Andrew Cedermark: Home Life [Album Review]

Andrew Cedermark Home Life Underwater Peoples Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Laid-back rhythms and layers of guitar make Home Life an introverted, yet satisfying experience. Album Review: Recorded with two “skeleton crew” bands consisting of bass, drums, and guitar (with some keys sprinkled in here and there), you’d be forgiven for thinking an album like … Read more

Heliotropes: A Constant Sea [Album Review]

Heliotropes A Constant Sea Manimal Vinyl [2013] Fire Note Says: All girl Brooklyn four piece drop a very satisfying sludge-filled, psych-pop debut. Album Review: Every day, it seems, there comes down the pike another new band brandishing remnants and half-remembered pieces of yesteryear’s sound. From 60’s girl group to 70’s stoner rock and 80’s new … Read more

Jackson Scott: Melbourne [Album Review]

Jackson Scott Melbourne Fat Possum Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Jackson Scott hits one out of the park on his debut record. Album Review: Do yourself a favor, don’t read any more about Jackson Scott after you read this review, until you hear his debut lp, Melbourne. I did a little research after I received … Read more

Bell X1: Chop Chop [Album Review]

Bell X1 Chop Chop BellyUp Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Bell X1’s 6th LP is assured while being subdued. Album Review: Ireland’s Bell X1 has changed up their sound with their sixth studio album Chop Chop. The country’s second biggest band after U2 worked with The National producer Peter Katis and with Thomas Bartlett, who … Read more

The Cleaners From Venus: Volume 2 (Box Set) [Album Review]

The Cleaners From Venus Volume 2 (Box Set) Captured Tracks [2013] Fire Note Says: The second set of reissues from The Cleaners From Venus is even better than the first! Album Review: The first volume of the Captured Tracks reissue series of Cleaners From Venus was a game changer. It came wrapped up in a … Read more

Casey Black: Lay You In The Loam [Album Review]

Casey Black Lay You In The Loam CatBeach Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Casey Black crafts a deep album that tightens its grip with each listen. Album Review: Casey Black’s fourth LP Lay You In The Loam faced an uphill battle with me. Black has a baritone voice that is distinct and either one you … Read more

Gregory Alan Isakov: The Weatherman [Album Review]

Gregory Alan Isakov The Weatherman Suitcase Town Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Gregory Alan Isakov’s third full length may just be his best! Album Review: Sometimes there is just nothing better than a softly played indie-folk record like The Weatherman, the third full-length album from Gregory Alan Isakov. The album is full of his confident … Read more

Heavy Times: Fix It Alone [Album Review]

Heavy Times Fix It Alone HoZac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Heavy Times deliver a knockout blow with new album, Fix It Alone. Album Review: HoZac Records has built up quite an impressive stable of artists, releasing albums in the past few years from the likes of Radar Eyes, GAMES and Idle Times to name … Read more

Robert Randolph & The Family Band: Lickety Split [Album Review]

Robert Randolph & The Family Band Lickety Split Blue Note Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Robert Randolph cranks the guitars up and the fun dance party even higher! Album Review: I have been following Robert Randolph & The Family Band since their 2003 sophomore record Unclassified. Its combination of soul, funk, hard rock, folk, gospel … Read more

Shocked Minds: Shocked Minds [Album Review]

Shocked Minds Shocked Minds HoZac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The debut album from Shocked Minds is as grimy and sleazy as 1970’s NYC! Album Review: This may be a debut lp from Atlanta’s Shocked Minds, but these guys are anything but rookies. Featuring members of The Carbonas, Gentleman Jesse and His Men, and GAMES, … Read more

The Purrs: The Boy With Astronaut Eyes [Album Review]

The Purrs The Boy With Astronaut Eyes Fin Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Another rock n roll ride from Seattle’s Purrs. Album Review: Ten years going strong and still working on name recognition, Seattle’s The Purrs are one of the better bands that you still have not heard. The group has consistently released solid records … Read more

Rumspringer: Stay Afloat [Album Review]

Rumspringer Stay Afloat Dirt Cult Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Rumspringer drop a punk rock bombshell! Album Review: Dirt Cult is quickly becoming a can’t miss label for me, earlier this year they dropped the Big Dick record on me, and then a few months ago, the had the awesome Sundowners record, and now we … Read more

Daughn Gibson: Me Moan [Album Review]

Daughn Gibson Me Moan Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Very unique sophomore record from Daughn Gibson will bring love and hate! Album Review: If you are familiar with Daughn Gibson’s debut All Hell from last year then you already know this dude has an interesting deep baritone for a voice. You combine this … Read more

