Deerhunter Monomania 4AD Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Another record form Deerhunter with top honors potential! Album Review: How many times have you been let down from your favorite artist? How many times have you blamed your own high expectations as the reason you just couldn’t get into (insert favorite artist here) new record? OK … Read more
Mikal Cronin MCII Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Don’t miss out on this Album of the Year contender! Album Review: Despite the excellence of his debut self titled solo album released late in 2011, Mikal Cronin is best known as the bass player for the Ty Segall band. His collaboration 2009 with Segall, Reverse … Read more
Guided By Voices English Little League GBV Inc. [2013] Fire Note Says: Guided By Voices return with the complex and addicting English Little League! Album Review: After three roaring full lengths last year from Guided By Voices, the classic lineup are back with album number four – English Little League. It is a record that … Read more
Cold Warps S/T | Endless Bummer Noyse Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Cold Warps first cassettes create their solid debut LP. Album Review: What I said above is a perfect description of this album-using song titles might I add. Canadian lo-fi, buzz garage punks Cold Warps come to us all the way Halifax. After being … Read more
The Postal Service Give Up (Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition) Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Give Up from The Postal Service easily passes the 10 year test! Album Review: Side projects are supposed to be something that keep artists busy when they are on a break from their main gig. They should be a … Read more
Kurt Vile Wakin On A Pretty Daze Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Kurt Vile throws caution to the wind and creatively expands his sound on the excellent Wakin On A Pretty Daze. Album Review: Kurt Vile’s new fifth long player, Wakin On A Pretty Daze, is easily his boldest and most confident release to … Read more
The Vains Acoustic EP Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: The Vains release a record of acoustic gold. Album Review: The Vains are bound to take the music scene by storm. On their past releases, they presented a fast-paced, hard-hitting sound that reached beyond the typical indie punk style. With their Acoustic EP, featuring four acoustic … Read more
Suede Bloodsports Warner Bros. Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Suede comes back completely reinvigorated after their 11 year hiatus! Album Review: Suede (The London Suede as they are billed in the US) is back after 11 years, and they are hitting the pleasure points in my brain like they haven’t since their third album, Coming … Read more
Waxahatchee Cerulean Salt Don Giovanni Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Katie Crutchfield returns with a stunning second album as Waxahatchee. Album Review: Alabama singer/songwriter Katie Crutchfield cut her teeth with the indie punk band P.S. Eliot – a band whose members included twin sister Allison. Upon breaking up, Allison formed Swearin’ while Kate went solo. … Read more
Starflyer 59 IAMACEO South Co. Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Starflyer 59 continue refining their sound and redefining consistency. Album Review: Starflyer 59 is the definition of an underground band. Helmed by guitarist and lead singer Jason Martin, they never really hit the mainstream, despite being label-mates with bands that did (Anberlin, MxPx, P.O.D.). Their … Read more
David Bowie The Next Day Columbia Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Next Day marks the thrilling return of The Thin White Duke. Album Review: This is the album that nobody expected. David Bowie is unquestionably one of the most important and influential figures in rock history. When he had health issues on the tour … Read more
Tim Easton Before The Revolution: The Best Of 1998-2011 New West Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Tim Easton catches you up with his excellent career spanning best of! Album Review: The Fire Note has been talking about Tim Easton since our humble beginning back in 2006 with his record Ammunition and listening to his music … Read more
Youth Lagoon Wondrous Bughouse Fat Possum Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Youth Lagoon not only avoid the sophomore slump on Wondrous Bughouse but once again have released one of the better albums of the year! Album Review: Being on the edge of indie rock is always an interesting place to exist for such a young … Read more
Cy Dune No Recognize EP Family Tree Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Cy Dune brings the fuzz, blues and rock n roll all in a mere 16 minute EP. Album Review: Right from the opening guitar sprawl on “Where The Wild Things” you know that Cy Dune is going to fit into the 2013 scene … Read more
Various Artists Reason to Believe: The Songs of Tim Hardin Full Time Hobby Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Filtered through a diverse set of artists, Tim Hardin’s voice comes through loud and clear. Album Review: Oregon folkie Tim Hardin was never a massive superstar. His life cut short in 1980 from a heroin overdose at … Read more
Grouper The Man Who Died In His Boat Kranky Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Grouper creates a siren song that’s delicate, deep, and engaging. Album Review: The world of ambient music can always be a mixed bag from the post rock haze ambience of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, to the technocratic textures of Brian Eno, … Read more
Missing Number Contrast EP Self-Released [2012] Fire Note Says: Make your ears happy by listening to Missing Number’s Contrast. Album Review: I’m gonna take just a second to be a hipster and point out that I was a fan of these guys before they even began recording this EP. I want everyone to know that … Read more
Wake Owl Wild Country EP Vagrant Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Wake Owl’s EP Wild Country leaves an incredible first impression, making the listener want more. Album Review: Wake Owl’s EP, Wild Country, leaves an incredibly hopeful first impression. The band’s sound is mello and folksy, blending upbeat notes with country undertones. Wake Owl resonates … Read more
My Bloody Valentine m b v Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: 22 Years later, My Bloody Valentine release m b v and it seems like this noise wall is only built on strength. Album Review: It is Ralph Waldo Emerson that said “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is … Read more
Yellow Red Sparks Yellow Red Sparks Org Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Yellow Red Sparks make a strong debut on the indie folk scene! Album Review: “Whatcha gonna buy me honey?” is the strong first line you hear on the debut from the Yellow Red Sparks that instantly grabs your attention and makes you take … Read more
The Joy Formidable Wolf’s Law Atlantic Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Wolf’s Law is the record Joy Formidable fans were hoping for…and then some! Album Review: How do you follow-up a record like 2011’s The Big Roar, which was my #2 album of the year in 2011? After all, as great as that record was, … Read more
Wooden Wand Blood Oaths Of The New Blues Fire Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Put on the headphones, turn out the lights, and enjoy the new Wooden Wand record! Album Review: I didn’t see this one coming at all. When I looked at the list of upcoming albums I thought, “I’ll give the new Wooden … Read more
Blackfeet Braves Blackfeet Braves Lolipop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Blackfeet Braves take listeners back to the Sunset Strip circa 1968, dragging them through the dusty southwest along the way. Album Review: Most “retro” or “neo-[insert genre here]” acts stay just that: an act, in which the band prefers to mimic the creativity of their … Read more
Parquet Courts Light Up Gold Dull Tools Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Parquet Courts released one of the indie rock gems of 2012 – glad we finally took a listen! Album Review: Sometimes in the review world you feel like a total idiot when you miss one. I say that as we were late to … Read more
Yo La Tengo Fade Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: There won’t be many records this year that are better than the new Yo La Tengo! Album Review: There aren’t many bands out there that have been putting out records as consistently good as Yo La Tengo has, for as long as Yo La Tengo … Read more