Cloud Becomes Your Hand Rocks Or Cakes Northern Spy Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Cloud Becomes Your Hand crafts quite the curiosity. Album Review: Here at The Fire Note I‘ve been given some pretty strange albums to review. Of course, that’s fine by me. So when Cloud Becomes Your Hand‘s (their name derived from movement … Read more
Skaters Manhattan Warner Bros. Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Skaters debut is full of hooks and youthful spirit. Album Review: The promotion blitz behind New York’s Skaters reminds me of the way it used to be with major record labels back in the 90’s. They have received tons of pre-hype from Warner Bros. leading up … Read more
Thumpers Galore Sub Pop Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Thumpers debut has its moments but runs a tad long. Album Review: It always interest me when labels venture outside their perceived niche. Anymore not so much with Sub Pop Records but I think London’s Thumpers debut, Galore, will still make you raise an eyebrow with … Read more
The Black Hollies Somewhere Between Here And Nowhere Ernest Jenning Record Co. [2013] Fire Note Says: The Black Hollies’ latest floats between ethereal psych and slow-burning rock. Album Review: Jersey City’s Black Hollies are obviously influenced by 60s acts (just look at their name, for one thing). Trippy guitars, buzzing synths and piping organs combine … Read more
The Gaslight Anthem The B-Sides SideOneDummy Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Gaslight Anthem fails to hit the mark with The B-Sides. Album Review: When a band releases a b-sides album you always hope that a forgotten or overlooked gem gets to shine. There are tons of examples of this – the one that always … Read more
Painted Palms Forever Polyvinyl Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Painted Palms have plenty of “moments” with their debut Forever. Album Review: I don’t know about you but I always feel like I should be more in touch with my cousins. I have one that lives close but most are over 600 miles away. Well distance … Read more
Brendan Canning You Gots 2 Chill Draper St./SQE Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Not enough meat for a feel meal, but You Gots 2 Chill is a nice appetizer. Album Review: Brendan Canning is best known for being one of the key members of Broken Social Scene, and while that band appears to be on … Read more
Cass McCombs Big Wheel And Others Domino Records [2013] Fire Note Says: An epic 22 song album that is as frustrating as it is thrilling. Album Review: I don’t know much about Cass McCombs the man, but I know a fair amount about him as a musician. As a songwriter, McCombs is able to work … Read more
Gap Dream Shine Your Light Burger Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Gap Dream go down a different path on their sophomore record Shine Your Light. Album Review: Sometimes you know what you are going to get just based on the label that an artist resides on. With Burger Records that style has typically been some … 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
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
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
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
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
Ha Ha Tonka Lessons Bloodshot Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Ha Ha Tonka makes changes with their fourth full-length Lessons. Album Review: When a band pushes me outside of my comfort zone it’s not only appreciated but welcomed. That’s not to say that I don’t have a bearing on southern-indie rock or that folksy Americana … Read more
Maria Taylor Something About Knowing Saddle Creek Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Maria Taylor’s latest is light, carefree indie rock packaged in an effortlessly happy message. Album Review: Something About Knowing was the first time I’ve listened to Maria Taylor, although the artist has a long history. Her most recent release is her sixth solo … Read more
Cage The Elephant Melophobia RCA Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Cage The Elephant’s uneven third LP Melophobia has some great moments. Album Review: Bowling Green’s (KY) Cage The Elephant has returned with their third LP, Melophobia. Cage The Elephant has been a popular band in their first two outings and their sound remains true in … Read more
Bottomless Pit Shade Perennial Comedy Minus One [2013] Fire Note Says: Bottomless Pit soldiers on with third slow-burn Shade Perennial. Album Review: When I read the phrase emotional, transcendent post-punk, I immediately become excited. Let’s say it’s an excitement that could only be described as a 12-year wait for the next Dismemberment Plan album—and sadly … Read more
The Crytearions I See What It Is and I am Scared Dramacore [2013] Fire Note Says: One man bedroom band creates rude, crude niche punk. Album Review: Ok Crytearions, I get it: you’re a shitty, lo-fi one man bedroom punk act from Co Mayo, Ireland. Your second release I See What It Is and I … Read more
Placeholder I Don’t Need Forgiveness Black Numbers [2013] Fire Note Says: Placeholder proves that the rumors of emo’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Album Review: So what are we on now? The fourth wave of emo? Let me do some quick math here. The first wave was dominated by the DC scene and bands like … Read more
Circus Devils My Mind Has Seen The White Trick Happy Jack Rock Records [2013] Circus Devils When Machines Attack Happy Jack Rock Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Two Circus Devils records – two completely different releases! Album Review: It was just the other day that I was talking Robert Pollard projects and Circus Devils came … Read more
Blouse Imperium Captured Tracks [2013] Fire Note Says: Blouse go all-out shoegaze on their sophomore album. Album Review: Blouse began a few years ago as a collaboration between vocalist/guitarist Charlie Hilton, bassist Patrick Adams, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s Jake Portrait. Placing Hilton’s ethereal vocals overtop a slew of synthesizers, their first self-titled album got them … Read more
Buffalo Tales Roadtrip Confessions Foyle Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Buffalo Tales’ tunes ramble and tremble on a roadtrip through Americana (by way of Australia). Album Review: It seems like every few years a slew of bands are lauded for “bringing back” roots rock, folk rock, Americana, whatever you want to call it. One only … Read more
The Dismemberment Plan Uncanney Valley Partisan Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Dismemberment Plan recaptures some of that old magic on their first album in 12 years. Album Review: The Dismemberment Plan hasn’t put out a record in 12 years, which is an eternity in the indie rock world. What made the break even harder … Read more