Cemeteries The Wilderness Lefse Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Cemeteries sophomore album proves they’re a band worth watching. Album Review: Cemeteries is an ambient, dream pop band rising up from Buffalo, NY. With The Wilderness, writer and vocalist Kyle J. Reigle brings a theatrical, yet mellow sound to life. Like they’re telling a story, the … Read more
Midway In Wake We Will Remain Sedate Lowatt Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Midway In Wake take you on a well crafted Bedroom Pop journey. Album Review: We Will Remain Sedate is the debut album from El Paso’s Midway in Wake. Greg Reynaud is the creative force of the band, writing, recording, and playing all … Read more
Sea Wolf Old World Romance Dangerbird Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Old World Romance delivers a solid effort that has been crafted for lovers of indie rock. Album Review: Sea Wolf released Old World Romance, their third long-player, in September 2012. Sea Wolf is fronted by Alex Brown Church and has been comprised of many … Read more
Mike Doughty The Flip Is Another Honey Snack Bar Records [2012] Fire Note Says: This covers record is respectful, soulful and possesses plenty of laid back fun! Album Review: Cover albums can be a tricky thing for an artist of any talent so it always worries me a little when someone I like decides to … Read more
Dirty Projectors About To Die EP Domino Records [2012] Fire Note Says: About To Die serves as a nice coda to the Swing Lo Magellan lp and puts a nice bow on the year for their fans. Album Review: By all accounts there were close to 40 songs worked on during sessions for this year’s … Read more
The Soft MoonZerosCaptured Tracks [2012] Zeros is filled with hermetic, chamber music that simultaneously acts as a distorted reflection of eerie music and an embodiment of its essence. “Machines” swirls and pelts, while “Zeros” and “Lost Years” burst with disco shimmies and goth gasps. “Crush” engulfs us, and “Want” feels like the soundtrack to a … Read more
The Soft Moon Zeros Captured Tracks Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Soft Moon has something in a box it’d like to show you. Album Review: Zeros is full of hermetic, chain-chamber music that’s simultaneously a funhouse mirror image of scary music and the thing itself. “Machines” swirls and pelts. “Zeros” and “Lost Years” burst … Read more
Helvetia Nothing In Rambling Joyful Noise Recordings [2012] Fire Note Says: Helvetia mix Olivia Tremor Control and My Bloody Valentine in a blender and come up with Nothing in Rambling! Album Review: Hevetia (pronounced hel-vee-shuh) play a brand of experimental psychedelic indie rock that calls to mind bands like Deerhunter and classic Elephant 6 bands … Read more
The Mountain Goats Transcendental Youth Merge Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Mountain Goats 14th LP Transcendental Youth is as earnest as ever. Album Review: The Mountain Goats is fueled by John Darnielle, who has collaborated with many performers over the years under the band’s moniker. On the band’s 14th album, Transcendental Youth, the quality … Read more
A Shoreline DreamLosing Them All This TimeLatenight Weeknight Records [2011] I think that there are tons of music fans out there that just really don’t get the shoegaze movement. That is totally fine but this disconnect translates into a much more underground scene that makes it harder to discover new bands for all of those … Read more
The Gaslight AnthemiTunes SessionSideOneDummy Records [2011] The new iTunes session from The Gaslight Anthem showcases the band’s influences and provides fans with an excellent studio recording of tracks they may have previously experienced live. It’s probably no surprise that Brian Fallon and the band cover songs from The Who, Tom Petty, Pearl Jam, and The … Read more
The WombatsThis Modern GlitchBright Antenna Records [2011] The Wombats long overdue sophomore record, This Modern Glitch, is another solid entry into the dance rock indie scene with its sharp catchy tunes and big memorable choruses. First single “Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)” delivers exactly what you would want from a band like The Wombats, as its … Read more
The FeeliesHere BeforeBar/None Records [2011] Twenty years can seem like an eternity for anyone, and for a band, it’s an especially long time. However, in 2011, The Feelies have made a remarkable return with their album Here Before, which features all the original members from the 1986 era. What’s truly impressive about this record is … Read more
The Joy FormidableThe Big RoarAtlantic Records/Canvasback Music [2011] Right from the opening track, “The Everchanging Spectrum Of A Lie”, you get a solid 7:45 complex song that captures the sonic experience you are in for on The Joy Formidable’s debut full length record. Exploding guitars, pounding drums and walls of sounds are contained all within … Read more
Motel Beds Feelings Fictionband Mechanics [2010] Fire Note Says: Motel Beds create the right indie mix on stereo debut Feelings. Album Review: Dayton, Ohio band Motel Beds successfully blend a shoegaze approach with sprawling melodies, catchy hooks and steady guitar work on their stereo full length debut Feelings. The band relies equally on all of … Read more
Sun Kil Moon Admiral Fell Promises Caldo Verde Records [2010] Fire Note Says: Sit down and reflect with Kozelek’s Sun Kil Moon. Album Review: Sun Kil Moon, aka Mark Kozelek, has always distinguished itself as a different outlet for Kozelek with a much more electric band direction compared to his solo work. Admiral Fell Promises … Read more
The Night Marchers See You In Magic Vagrant Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Night Marchers debut is here! Album Review: The Night Marchers are a new band but the players will be very familiar to many. John Reis (Rocket From The Crypt, Hot Snakes, Sultans) is leading this foursome along with Hot Snakes guitarist … Read more
The WombatsA Guide To Love, Loss & Desperation14th Floor Records [2007] Sometimes the UK has a current “it” band that launches stellar singles but never sees an airwave over here in the US. The Wombats are one of those bands. Released in early November, A Guide To Love, Loss & Desperation contains the singles “Kill … Read more
Fancey Schmancey What Are Records? [2007] Fire Note Says: A full scale 70’s pop assault! Album Review: Todd Fancey is best known as a guitarist in The New Pornographers alongside his buddies Case, Newman, and Bejar. Schmancey is Todd’s sophomore release under his Fancey moniker and it follows in the footsteps of his 2004 self-titled … Read more
Jason Isbell Sirens Of The DitchNew West Records [2007] When guitarist Jason Isbell parted ways with Drive-By Truckers last year, nobody knew when or if we would hear from him again. Well, the wait is over, and his solo debut, Sirens Of The Ditch, is a fantastic batch of alt-country that diverges from the harder-rocking … Read more
Mary Timony BandThe Shapes We MakeKill Rock Stars [2007] After taking a listen to Mary Timony’s latest solo album, Ex Hex (2005), you could tell that she was drifting towards a bigger sound. So, for her new album, The Shapes We Make, Mary has created a band using her own namesake, giving her the full … Read more
A Shoreline DreamAvoiding The ConsequencesLatenight Weeknight Records [2006] There are certain key items I look for in a quality shoegaze album. 1) Hypnotic ambient sounds that melt and mix with each track transition. 2) Rhythm based layers of music that ultimately make you forget where you are. 3) Propulsive fuzzed out vocals that come and … Read more
Jenny Lewis With The Watson TwinsRabbit Fur CoatTeam Love Records [2006] Who the hell is Jenny Lewis? She is the lead singer for Rilo Kiley, silly. What, you still don’t know who she is? Didn’t you see Coldplay’s US tour last year? Rilo Kiley was the band playing while you were gearing up for Coldplay, … Read more