Hop Along Painted Shut Saddle Creek Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Frances Quinlan’s voice absolutely soars with her smooth growl on Hop Along’s sophomore record Painted Shut. Their indie music can be both quiet and loud on the same track as Hop Along brings big booming guitars as they tell their stories of desperation. … Read more
Juan Wauters Who Me? Captured Tracks [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: The Beets frontman Juan Wauters is back with his sophomore record, Who Me?. His simple acoustic approach is a very throwback folk-rock that thrived in the 70’s. Who Me? follows The Beets path of short songs as most hover around the 2 minute mark. … Read more
Anytime I hear a “Dinosaur Jr. meets Neil Young” description you know I will dig a little deeper. That tag is what some are throwing around about Atlanta’s Tedo Stone with his southern flare and indie rock. After checking out his first track I think you argue that it is a fair comparison. His new … Read more
Radioactivity Silent Kill Dirtnap Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Silent Kill breaks the mold of what “punk rock” is supposed to sound like! Album Review: Punk rock has been getting a bad rap over the last decade or so for not being creative, fresh or even fun. What once was a thriving genre, especially on … Read more
The National A Lot Of Sorrow (Box Set) 4AD Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: “Sorrow found me when I was young / Sorrow waited, sorrow won. / Sorrow that put me on the pills / It’s in my honey it’s in my milk / Don’t leave my hyper heart below.” Now repeat! That is … Read more
Rhett Miller The Traveler ATO Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: I have always been a fan of the Old 97’s so it typically is not that hard to enjoy frontman Rhett Miller’s solo work either. The Traveler is his seventh outing with just his name on the spine and I must say – it … Read more
Haynes Boys Haynes Boys Slab / Re-Vinyl Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Haynes Boys debut should be in your collection. Album Review: How about I introduce you to one of the best roots rock records you never took for a spin? An alt-country / Americana staple before the genre was really defined. That would be … Read more
The Stratford 4 Keep Your Crazy Head On Straight Magnetic Stare Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Do you remember The Stratford 4? The band released two solid albums on Jetset Records back in the early 2000’s. The group then was caught up in major label red tape and the Ric Ocasek produced Keep Your … Read more
How about 10 new artists to finish off June? For the latest Bandcamp edition, TFN has found dream pop from LA, a pure singer/songwriter from New Mexico, excellent garage rock from France, distorted beauty from Canada and emo-punk out of Florida. Discover, Support & Share! Guapo London, England Led by drummer extraordinaire David J. Smith, … Read more
Desaparecidos Payola Epitaph Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Desaparecidos create a memorable return! Album Review: Formed in 2001 in Omaha, Nebraska, Desaparecidos released one album, Read Music / Speak Spanish in 2002 on Saddle Creek Records. The band never broke up but the members went different directions including of course, Conor Oberst’s career with Bright … Read more
Sweet John Bloom Weird Player Tiny Engines [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Cambridge, MA’s Sweet John Bloom play quick and fast post-punk rock that will keep your feet tapping. Clocking 15 songs in 35 minutes is harder to do than you might think, especially when they cram all of their high energy guitar and lyrics … Read more
Surfin’ Mutants Pizza Party The Death Of Cool Fleeting Youth Records [2015] Fire Note Says: This is one party you don’t want to miss! Album Review: Surfin’ Mutants Pizza Party is the one-man bedroom project of 21 year old Julien Maltais. You might think that the bedroom genre is tired and worn out and probably … Read more
Evan Phillips Silhouettes Self-Released [2015] Fire Note Says: Silhouettes is Phillips at his best! Album Review: Anchorage, Alaska is not really a hotbed for new music but it should never simply be dismissed based on its map coordinates. I say this because when you hear singer songwriter Evan Phillips fourth solo record, Silhouettes, you may … Read more
Annabel Having It All Tiny Engines [2015] Fire Note Says: Time to reconnect with your emo feelings! Album Review: At some point do you ever feel like you are too old for a genre of music? I have had those thoughts over the years about emo but always remind myself how I will still turn … Read more
Heartless Bastards Restless Ones Partisan Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Erika Wennerstrom’s power surged vocals are hard to resist. Album Review: The Cincinnati now Austin based Heartless Bastards return with their fifth full length album, Restless Ones, that will once again dazzle fans with its soulful approach. The band has always been centrally driven from … Read more
Muse Drones Warner Bros. Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Muse create another stadium rocker. Album Review: I remember when Muse released their debut, Showbiz (1999), and they were considered a muscular Radiohead. The band quickly separated themselves with their sophomore effort, Origin of Symmetry (2001), and has never looked back. Over their last several releases, … Read more
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Quarters Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Quarters is an intriguing and rewarding long player. Album Review: So here is a crazy idea. How about make a record with only 4 tracks that each runs a total time of 10 minutes and 10 seconds and then name it … Read more
Oh May! Here are 10 artists you should check out today. We have sister rock from Ohio, a singer/songwriter from Alaska, underground sounds from Los Angeles, power pop out of Philadelphia and indie-afro-soul from Oakland. Also, do everyone a favor – Discover, Support & Share! Max Gowan Raleigh, North Carolina I don’t believe that we … Read more
Swiftumz Everybody Loves Chris Melters [2015] Fire Note Says: Swiftumz offers up a diverse record that will surprise you with each turn. Album Review: There is something to be said for doing your own thing. Chris McVicker, a.k.a. Swiftumz, has been doing just that since his 2011 debut full length Don’t Trip. After releasing a … Read more
Faith No More Sol Invictus Reclamation Recordings [2015] Fire Note Says: Faith No More remind you of their relevance. Album Review: Do you know the definition of relevant? Relevant means to bear upon or connect with the matter at hand; pertinent. This one word always surfaces when a band like Faith No More reappear on … Read more
Froth Bleak Burger Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Froth find the pop between the fuzz! Album Review: The psychedelic rock train is really hard to slow down right now as West Coasters Froth have just delivered a sophomore album in Bleak that is another shining moment for the genre. There is only so much you … Read more
Let’s start out by saying that I think La Luz will be one of the bigger indie surprises in 2015. The Seattle surf-rock female foursome had an excellent debut with 2013’s It’s Alive and after hearing today’s fire track, “You Disappear,” I have a heightened anticipation for their sophomore effort Weirdo Shrine due out August … Read more
Best Coast California Nights Harvest Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Best Coast does not stray too far from the catchy formula. Album Review: Sometimes third albums put artists in weird places. You have your introducing debut, avoid the sophomore slump with either more of the same or pushing your artistic boundaries and then where do … Read more
Ryan Adams Live At Carnegie Hall PAX-AM [2015] Fire Note Says: Two night live set will not disappoint fans. Album Review: Ryan Adams live used to be “watch and see” because Adams might do something nuts like kick someone out of the show, walk off the stage, go into a rant and then go into … Read more
Mac McCaughan Non-Believers Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: First solo record from Superchunk and Merge Records founder Mac McCaughan. Album Review: It is really hard to believe that 2015 brings us the first solo record from Mac McCaughan. As founder of Superchunk, Portastatic and Merge Records, Mac has always stayed extremely busy so there … Read more