Elf Power Sunlight On The Moon Darla/Orange Twin Records [2013] Fire Note Says: A wonderful collection of psych pop gems that have the unmistakable Elephant 6 sound. Album Review: If you’re anything like me, you have to be pretty excited that there is a new Elf Power record out. I obsessively collected all things Elephant … Read more
Valley Lodge Use Your Weapons Explosive Industries [2013] Fire Note Says: Big riffs and big hooks make Use Your Weapons the party record of the week! Album Review: Every now and then I get an album to review that defies any sort of critical evaluation. Sometimes it’s because it’s terrible and I can’t make it … Read more
Dr. Dog B-Room ANTI- Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dr. Dog provides a nostalgic trip with their latest album B-Room. Album Review: Dr. Dog’s seventh LP, B-Room, is an exercise in rock history. The Pennsylvania band, consisting currently of Scott McMicken (lead guitar), Toby Leaman (bass), Zach Miller (keyboard), Eric Slick (drums), Frank McElroy (backing … Read more
Kings Of Leon Mechanical Bull RCA Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Kings of Leon surprise with a rock album brimming with passion. Album Review: Me, one minute before starting Mechanical Bull for the first time: “Ho hum, another Kings of Leon album. These guys are from Tennessee. I’m from Tennessee. I used to like them … Read more
Felsen I Don’t Know How To Talk Anymore Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Felsen will keep you hooked on their DIY fourth record. Album Review: When Oakland’s Felsen declare that rock and roll is not dead on the opening track of their fourth album, I Don’t Know How To Talk Anymore, you take notice because … Read more
MiniBoone MiniBoone Ernest Jenning Record Co. [2013] Fire Note Says: MiniBoone splashes onto the scene with a strong eponymous debut. Album Review: MiniBoone is a five-piece band from New York that has been kicking around since 2008. They have just released their first full-length album but have two EP’s and a 7-inch to their name … Read more
Sebadoh Defend Yourself Joyful Noise Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Lo-fi pioneers Sebadoh return with a brutish and unpolished gem. Album Review: With all the nineties acts resurfacing to reclaim past glories, it’s hard to separate the new Sebadoh album from say, Dinosaur Jr. and Guided By Voices’ recent releases. Comparisons are inevitable and, as … Read more
Laura Veirs Warp And Weft Raven Marching Band Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Veirs offers up a more lushly-produced follow up to July Flame. Album Review: Portland-based Laura Veirs’ ninth album Warp And Weft feels like a natural extension of her excellent 2010 effort July Flame. But where that album felt as organic and natural … Read more
Joanna Gruesome Weird Sister Slumberland Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Debut from Joanna Gruesome is packed with high energy and loud guitars. Album Review: Boy/girl vocals, teenage angst, noise pop, loud guitars, high energy, feedback and double time drums are just some of the great rock n roll moments you will hear on the debut … Read more
Kitten Forever Pressure Guilt Ridden Pop [2013] Fire Note Says: Kitten Forever have a riot for you! Album Review: After spinning through the quick 23 minute sophomore effort, Pressure, from the Minneapolis based trio Kitten Forever, I realized how much I miss this loose and fun riot grrrl style of music. Like so many quality … Read more
Body/Head Coming Apart Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Kim Gordon and Bill Nace create beauty out of chaos and improvisation. Album Review: Following the breakup of Sonic Youth, one of the most beloved alternative acts of all-time, we are now seeing the band members move on to new projects. Thurston Moore formed Chelsea Light … Read more
J. Roddy Walston & The Business Essential Tremors ATO Records [2013] Fire Note Says: J. Roddy Walston & The Business show why they are one of the best bar bands in the land! Album Review: There is something about the raw sounding J. Roddy Walston that I just enjoy. His relaxed style bar rock has … Read more
Arctic Monkeys AM Domino Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Arctic Monkeys bravely push into a new groove on their engaging AM. Album Review: It does not seem that long ago since everyone was rocking out 2006 with the Arctic Monkeys’ hit “I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor.” It would have been easy … Read more
New Swears Funny Isn’t Real Dirt Cult Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Ottawa’s New Swears throw a party and we’re all invited to come over and break some stuff. Album Review: Funny Isn’t Real, the new album from New Swears, has so much swagger it can barely be contained on wax. This Ottawa band is … Read more
Volcano Choir Repave Jagjaguwar Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Repave finds Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon kicking back and having fun. Album Review: Justin Vernon has reached the status where everything he does with Bon Iver is scrutinized, complemented, made fun of, hated and loved. Basically, Bon Iver stirs an array of emotions and many people … Read more
Okkervil River The Silver Gymnasium ATO Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Okkervil River maintains their consistency on LP #7, The Silver Gymnasium. Album Review: Firing up the new Okkervil River LP (The Silver Gymnasium) was like slipping into one of my favorite sweatshirts. Instantly familiar and comforting, Will Sheff greeted me after not hearing from … Read more
Bad Sports Bras Dirtnap Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Third album from Bad Sports rekindles a 70’s era that too many have forgotten or never heard. Album Review: Is it possible for a garage rock band from Denton, Texas to grow up? Well for Bad Sports that may have just happened on their third full … Read more
Neko Case The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You ANTI- Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Neko finds her way back from a long and lonely road. Album Review: Neko Case has always shot from the hip when it comes to her solo records. She loves … Read more
King Khan & The Shrines Idle No More Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: King Khan is back with a soul rock record that will get you grooving in a hot second. Album Review: Album Review: It has been six years since King Khan & The Shrines released a full length of new material, so … Read more
Franz Ferdinand Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action Domino Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Franz Ferdinand’s fourth LP doesn’t disappoint as it hits the Right notes. Album Review: Scotland’s Franz Ferdinand hit the scene right around the same time as The Killers. “Take Me Out” and “Somebody Told Me” take me straight back to 2004. … Read more
Over The Rhine Meet Me At The Edge Of The World Great Speckled Dog Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Even as they write songs about life’s inevitable end in death, Over the Rhine seek the passion and beauty of life’s loves. Album Review: “We are hungry for the secret news about life,” said Stanley Kunitz, … Read more
strangewave Pop Noir Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: strangewave offers up an engaging debut with Pop Noir! Album Review: strangewave’s debut, Pop Noir, is the final result after a year of composing, producing and recording. The Dayton, Ohio duo of J. Trenton Crace and Katrina Eresman have labeled themselves as dream-pop which I feel works … Read more
Fairport Convention Rising For The Moon (Deluxe Edition) UMG/Island Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Fairport Convention’s last album with Sandy Denny gets the deluxe treatment. Album Review: Fairport Convention are often credited with inventing folk rock—the British flavor of folk rock, that is. Their trilogy of 1969 albums with lead singer Sandy Denny—What We Did … Read more
Little Comets Life Is Elsewhere Dualtone Music Group [2013] Fire Note Says: Little Comets’ indie pop leaves a sunny impression on Life Is Elsewhere. Album Review: The UK’s Little Comets second LP Life Is Elsewhere was actually released in Great Britain about a year ago. Here in the U.S. we now get the chance to … Read more
Robbie Fulks Gone Away Backward Bloodshot Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Robbie Fulks comes around full circle on Gone Away Backward. Album Review: If you have been an active listener of music that dates back to the mid to late 90’s then you might recall the real momentum that the “Alt-Country” genre had at the … Read more