Huey Lewis & The News Sports (30th Anniversary Edition) Universal Music Group [2013] Fire Note Says: A guilty pop-rock pleasure that is now 30 years old! Album Review: A lot can be said about 80’s music and most of the time it is negative. When I think eighties, my mind always strays to Echo & … Read more
Wampire Curiosity Polyvinyl Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Portland duo tries a plethora of influences on for size. And it all fits. Album Review: Wampire’s debut album, Curiosity, is one of those hard to pin down records. For days on end I listened, and kept listening. Was this really that good? Or have I been … Read more
Koji Crooked In My Mind Run For Cover Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Koji’s solid singer/songwriter debut brings intensity back to the acoustic guitar. Album Review: Rarely in these days of digital downloads, streaming and playlists do you come across a record that makes you want to sit down, kick back and just enjoy the … Read more
Blackout Beach Blues Trip Soft Abuse Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Carey Mercer’s Blackout Beach goes for the gusto with a sinisterly, theatric aplomb rarely heard today. Album Review: Carey Mercer is a strange animal, the Canadian song craftsman takes many different avenues from being experimental to an almost stripped approach. Whether it’s through rocking … Read more
Savages Silence Yourself Pop Noire / Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Savages release a debut that rekindles a different era of post-punk. Album Review: London’s Savages come to us with high anticipation and a huge amount of hype. That typically is a setup to be disappointed but in this case the female quartet’s debut … Read more
Fitz And The Tantrums More Than Just A Dream Elektra Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Fitz And The Tantrums returns with a sleeker but less endearing sound. Album Review: I hold a special place in my heart for Pickin Up The PIeces, Fitz And The Tantrums’ debut LP. Amazon picked it as an editor’s selection … Read more
Iggy And The Stooges Ready To Die Fat Possum Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The album may be called Ready to Die, but the band is nowhere near death! Album Review: Let me start this review by saying that I am one of the only people I know who really enjoyed The Stooges 2007 album, … Read more
Various Artists The Rough Guide To Psychedelic Brazil World Music Network [2013] Fire Note Says: An excellently sequenced compilation that showcases the genre’s diversity and creativity. Album Review: One of several collections released by World Music Network for Record Store Day 2013, The Rough Guide to Psychedelic Brazil has a lot in common with its … Read more
The National Rifle Almost Endless Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Philly four-piece gives a new take on tired 80’s revivalism. Album Review: It’s almost a foregone conclusion that any new indie record will be heavily indebted to either the 60’s or the 80’s. Its pick your poison – Beach Boys or Pet Shop Boys. The … Read more
Connections Private Airplane Anyway Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Columbus, Ohio band brings a new grit to the lo-fi rock that flourished in the 90’s. Album Review: From opening track “Finally” you know the number one influence of Columbus, Ohio band Connections, is Dayton, Ohio’s Guided By Voices. The song is only 1:14 long, the … Read more
Coliseum Sister Faith Temporary Residence LTD [2013] Fire Note Says: Coliseum make a heavy and rhythmic fourth record that does not let up! Album Review: Do you ever feel like you just need an album to blow off some steam to? Something that is heavy, rhythmic and hits full throttle from track number one? Well … Read more
Father President Fake It Like You Mean It Light Rail Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Father President crank up the melody and the guitars on Fake It Like You Mean It. Album Review: San Francisco’s Father President is another one of those great new guitar bands that have come from out of nowhere to become … Read more
Pretty & Nice Golden Rules For Golden People Equal Vision Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Boston’s Pretty & Nice resurface with an excellent third LP! Album Review: Back in 2008, Pretty & Nice seemed to be on the indie circuit rise as their sophomore record Get Young was receiving positive praise (#50 in our Top … Read more
Thee Oh Sees Floating Coffin Castle Face Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Thee Oh Sees continue to dominate their little garage of horrors. Album Review: I cannot believe that I’m already talking about a new Thee Oh Sees album. What’s even crazier is, while not as dynamic, still it hits the mark just as their … Read more
Meat Puppets Rat Farm Megaforce Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The legendary Meat Puppets fourth post-reunion (and 14th overall) album is an unqualified winner. Album Review: Drugs have always played a pivotal role in the music and the fate of Arizona cow punks the Meat Puppets. Although sung unintelligibly, 1982’s hyperactive hardcore debut on SST … Read more
Various Artists Sub Pop 1000 Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Sub Pop 1000 gives you 10 artists that are well worth checking out! Album Review: It probably shouldn’t surpise anyone that I enjoy new music. I listen and write constantly about new music so when this fresh compilation from Sub Pop hit my … Read more
Phoenix Bankrupt! Glassnote Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Phoenix took their time but come back with plenty of new avenues. Album Review: Like many other bands coming off their biggest record, French electro-indie-pop artist Phoenix cautiously approached their follow up here as it has been four years since Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix took the scene by … Read more
William Tyler Impossible Truth Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Tyler takes you on an acoustic psychedelic trip on Impossible Truth. Album Review: This is a tough one to review, not because it’s a bad record, in fact it’s damn good. It’s tough because it’s an instrumental guitar record, and I am about as fluent … Read more
Buffalo Killers Ohio Grass Alive Natural Sounds Records [2013] Fire Note Says: This 6 song Record Store Day release captures the essence of Cincinnati’s Buffalo Killers. Album Review: The Buffalo Killers have been perfecting their warm classic rock sound over their last several albums which hit a high point on last summer’s fourth full length … Read more
The Knife Shaking The Habitual Mute Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Shaking the Habitual is a jaw dropping psychedelic record dressed up in electronic clothing! Album Review: The Knife, the Swedish duo comprised of brother and sister Olof Dreijer and Karin Dreijer Andersson, have taken a long time to release a follow up their 2006 … Read more
The Thermals Desperate Ground Saddle Creek Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Six albums in, The Thermals continue to do no wrong. Album Review: The new album by Portland post-pop-punk trio The Thermals begins with the following salvo: “I was born to kill/Made to slay, unafraid to spill/Blood on the land, when you command/I will.” With … Read more
Cold War Kids Dear Miss Lonelyhearts Downtown Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Cold War Kids evolve their sound on their latest Little Miss Lonelyhearts. Album Review: Cold War Kids return with their fourth LP Little Miss Lonelyhearts. The band, from Long Beach, CA, has relied on a heavy mix of guitar, piano, and drums on … Read more
Fourth Of July Empty Moon High Dive Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Fourth Of July return with another batch of infectious indie jangles. Album Review: Lawrence, Kansas band Fourth Of July are as indie rock as you can get with their laid back vocal approach, tight musicianship, and memorable lyrics. Empty Moon is their third … Read more
Lapland Lapland Hundred Pockets Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Mellow folk-pop meets lush ambient arrangements on Lapland’s debut. Album Review: Lapland’s bio sheet lists influences from “60s and 70s synth pioneers” to Fleetwood Mac, but the most apt (and surprising) influence listed is “French impressionists like Ravel and Debussy.” As pretentious as this may sound, … Read more
Biffy Clyro Opposites Warner Bros. Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Biffy Clyro makes a mainstream (double!) alternative rock album with Opposites. Album Review: Biffy Clyro – the name sounded like nonsense when I saw that I had a new album to review. The Scottish band primarily consists of Simon Neil, James Johnston, and Ben Johnston … Read more