The Ocean Blue Ultramarine Korda Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Ocean Blue return with a batch of melodic pop that sounds like they never went away! Album Review: There have been plenty of bands coming back to the scene lately but I never thought that The Ocean Blue would be one of them. There … Read more
White Fence Cyclops Reap Castle Face Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Cyclops Reap is the best White Fence record to date! Album Review: Tim Presley, the main man behind White Fence, had a banner year in 2012. Not only did he release two stellar records as White Fence, Family Perfume Vol 1 & 2, but … Read more
Charles Bradley Victim Of Love Dunham/Daptone Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Charles Bradley’s Victim Of Love is a love letter to the music, fans, and the golden age soul greats who inspired him. Album Review: This album gives off such a cool retro vibe that the only other element to enhance the experience would be … Read more
The Dear Hunter Migrant Equal Vision/Cave and Canary Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Dear Hunter puts grand ambition aside and give us their best album to date. Album Review: Casey Crescenzo is a talented guy. A good songwriter, a more than capable singer, multi-instrumentalist – all that. The problem for a newcomer to The … Read more
Purling Hiss Water On Mars Drag City Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Purling Hiss proves rock is alive in well on the streets of Philadelphia. Album Review: Purling Hiss is a Philadelphia band that melds together the aggressiveness of the Stooges and Comets on Fire, with the somewhat poppier side of J Mascis and Dinosaur … Read more
Phosphorescent Muchacho Dead Oceans Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Muchaco is a powerful listen about broken hearts and moving on from Phosphorescent. Album Review: I’m not sure exactly the best way to describe Muchacho, the new record from Phosphorescent. It’s not exactly Americana/folk (which is what I was expecting based on the last record, Here’s … Read more
Caveman Caveman Fat Possum Records [2013] Fire Note Says: New York quintet drop an album of subtle, sun-drenched indie pop. Album Review: Some records have a way of sneaking up on you. Case in point: the sophomore album from Brooklyn’s Caveman. I really almost gave up on this and I am so glad I didn’t. … Read more
Kait Lawson Until We Drown Madjack Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Planted firmly in southern roots, Kait Lawson’s debut album Until We Drown uses standout songwriting and mixed-genre sounds. Album Review: Rarely does a collection of songs capture the poetry of songwriting like Kait Lawson’s debut album, Until We Drown. The lyrics are unmatched, displaying … Read more
Wire Change Becomes Us Pinkflag [2013] Fire Note Says: Wire looks back to their past to create an album that ranks among their finest. Album Review: Change Becomes Us, is the 4th full length from legendary art punks Wire since their return in 2000, and it is quite possibly the best of their post reunion … Read more
Wavves Afraid Of Heights Mom + Pop Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Nathan Williams cleans it up and gives us a solid slab of SoCal stoner punk. Album Review: Given the straight-line creative arc within the Wavves discography, the high gloss production values of Afraid Of Heights should come as no surprise. Following two lo-fi … Read more
The Shilohs So Wild Light Organ Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Shilohs grab ideas from all over the 60s rock scene, but So Wild never feels disjointed. Album Review: Starting with the standard 60s rock playbook, The Shilohs dig a bit deeper on their debut album to offer listeners a feel-good slice of classic … Read more
The Virginmarys King Of Conflict Wind-Up Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Virginmarys birth some immaculate rock n roll! Album Review: When a new band of British blokes hit’s the scene, they seem to garner a lot of attention and hype. Whether or not that’s warranted or not The Virginmarys show us that the proof … Read more
Devendra Banhart Mala Nonesuch Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Devendra Banhart’s debut on Nonesuch Mala is muy buena. Album Review: Devendra Banhart’s Mala is his latest release, his first since 2009’s What Will We Be. I came to this album with a recognition of Banhart’s name but not much previous exposure to his actual music. … Read more
Marnie Stern The Chronicles Of Marnia Kill Rock Stars [2013] Fire Note Says: Marnie Stern loosens things up and lets her vocals soar! Album Review: I will fully admit that The Chronicles of Marnia was the record I have been somewhat expecting from the crafty guitar slinger Marnie Stern. It is album that pushes her … Read more
The Sunflower Logic Clouds On The Polar Landscape EP Pink Banana Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Robert Pollard plays it loose and releases one of his most unique recordings to date! Album Review: If you are scratching your head some then you should be told right away that The Sunflower Logic is a Robert Pollard … Read more
Wax Idols Discipline And Desire Slumberland Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Wax Idols is both a breath of fresh air and a blast from the past. Album Review: This album come out of a time machine. Seriously. The more I listened to it, the more I forgot this was brand new and instead thought I … Read more
Suuns Images Du Futur Secretly Canadian Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Montreal act’s second album impresses in almost every way. Album Review: If imitation is the highest form of flattery then Clinic must be mightily pleased with the sophomore effort by Montreal’s Suuns. On their stunning 2010 debut, Zeroes QC, Suuns conjured up a highly … Read more
Off With Their Heads Home Epitaph Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Off With Their Heads return with a more mature outlook but are still 100% punk rock! Album Review: Minneapolis outfit Off With Their Heads play a straightforward type of punk rock that is in your face but completely controlled. I know that some of … Read more
Jacob Morris MOTHS Cloud Recordings [2012] Fire Note Says: Jacob Morris aims to please on his debut album. Album Review: Jacob Morris is a singer-songwriter with roots in both Athens, GA and Austin, TX. With those two cities in his musical heritage great things could be expected of him. MOTHS is his debut album and … Read more
ON AN ON Give In Roll Call Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The remnants of indie pop stalwarts Scattered Trees triumphantly release a dark and diverse debut. Album Review: With only two weeks before Chicago/Minneapolis band Scattered Trees were scheduled to record a new album in Toronto with famed producer Dave Newfeld (Broken Social Scene, … Read more
Mazes Ores & Minerals FatCat Records [2013] Fire Note Says: UK band avoids the sophomore slump and adds excellent Krautrock elements on Ores & Minerals. Album Review: This is the stuff right here! A hot young guitar band from the UK adopts krautrock influences into their indie rock sound and not only avoids the sophomore … Read more
Swamp Dogg Total Destruction To Your Mind Rat On! Alive Natural Sound Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Swamp Dogg’s music finally gets the respect that it deserves. Album Review: Back in the late 60’s/early 70’s there was quite the musical renaissance that was taking place. Miles Davis’ jazz freak opus Bitches Brew took shape, Sly … Read more
Water Liars Wyoming Big Legal Mess/Fat Possum Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Water Liars make sure you can feel on their damaged but excellent Wyoming! Album Review: I will warn you that Water Liars sophomore record, Wyoming, is a completely damaged Americana/rock album from the duo of singer/guitarist Justin Kinkel-Schuster and drummer/vocalist Andrew Bryant that … Read more
Cloud Cult Love The Rebel Group [2013] Fire Note Says: Cloud Cult’s Love is a musical story book packed with themes, lessons, and a bit of reassurance that it’s going to be ok. Album Review: Cloud Cult mastermind Craig Minowa has led an interesting life. His story entails love, loss, acceptance, education, environmentalism, creativity, and … Read more
Eat Skull III Woodsist Records [2013] Fire Note Says: III strips away the noise and shows off a psychedelic west coast vibe. Album Review: Has it really been four years since we last heard from Eat Skull? On their first two lps, both on the venerable Siltbreeze label, Eat Skull were your typical “better than … Read more