxes, Band … Read more
Rogue Wave Nightingale Floors Vagrant Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The new Rogue Wave serves as a kind of return to form – with mixed results. Album Review: Zach Schwartz (aka Zach Rogue) has had the kind of career most indie rock bands at the beginning of the 21st century could have only dreamed of … Read more
Saturday Looks Good To Me One Kiss Ends It All Polyvinyl Records [2013] Fire Note Says: One Kiss Ends It All draws heavily from the past to create pop for the present. Album Review: Saturday Looks Good to Me first came to my attention with their 2003 album All Your Summer Songs, which was about … Read more
Alex Bleeker And The Freaks How Far Away Woodsist Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Alex Bleeker’s sophomore album will take you back to a different era of Americana. Album Review: Alex Bleeker is the bassist for Real Estate but his solo musical outlet with The Freaks has continued on to the more realized sophomore record … Read more
David Byrne & St. Vincent Brass Tactics EP 4AD Records [2013] Fire Note Says: A free EP from David Byrne & St. Vincent – sure, why not? Album Review: St Vincent and David Byrne, sentimentally speaking, hold a few memories for me. First off, Byrne’s Taking Heads were a big part of my childhood. As … Read more
Sundowners The Larger Half Of Wisdom Dirt Cult Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Sundowners throw down some old fashioned Minnesota punk! Album Review: It’s no big secret that some of the best punk and indie rock comes from Minnesota, heck it was practically born there with The Replacements and Hüsker Dü. The winters are long … Read more
The Hussy Pagan Hiss Southpaw Records[2013] Fire Note Says: Frenetic Madison, Wisconsin duo stir up quite a ruckus on their third album. Album Review: She (Heather Hussy) plays drums; he (Bobby Hussy) plays guitar. They both contribute on the vocal end of things so the White Stripes comparisons don’t fly. Besides, they share little of … Read more
Dead Gaze Dead Gaze Fat Cat Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dead Gaze’s debut full-length is a lo-fi diamond in the rough. Album Review: Northern Mississippi is hardly known as a hotbed of indie music but perhaps that is about to change thanks to something called the Cats Purring Collective outside Oxford, a college town … Read more
The Front Bottoms Talon Of The Hawk Bar/None Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Front Bottoms return with another record full of catchy wordplay that will make you smile. Album Review: I remember hearing the folky-punk debut from The Front Bottoms back in 2011 and thinking that these guys were onto something. Simple songs, simple … Read more
Drazy Hoops This Is The Sound Of… Slow Burn Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Drazy Hoops’ eighth album is genre-hopping, kaleidoscopic collection. Album Review: Musical diversity can be either a strength or a weakness, demonstrating an artist’s ability to adapt and experiment, or indicating a lack of direction. This Is The Sound Of… fits more … Read more
Christopher Paul Stelling False Cities Mecca Lecca Recording Co. [2013] Fire Note Says: False Cities takes listeners back to that old time religion! Album Review: “Christian” music, deservedly or not, often gets a bad rap. The CCM establishment has given the genre(s) the reputation of being an awful imitation of what was popular a decade … Read more
Helldorado Bones In The Closet CCAP Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Grab a whiskey, hat and cigar for Helldorado’s journey to the border on their entertaining new record Bones In The Closet. Album Review: Here is an interesting release from Norway’s Helldorado. The band has been in existence since 2001 and Bones In The Closet … Read more
She & Him Volume 3 Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: She & Him embrace a higher profile as Volume 3 maintains their retro swagger. Album Review: It is really crazy how many things have happened to Zooey Deschanel since She & Him’s sophomore record was released back in 2010. She now has the Fox … Read more
Dead Confederate In The Marrow Spiderbomb Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dead Confederate makes no attempt to expand boundaries, but still keep everything solid. Album Review: Augusta, Georgia’s Dead Confederate never set out to become the greatest band in the land. Consider that a good thing because if they really were trying then Hardy Morris’ … Read more