Scout Niblett It’s Up To Emma Drag City Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Emma Louise Niblett’s decade-long run of excellence continues. Album Review: When most critics talk of Scout Niblett they inevitably bring up Cat Power and PJ Harvey. But it is her work with Bonnie “Prince” Billy and especially the late, great Jason Molina … Read more
These New Puritans Field Of Reeds Infectious Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Jack Barnett and company – for better or worse – leave Rock ‘N Roll in their rear view mirror. Album Review: This is a hard record for me to be completely objective about – for several reasons. To start with, These New Puritans’ … Read more
Black Sabbath 13 Universal Music Group [2013] Fire Note Says: Black Sabbath reclaim their rightful seat on the heavy metal throne! Album Review: The godfathers of heavy music are back! When it was announced that Black Sabbath was getting the original lineup back together for a new album and tour, the world was shocked and … Read more
Sonny & The Sunsets Antenna To The Afterworld Polyvinyl Records [2013] Fire Note Says: More psychedelic 60’s influenced pop weirdness from Sonny & The Sunsets! Album Review: Sonny & The Sunsets are back, and their latest effort, Antenna to the Afterworld, is their strongest effort to date. It is a record that deals with some … Read more
Kylesa Ultraviolet Season Of Mist Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Savannah stoner metal band continue refining their sound with very good results. Album Review: Like fellow Georgian genre-hoppers Baroness, Kylesa is a bit of a paradox. Their early material was heavy on swamp sludge but as each personal tragedy, band shake-up or label change occurred … Read more
Eleanor Friedberger Personal Record Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Sophomore album Personal Record secures Eleanor Friedberger’s full time status as a solo act. Album Review: With The Fiery Furnaces on a hiatus it seems like the perfect time for Eleanor Friedberger to release her sophomore album Personal Record. The record once again highlights her … Read more
City And Colour The Hurry And The Harm 10 Spot [2013] Fire Note Says: City and Colour’s fourth LP is vibrant and forthright. Album Review: City and Colour’s primary member is Dallas Green, former lead singer of the band Alexisonfire (and not the former baseball manager though that would be awesome). City and Colour used … Read more
The Dandy Warhols Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia (13th Anniversary Edition) Capitol Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Dandy Warhols celebrate Thirteen Tales with an expanded anniversary edition. Album Review: 2013 marks the thirteenth anniversary of The Dandy Warhols Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia and that probably leaves you saying – so what? Well in … Read more
The Baptist Generals Jackleg Devotional To The Heart Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Baptist Generals follow up their No Silver/No Gold lp 10 years after the fact, and it is worth the wait! Album Review: The term Jackleg has several meanings (I know because I looked it up), but it’s most common … Read more
Camera Obscura Desire Lines 4AD Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Camera Obscura keep their sound familiar and fresh on their fifth LP. Album Review: Camera Obscura have been making music for the past 15 years; their newest release Desire Lines is instantly identifiable with the sound they have created over that time period. The Scottish … Read more
Queens Of The Stone Age …Like Clockwork Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Queens of the Stone Age …Like Clockwork, hits right on time. Album Review: Queens of the Stone Age front man Josh Homme is—to put it bluntly—the man. He’s accrued many a famous friend, having rocked out with the best from John Paul … Read more
Roomrunner Ideal Cities Fan Death Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Roll down the car windows, and blast the debut lp from Baltimore’s Roomrunner. Album Review: I hate to follow the same old story line when it comes to Baltimore’s Roomrunner, so I am going to get it out of the way early. Yes, as a … Read more
The Lone Bellow The Lone Bellow Descendant Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Lone Bellow offer a set of songs wrought with emotion and heartache on their self-titled debut! Album Review: I love radio. I still mourn the loss of WOXY which I am lucky enough to have been in broadcast range of when they … Read more
Graham Repulski Cop Art Big School Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Graham Repulski stand tall with their lo-fi style and short memorable songs! Album Review: If you have been following The Fire Note for several years then the lo-fi New Jersey band Graham Repulski should not be a stranger to you. If this is the … Read more
Come 11:11 Deluxe 20th Anniversary Edition Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Excellent reissue of the long out print debut album from influential noise rockers, Come! Album Review: Come came roaring out of Boston in the early nineties sounding like an unholy alliance between The Rolling Stones, Soundgarden, and Sonic Youth. Lead vocalist Thalia Zedek, … Read more
Daft Punk Random Access Memories Columbia Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Daft Punk take one giant artistic leap for mankind on Random Access Memories. Album Review: I find it interesting that the first track on the new Daft Punk album is called “Give Life Back to Music” particularly since their last album was the coolly … Read more
Over The Ocean Be Given To The Soil Spartan Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Virginia post-rock band wears their dark heart on their sleeve on sophomore album. Album Review: “I have seen the sky turn black/And a storm is coming.” Those lines from the first song on Virginia Beach post-rock band Over The Ocean’s second … Read more
Man Or Astro-Man? Defcon 5…4…3…2…1 Communicating Vessels / Chunklet Ind. [2013] Fire Note Says: Beam me up! Man Or Astro-Man? are back with another intergalactic screamer! Album Review: It has been nearly 12 years since Man Or Astro-Man? visited earth with a batch of indie surf rock, so the landing of their new long player … Read more
Kingsley Flood Battles Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: With excellent writing, and a mix of indie, folk, and rock sounds, Kingsley Flood’s new album is never boring. Album Review: Although the band is from the states, and plays mostly to the genre of indie folk, Kingsley Flood’s new album, Battles, is at times reminiscent of … Read more
Jimi Hendrix People, Hell And Angels Legacy Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: People, Hell and Angels is another reminder of how close one man and his guitar could be. Album Review: Jimi Hendrix was, has, and always will be an icon. So, the fact that we have the trove of recordings from what could be … Read more
Beaches She Beats Chapter Music [2013] Fire Note Says: She Beats is an intoxicating blend of shoegaze, psychedelia, and krautrock! Album Review: Beaches is five piece band from Australia, who happen to be the finest purveyors of a style of music that mixes shoegaze, psychedelic music and krautrock and come up with a unique sound … Read more
Denison Witmer Denison Witmer Asthmatic Kitty Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Denison Witmer blends past and present on his ninth LP. Album Review: Coming close on the heels of his last album, 2012’s stellar The Ones Who Wait, Denison Witmer’s new self-titled album feels like both a natural follow up and a conscious return to … Read more
The Airborne Toxic Event Such Hot Blood Island Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Airborne Toxic Event swings for the fences with their third LP. Album Review: The Airborne Toxic Event is a frustrating band. It’s difficult for me to reconcile the different directions in which they pull me. At times their songs soar and … Read more
The National Trouble Will Find Me 4AD Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The National are a band at the top of their craft doing what they do best! Album Review: I feel there is a prerequisite for starting this review: a glass of red wine-if a red is not your thing then I’m sure a … Read more
The Orange Peels Sun Moon Minty Fresh Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Sun Moon will sneak up on you and set its hooks deep in you brain. Album Review: The Orange Peels are back with their 5th album, and no surprise, it is chock full of indie power pop goodness that is going to put … Read more