Beach Slang The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us Polyvinyl Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Did you think Beach Slang was going to slow down on their debut? Think again! Album Review: Beach Slang is for everyone that wants to rock. In the spirit of The Replacements, early Goo Goo Dolls, … Read more
SPORTS All Of Something Father/Daughter Records [2015] Fire Note Says: SPORTS pulls out a winner with sophomore record All of Something! Album Review: SPORTS is a basement rock band, started in 2012 at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. The group has had all the normal up and downs of beginning young bands but on its … Read more
Car Seat Headrest Teens Of Style Matador Records [2015] Fire Note Says: This lo-fi pop shows true promise! Album Review: Discovery of new music is a wonderful thing. I can name countless bands that I thought should be huge and just wowed me after I heard their basement tapes. I can also think of a … Read more
The Stops Nameless Faces Dirt Cult Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Nothing like picking out a killer band from your backyard as the now Portland, Oregon based Dirt Cult Records has released the debut LP from the all-female punk rock group The Stops. The 10 song, 23 minute record, Nameless Faces, wastes no time … Read more
The Fresh & Onlys Early Years Anthology Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: It is crazy to think what gets left on the cutting room floor when a record is released. This early year’s collection from The Fresh & Onlys is a prime example, as I can’t believe none of the 12 tracks … Read more
Trans Charger Metropolis Haunted House Birds Self-Released [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Trans Charger Metropolis lists their interests as “Drinking Beer and Recording tunes.” Sound familiar? Well after hearing just a small sample of this New Jersey group you can tell they have some lo-fi Guided By Voices blood in their veins as the sophomore … Read more
Motel Beds Mind Glitter Anyway Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Mind Glitter is full of harmonic gold! Album Review: Motel Beds are easily one of the best bands to come out of Dayton, Ohio in some time and they back that statement up with their new release; Mind Glitter. The record has slowly been simmering … Read more
Wavves V Warner Bros. Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Wavves push the tempo pedal to the floor on V. Album Review: Nathan Williams was thrust into the indie music scene spotlight back in 2009 with his sophomore record Wavvves. Right from that moment, Wavves has had to grow up from just making a record to … Read more
Kurt Vile b’lieve i’m goin’ (deep) down… Matador Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Kurt Vile is back with another great sounding storybook. Album Review: Like bands, the singer/songwriter can be broken down into categories. You have your super voices grouping that I still use Jeff Buckley and Elliott Smith as the bar for comparison, there … Read more
The September Bandcamp feature is here! This month you get garage from France, punk from New York, 90’s dream-pop out of Omaha, Michigan’s own West coast psych rock and folk from England! Just do it – Discover, Support & Share! Palehound Brooklyn, New York Palehound will stoke your 90’s era indie rock fire back into … Read more
Ryan Adams 1989 PAX-AM Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Ryan Adams takes Taylor Swift’s 1989 for a spin. Album Review: Talk about speed. Ryan Adams announces that he is working on a track by track cover of Taylor Swift’s 1989 (2014) and the social media world can’t get enough which includes Swift. Fans faint, tweens … Read more
Lucero All A Man Should Do ATO Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Lucero tones down the party for a minute with their spirited Memphis soul. Album Review: Lucero is easily one of the hardest working bands out there and have been grinding the highways since the late 90’s. The group continues to struggle with life … Read more
Mike Krol Turkey Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Mike Krol gives you a short but fun fuzzy rocker in Turkey. Album Review: 19 minutes. That is what you get on Mike Krol’s Merge debut Turkey. 19 minutes of feedback heavy indie rock that catches your ear fast and then quickly dissipates. This is Krol’s … Read more
Who buys music anymore? Do you? I hope you said yes! While anybody can create a record label, it doesn’t necessarily translate into success. There are tons of indie labels out there but to do it right it takes some wits. I believe the five labels below not only have a strong foundation but have … Read more
Gary Clark Jr. The Story Of Sonny Boy Slim Warner Bros. Records [2015] Fire Note Says: There is no denying it – Gary Clark Jr. can play! Album Review: Gary Clark Jr. has exploded since his 2012 Blak and Blu album put him on the map with its bluesy rock that was both soulful and … Read more
Various Artists Aquabear Legion Volume 5 Aquabear Legion [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: If you live outside of Ohio you might be surprised to know that the Buckeye State has some kick ass music. Well, this new compilation from Aquabear Legion will easily enlighten your perspective with material from some bands you might already know … Read more
Ryan Adams Heartbreaker Bloodshot Records Released: September 5, 2000 Producer: Ethan Johns Length: 51:57 I remember picking up this record 15 years ago and being really excited as I was already into alt-country at the time and familiar with Whiskeytown, so buying frontman Ryan Adams’ solo record debut seemed like a no-brainer. Then the first … Read more
Barrence Whitfield & The Savages Under The Savage Sky Bloodshot Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Many of us were not around for the early Barrence Whitfield era back in the 80’s but all you really need to know is that his punk rock soul is pure. On his sophomore release for Bloodshot, Under The … Read more
Lou Barlow Brace The Wave Joyful Noise Recordings [2015] Fire Note Says: Lou gives you plenty of acoustic intensity on his first solo LP in six years. Album Review: Having seen Lou Barlow last month with the very loud Dinosaur Jr., I was ready for some more alt rock from the veteran when I put … Read more
The Arcs Yours, Dreamily, Nonesuch Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Black Key Dan Auerbach has found a simmering new full band. Album Review: When he is not producing albums or recording with his buddy Patrick in The Black Keys, Dan Auerbach hangs out with his musical friends and just lays down tracks. Around 75 of … Read more
Here is the debut 7” from Chicago’s thunderous rock n roll rebels The Sueves. The band offers up a very vesical and raw garage punk rock that keeps you going with their electric energy. The group reminds me some of the early material from Spokane, Washington’s, The Makers that were on the great Estrus Records … Read more
Pavement The Secret History, Vol. 1 Matador Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: I am assuming that if you clicked on this review you are already a Pavement fan. This first in the series of Pavement extras is great if you base it on the music alone. The B-sides are necessities for fans and the … Read more
Summer is winding down but the great music keeps on rolling. Our August Bandcamp features a group from Siberia, several artists from sunny California, lo-fi from Philly, siren vocals from Greece and some dark mood music out of Virginia. As always – Discover, Support & Share! The Mercury Tree Portland, Oregon Portland math rock/post rock … Read more
The Good Life Everybody’s Coming Down Saddle Creek Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: When you talk about Tim Kasher’s work in the indie scene you will always discuss his tormented soul that impacts all of his projects that include his primary band Cursive, his solo work and his other major outlet – The Good … Read more
Big Awesome Party On Jetsam-Flotsam [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: There is always something to be said for heart on your sleeve rock n roll and that is exactly what you get on Big Awesome’s debut album Party On. John Blanken’s slightly throated vocals never give up or let down in intensity, which keeps pushing … Read more