Connections Body Language Anyway Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Body Language continues Connections catchy lo-fi formula! Album Review: Columbus, Ohio’s Connections once again embrace their lo-fi roots here and hopefully don’t mind that every article on the band always links them with Guided By Voices. This happens of course for several obvious reasons as Body … Read more
Diane Coffee My Friend Fish Western Vinyl Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Diane Coffee’s fuzzy, colorful debut is a wonderful surprise. Album Review: Would you believe that a former Disney Channel star had made one of the most exciting debut indie albums of 2013? No it’s not Britney Spears. Not Justin Timberlake. Not Selena Gomez. … Read more
Radioactivity Radioactivity Dirtnap Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Jeff Burke of Marked Men returns to the States and releases debut from his new band Radioactivity! Album Review: Dirtnap Records recently released the new Mind Spiders LP (TFN Review) from ex-Marked Men Mark Ryan. Radioactivity is another ex-Marked Men project that not only involves Ryan but … Read more
Barton Carroll Avery County, I’m Bound To You Skybucket Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Barton Carroll returns with another album of solid songwriting and modern folk that should catch your attention. Album Review: If you remember the little blog we used to have, you may be familiar with singer/songwriter Barton Carroll. His last record, Together … 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
Los Lobos Disconnected In New York City 429 Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Los Lobos celebrate 40 years with their excellent new live record. Album Review: What do you do on your band’s 40th anniversary, especially if on your 20th you released an exhaustive two-disc collection of your early triumphs that includes many of your … Read more
Heavenly Beat Prominence Captured Tracks [2013] Fire Note Says: Heavenly Beat’s sophomore effort is a smooth groovy album. Album Review: Heavenly Beat returns with their second album in as many years. The mastermind behind Heavenly Beat is Texas’ John Pena, who plays with a few studio artists but is primarily responsible for everything you hear … Read more
TV Ghost Disconnect In The Red[2013] Fire Note Says: Lafayette Indiana’s TV Ghost puts it all together on their excellent third album. Album Review: Every era, every genre will have a revival. Some, depending on current trends, may experience multiple revisitations. Late 70’s/early 80’s UK post-punk has seen more than its share. And why not? … Read more
of Montreal Lousy With Sylvianbriar Polyvinyl Records [2013] Fire Note Says: of Montreal chooses the accessible route on their latest. Album Review: of Montreal is the product of Kevin Barnes’ vision and work ethic. Lousy With Sylvianbriar is the band’s 12th LP since their debut in 1997. That is roughly an album a year over … Read more
Tears For Fears The Hurting (30th Anniversary Edition) Universal/Virgin Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Hurting will prove to you that Tears For Fears were much more than just a few hit singles that we all remember. Album Review: I’m proud to say that the first concert I ever went to was Tears For Fears … Read more
Paul McCartney New Hear Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Paul McCartney returns with one of his strongest modern-era albums. Album Review: Paul McCartney has been has been on quite a winning streak lately. However you feel about his recent standards album (the cheekily-titled Kisses on the Bottom), his recent records of original songs—under his own … Read more
Frog Eyes Carey’s Cold Spring Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Carey Mercer confronts riots, protests, storms and floods – and his own mortality – on his sixth album as Frog Eyes. Album Review: The Bandcamp page which is being used to sell Carey’s Cold Spring also details the vision Mercer had going into the writing … Read more
Dead Gaze Brain Holiday Palmist/FatCat Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dead Gaze show depth with their indie fuzz and pop bounce on their proper debut Brain Holiday. Album Review: Fuzzed up lo-fi pop rock? Sign me up! The proper debut from Dead Gaze is an enjoyable lesson that shows everyone that all it takes is … Read more
Sleigh Bells Bitter Rivals Mom + Pop Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Sleigh Bells return with a flurry of noise pop endearments. Album Review: As a listener it‘s sometimes hard to know what I want. Sleigh Bells surprised us all with 2010‘s unforgettable Treats. Guitars boomed, drums thundered, and vocals looped as they reached to … Read more
Delorean Apar True Panther Sounds [2013] Fire Note Says: This Delorean is a fresh modern sound – no time travel is necessary to enjoy it. Album Review: Delorean is a synth-pop band from Spain. And yes, they admit to being named for the vehicle from Back To The Future. Now that that’s out of the … Read more
Radkey Devil Fruit EP Little Man Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Radkey’s Devil Fruit EP shows promise for the future. Album Review: Radkey is a three-piece punk band from St. Joseph, Missouri. They are three brothers (Dee, Isaiah, and Solomon) who play well together. This in and of itself is quite the accomplishment, as parents … Read more
Chelsea Wolfe Pain Is Beauty Sargent House Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Chelsea Wolfe’s fourth album is the sound of brittle isolation and brutal desperation. Album Review: It must be a really dark, depressing place – that space between LA singer Chelsea Wolfe’s ears. Her music is so fraught with desolation and haunting beauty that … Read more
Lee Ranaldo And The Dust Last Night On Earth Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Last Night on Earth might be the best guitar record you hear this Fall. Album Review: I didn’t see this one coming. I thought that Lee Ranaldo’s first album for Matador, 2012’s Between the Times and the Tide was pretty … Read more
Polvo Siberia Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Chapel Hill band release their second excellent post-reunion album. Album Review: When Polvo returned in 2009 they were way ahead of the pack. Little did we know that pretty much every 90’s indie band of consequence would reform, tour and attempt to recapture the magic of an … Read more
The Head And The Heart Let’s Be Still Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Head and the Heart’s sophomore release has a fresh sound ready for heavy rotation. Album Review: The Head and the Heart’s latest album, Let’s Be Still, is finally out, and it does not disappoint. The band’s sophomore release is … Read more
Lisa Papineau Blood Noise Neurotic Yell Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Lisa Papineau‘s Blood Noise is a moody weave of beauty and darkness. Album Review: It‘s always my job as a music journalist to expand my horizons and branch out. With Lisa Papineau‘s new album Blood Noise, that‘s exactly what I did. It‘s funny though, … Read more
Mark Lanegan Imitations Vagrant Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Lanegan’s second album of covers is so good it will make you forget the original versions. Album Review: To say Mark Lanegan is one of the most distinctive and important singers of the past 25 years is a huge understatement. Not only was he singer for … Read more
Native Orthodox Sargent House Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Native‘s 3rd LP balances its strengths between timing and consistency. Album Review: If you take a look at Native‘s Facebook and bandcamp pages then you begin to see what I—along with many others—am figuring out: Indiana’s four piece Native is a math rock/post hardcore/indie band that … Read more
Ski Lodge Big Heart Dovecote Records [2013] Fire Note Says: If you like The Smiths, Ski Lodge will be a new favorite. Album Review: Ski Lodge is primarily the creation of NYC-based musician Andrew Marr. On his debut LP he sings and plays the majority of the instruments; he also wrote the songs. The album … Read more
FUZZ FUZZ In The Red Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Segall continues his wild ride with proto-metalers FUZZ! Album Review: As a musician Ty Segall isn’t one to shy away from being prolific. He released three albums alone last year: Goodbye Bread; the explosive Ty Segall Band’s Slaughterhouse; and the best of his 2012 releases, … Read more