Margot & The Nuclear So & So’s: Sling Shot To Heaven [Album Review]

Margot & The Nuclear So & So’s Sling Shot To Heaven Mariel Recording Company [2014] Fire Note Says: Adjust your expectations accordingly, Margot’s cyclical warmth has an embrace for you. Album Review: There‘s a reason that I‘m going to see Margot & The Nuclear So and So‘s twice in the same tour. They’re one of … Read more

Mahayla: Electricspaceagesweetheart [Album Review]

Mahayla Electricspaceagesweetheart Serial Lover Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Electricspaceagesweetheart is a welcome listening pleasure for fans of 90’s era alt-rock. Album Review: Mahayla’s Electricspaceagesweetheart is a restart of sorts for front man Dave Fera and fellow bandmates Mark Davis (drums), Ike Aguilar (guitar) and Chris Johnson (bass). After a seven-year hiatus, you would think … Read more

Doug Gillard: Parade On [Album Review]

Doug Gillard Parade On Nine Mile Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Parade On perfectly showcases Gillard’s multi instrumental skills and catchy melodies. Album Review: I have said it before, and I will say it again, there aren’t many rock guitar players who can hold a candle to Doug Gillard. I am going to go ahead … Read more

PUP: PUP [Album Review]

PUP PUP SideOneDummy Records [2014] Fire Note Says: PUP give punk a fresh breath. Album Review: In this modern age of punk there are only a few bands that I can recall having made some noise stateside that hail from Toronto. I am thinking Fucked Up and METZ without going too small or underground as … Read more

Liars: Mess [Album Review]

Liars Mess Mute Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Liars confound and amaze with each release – and Mess is no exception. Album Review: Liars just might be the most confusing band in the world, not that they exhibit any signs of being confused themselves. It’s the feeling one gets that these guys could be, should … Read more

Dirty/Clean: Welt Am Draht [Album Review]

Dirty/Clean Welt Am Draht Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Fans of vintage synth rock will love the debut album from Dayton, Ohio’s new darlings Dirty/Clean. Album Review: Ohio is no stranger to bands incorporating cool synthesizers into their sounds. Devo and Brainiac perfected the art in fact. On their debut album Welt Am Draht we … Read more

Somos: Temple Of Plenty [Album Review]

Somos Temple Of Plenty Tiny Engines [2014] Fire Note Says: Somos unearth a genre on their pop-inflected emo punk debut. Album Review: When you get to a certain age the saying “what was old is new again” seems to become a more common occurrence which just is a nod to my experience! Sure! Take the … Read more

Kevin Drew: Darlings [Album Review]

Kevin Drew Darlings Arts & Crafts [2014] Fire Note Says: Drew explores the spiritual nature of sex on Darlings, his first solo album in seven years. Album Review: If I had to use two words to describe Darlings, the second solo album from Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene, the first would be” lush”, and … Read more

Arms Of Tripoli: Dream In Tongues [Album Review]

Arms Of Tripoli Dream In Tongues Fluttery Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Sonic architects Arms of Tripoli encompass many emotions with Dream In Tongues Album Review: Right out of the gate I have to say that LA’s Arms of Tripoli are a refreshing listen when it comes to instrumental/math rock/post rock bands. But for these … Read more

Cloud Nothings: Here And Nowhere Else [Album Review]

Cloud Nothings Here And Nowhere Else Carpark Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Cloud Nothings reminds us all over again with Here And Nowhere Else Album Review: It‘s lucky for us that Dylan Baldi was convinced to drop out of college, take Cloud Nothings out of the basement, pursue music full time, and expand the project … Read more

WV White: West Virginia White [Album Review]

WV White West Virginia White Anyway Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Columbus Ohio’s WV White shines on debut full length on Anyway records. Album Review: It would be easy to classify this release under the slacker rock category, but rest assured that the slacker term does not apply to the songwriting execution on this excellent … Read more

Owls: Two [Album Review]

Owls Two Polyvinyl Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Owls craft something compelling and infinitely re-listenable, out of its unorthodox and complex style! Album Review: Odds are pretty good that you have never heard of Owls, or understand why you should be excited that they are releasing their second album after a 13 year absence. I … Read more

Eternal Summers: The Drop Beneath [Album Review]

