Smoking Popes Born To Quit [Reissue] SideOneDummy Records [2012] Fire Note Says: One of the more underrated albums from the 90’s alternative nation gets a facelift. Album Review: If you pinned me down and made me list several albums from the 90’s that I still go back to on occasion I guarantee that the Smoking … Read more
Rage Against The Machine XX – 20th Anniversary Edition Epic/Legacy Recordings [2012] Fire Note Says: 20 Years later – raging against the machine still feels as good as it ever did. Album Review: I consider myself a lucky man, at 27 years of age I’ve been able to see Rage Against The Machine, and I … Read more
… And You Will Know Us From The Trail Of Dead Lost Songs Superball Music [2012] Fire Note Says: Art rock at its distorted best. Album Review: Call me nostalgic, but I still think some of Trail of Dead’s best work came off of Source Tags & Codes, their third full-length studio album. They’ve always … Read more
Trapper Schoepp & The Shades Run, Engine, Run SideOneDummy Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Get ready to run with Trapper Schoepp & The Shades as their third lp is a non-stop Americana romp! Album Review: Southern flavored music from a Milwaukee band on a typically punk label? That does not necessarily sound like a recipe … Read more
West End Motel Only Time Can Tell Warner Bros. Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Metal master mind’s West End Motel takes a direction that’s surprising and appreciated. Album Review: First before beginning I feel a disclaimer needs to be put in place – A lot of people know that Brent Hinds is one of the … Read more
Neil Young and Crazy Horse Psychedelic Pill Reprise/Warner Bros. Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Neil Young saddles up the Horse for a long psychedelic journey through the past! Album Review: Until this spring, it had been nearly a decade since Neil Young had saddled up his longtime backing band Crazy Horse and recorded with them. … Read more
Godspeed You! Black Emperor Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! Constellation Records [2012] Fire Note Says: This is more than a comeback record, it’s a landmark! Album Review: Here’s the thing about instrumental post rock, you almost always know what you are going to get before you put the record on. It’s going to be dramatic, it’s … Read more
Pinback Information Retrieved Temporary Residence LTD. [2012] Fire Note Says: Time means nothing to Pinback as they return strong as ever! Album Review: It has been 5 years since Pinback released their last studio album, Autumn of the Seraphs [2007], and you absolutely wouldn’t know it after taking in the sonic adventure that is their … Read more
Tame Impala Lonerism Modular Recordings [2012] Fire Note Says: Like a black hole this album sucks you in and then proceeds to explode like a super nova! Album Review: If Tame Impala’s first album Innerspeaker [2010] is their Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band then Lonerism has to be their Dark Side of the Moon. … Read more
Ty Segall Twins Drag City Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Segall saves his best of three albums in 2012 for last! Album Review: Ty Segall is walking in rarified air these days. There aren’t many artists who can put out three excellent albums in a year. Ryan Adams tried it with his trilogy of Cold … Read more
Lord Huron Lonesome Dreams IAMSOUND Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Lord Huron delivers a sparkling, thoughtful full-length debut with Lonesome Dreams. Album Review: Let’s not talk about Fleet Foxes or Band of Horses, nor Crosby, Stills & Nash. Doubtless most considerations of Lord Huron’s first full-length album will be full of backward-looking and sidelong scrutinies. … Read more
Murder By Death Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon Bloodshot Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Murder By Death not only deliver the goods on their sixth full length, Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon, but have also released one of the best albums in 2012! Album Review: I love it when an album takes hold of me from the very first track … Read more
How To Dress Well Total Loss Acephale Records [2012] Fire Note Says: How to Dress Well impresses with their second full-length Total Loss. Album Review: How to Dress Well is Tom Krell, a Brooklynite who produces and sings on the second full-length album Total Loss. Much of the album is sung in falsetto, which reminded … Read more
The Avett Brothers The Carpenter American/Universal Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Avett Brothers go beyond just providing a record and deliver an experience that will keep you coming back! Album Review: The Avett Brothers return to the music scene next week with the release of their seventh album, The Carpenter, which once again reunites … Read more
Red River Dialect “awellupontheway” Self-Released [2012] Fire Note Says: You may not have heard of them yet but Red River Dialect have released a record that is one of the best albums of 2012! Album Review: Do you want to hear a totally under the radar psych-folk record that should easily land high on our … Read more
Holograms Holograms Captured Tracks Records [2012] Fire Note Says: All post-punk business from the Holograms stellar self-titled debut! Album Review: Stockholm’s Holograms are not messing around and their post-punk self-titled debut is loud, punchy and downright addicting. It is the type of modern gritty album that gets under your skin in a good way, makes … Read more
DIIV Oshin Captured Tracks Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The debut from DIIV will be one of the best releases you hear in 2012! Album Review: Which came first? The music or the lyrics? When it comes to the new band from Beach Fossils touring guitarist Zachary Cole Smith called DIIV it might be a … Read more
Fiona Apple The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do Epic Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Fiona Apple returns after seven years with another collection of tracks that will put you in awe! Album Review: It has always been about … Read more
Archie Powell & The Exports Great Ideas In Action Good Land Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Archie Powell & The Exports perfect their good time rock out on sophomore outing Great Ideas In Action! Album Review: Sometimes it is best to not change a thing when you have a winning formula and that is exactly … Read more
The Walkmen Heaven Fat Possum Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Walkmen release another stellar album with the graceful Heaven! Album Review: One could say that The Walkmen have hit their stride but I believe this top end streak started about 4 years ago and has never halted evidenced by the excellent You & Me … Read more
Jack White Blunderbuss Third Man/Columbia Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Jack White releases his debut solo record Blunderbuss that aims to entertain from beginning to end! Album Review: Right from the opening Rhodes piano playing you just have a sense that one of the true sides of Jack White has just been unleashed to the … Read more
Spiritualized Sweet Heart Sweet Light Fat Possum Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Spiritualized return with the excellent Sweet Heart Sweet Light that most definitely will be one of the best releases this year! Album Review: 15 years is a long time to hit all the right keys but I feel the seventh long player from … Read more
Kishi Bahsi151aJoyful Noise Recordings [2012] A soaring indie pop record primarily written on a violin might scare you a bit but that is exactly the creative process behind the debut 151a from K. Ishibashi aka Kishi Bashi. Now before you run off based on that intro know that 151a uses a full array of instruments … Read more
The Shins Port Of Morrow Aural Apothecary/Columbia Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Shins return with a bigger sound that results in the same outcome – stellar! Album Review: Five years is a lifetime in the music scene but that is exactly how long it has been since the release of The Shins last record … Read more
The Men Open Your Heart Sacred Bones Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Men release their most exciting record to date! Album Review: The Men proved to be one of the harder hitting post-punk groups out there after last years thrilling Leave Home record took everyone that listened by surprise. Just as jolting is that … Read more