Elusive Parallelograms: Fragments EP [Album Review]

Elusive Parallelograms Fragments Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Elusive Parallelograms show solid chops and song schizophrenia on Fragments EP Album Review: If I were a psychologist evaluating Milwaukee’s prolific Elusive Parallelograms, some of these terms might pop up: schizophrenia, bipolar, post-traumatic stress. By no means am I trying to give Elusive Parallelograms new Fragments EP … Read more

Thundercat: Apocalypse [Album Review]

Thundercat Apocalypse Brainfeeder [2013] Fire Note Says: Thundercat’s sophomore effort is a psychedelic soul experience. Album Review: Stephen Bruner, playing under the name Thundercat, returns with a solid second outing in Apocalypse. Thundercat collaborated with Flying Lotus on this album and the spacey, trippy sounds reflect the two artists’ sensibilities. On Apocalypse you’ll find a … Read more

Deafheaven: Sunbather [Album Review]

Deafheaven Sunbather Deathwish Inc. [2013] Fire Note Says: The most hyped metal album in years lives up to its over-sized ambition. Album Review: From Stereogum’s Album Of The Week designation to Pitchfork’s Best New Music tag, Deafheaven’s sophomore album, Sunbather, has certainly been getting a lot of attention in the indie music blogosphere. Some have … Read more

Oblivians: Desperation [Album Review]

Oblivians Desperation In The Red Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Memphis legends return with a strong blast of garage punk! Album Review: A funny thing happed over the 15 years that have passed since the Oblivians last put out an album. Hard, fast and dirty garage rock exploded, then died off, and has exploded again. … Read more

Coma Cinema: Posthumous Release [Album Review]

Coma Cinema Posthumous Release Fork And Spoon Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Posthumous Release is full of songs both strange and inviting. Album Review: Even though Mat Cothran (aka Coma Cinema) has three previous albums under his belt, Posthumous Release is his first recorded in a proper studio, and that environment lends this set of … Read more

Sigur Rós: Kveikur [Album Review]

Sigur Rós Kveikur XL Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Sigur Rós get heavier and more visceral on Kveikur. Album Review: Sigur Rós have been busy since returning from their hiatus. In the span of about eighteen months, they’ve released a live album (Inni) as well as a studio album (Valtari), and after the departure of … Read more

Hausu: Total [Album Review]

Hausu Total Hardly Art Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Hausu provide a fresh and precision based debut record. Album Review: It wasn’t till about the fourth track here on Hausu’s debut, Total, that I started to get where the Portland, OR band was coming from with their retro post-punk sound. Did they sound like Fugazi? … Read more

Double Dagger: 333 [Album Review]

Double Dagger 333 Thrill Jockey Records [2013] Fire Note Says: An incredible swan song from Double Dagger! Album Review: Baltimore’s Double Dagger, broke up in late 2011, and their final record, 333, is now seeing the light of day. The trio has now gone their separate ways, playing with the likes of Roomrunner, Peals, and … Read more

Eddie Spaghetti: The Value Of Nothing [Album Review]

Eddie Spaghetti The Value Of Nothing Bloodshot Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Value of Nothing is the perfect mix of punk attitude and outlaw spirit! Album Review: What do you get when you mix garage punk, rockabilly, and the hell raising side of country music? The answer is Eddie Spaghetti’s new album, The Value … Read more

Hooded Fang: Gravez [Album Review]

Hooded Fang Gravez Full Time Hobby Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Hooded Fang pack charm and quirk into blistering power pop. Album Review: I know it’s common to chide a band for their overuse of a trope or technique over an entire album. But I won’t do that here: Canada’s Polaris Prize-nominated Hooded Fang not … Read more

Jason Isbell: Southeastern [Album Review]

Jason Isbell Southeastern Southeastern Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Southeastern shows that Isbell is poised and ready to step into the limelight with the finest record of his career. Album Review: When Jason Isbell left Drive-By Truckers, I expected huge things from him, and he delivered right out of the gate with his first solo … Read more

King Tuff: Was Dead [Album Review]

King Tuff Was Dead Burger Records [2013] Fire Note Says: King Tuff’s reissue Was Dead is a garage weirdo’s pride for the simple things. Album Review: Kyle Thomas (aka King Tuff) is a simple man enjoying the simple pleasures of Brattleboro, Vermont. Way back in 2006 when not drinking endless cups of black coffee, sketching … Read more