Eternal Summers The Drop Beneath Kanine Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Eternal Summers bring some warm jangle and bit of searing punk to melt away this year’s seemingly eternal winter. Album Review: Roanoke, VA trio Eternal Summers give their listeners another steady dose of jangly dream-punk with their newest release, The Drop Beneath. I had … Read more

Perfect Pussy: Say Yes To Love [Album Review]

Perfect Pussy Say Yes To Love Captured Tracks [2014] Fire Note Says: Perfect Pussy live up to their name and hype! Album Review: If you are into vinyl then you know the feeling you get when the needle hits the first groove. You hear just a little bit of white noise before the special wax … Read more

September Girls: Cursing The Sea [Album Review]

September Girls Cursing The Sea Fortuna POP! [2014] Fire Note Says: Cursing the Sea is an exciting debut album from a band to keep an eye on in the future! Album Review: Cursing the Sea, the debut album from Ireland’s September Girls, is right in my wheelhouse. Hazy psychedelic pop music, heavily influenced by the … Read more

Lo Fine: Want Is A Great Need [Album Review]

Lo Fine Want Is A Great Need ASR [2013] Fire Note Says: Lo Fine’s third skillfully blends rock and folk with experimental elements. Album Review: Kevin O’Rourke and the revolving cast of Lo Fine have been making records for over a decade now, and while this is the first one this humble reviewer has had … Read more

Farewell Flight: I Was A Ghost [Album Review]

Farewell Flight I Was A Ghost Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Farewell Flight’s third album has plenty of bite. Album Review: Farewell Flight is a Nashville-based indie trio that has recently self-released their third album, I Was A Ghost. Band members Luke Foley (lead vocals/guitar/piano/synths), Caleb Allensworth (drums/samples) and Brian “Rabbit” Campbell (lead guitar) have … Read more

The Men: Tomorrow’s Hits [Album Review]

The Men Tomorrow’s Hits Sacred Bones Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Men continue to slash and burn with their chaotic fifth album. Album Review: And here I was about to give up on The Men. Last year’s New Moon left me cold. It was just too rustic and countrified for my liking. Then they … Read more

The Hotelier: Home, Like Noplace Is There [Album Review]

The Hotelier Home, Like Noplace Is There Tiny Engines [2014] Fire Note Says: The Hotelier bring emo-punk back to proper form on sophomore record. Album Review: Emo has been back n forth with the cool kids table for a good number of years now but just as much as it is easy to accuse some … Read more

Ruined Fortune: Ruined Fortune [Album Review]

Ruined Fortune Ruined Fortune HoZac Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Ruined Fortune sets the bar high on their experimental/lo-fi/scuzz debut! Album Review: Hailing from Australia, though it sounds like the bowels of NYC circa 1977, Ruined Fortune are a duo consisting of Nic Warnock and Angie Garrick, that specialize in the sort of lo-fi garage … Read more

Cibo Matto: Hotel Valentine [Album Review]

Cibo Matto Hotel Valentine Chimera Music [2014] Fire Note Says: Hotel Valentine is as ambitious as it is intoxicating. Album Review: I’ve spent the last few days trying to wrap my mind around the awesomeness of Hotel Valentine, the first new album in 15 years from the reunited Cibo Matto! The album is a concept … Read more

Real Estate: Atlas [Album Review]

Real Estate Atlas Domino Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Real Estate let you drift off with Atlas’ smooth and calm climate. Album Review: If it’s not broke don’t fix it – just tweak it. That is the main story behind Real Estate’s third record Atlas. The New Jersey group is back with an album that … Read more

Jupe Jupe: Crooked Kisses [Album Review]

Jupe Jupe Crooked Kisses Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Jupe Jupe’s third album Crooked Kisses has a lot to offer. Album Review: Jupe Jupe has released their third album since 2010 with Crooked Kisses. The band is as indie as it can get, self-publishing this record. They hail from Seattle, WA; members include My Young … Read more

Drive-By Truckers: English Oceans [Album Review]

Drive-By Truckers English Oceans ATO Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Drive-By Truckers hit another gear on English Oceans. Album Review: Right off the bat, you realize that things have changed for the Drive-By Truckers, and not just personnel, though the band has certainly had a major overhaul in the years since A Blessing and … Read more