Kishi Bashi Lighght Joyful Noise Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: Kishi Bashi’s sophomore effort goes bigger and avoids the slump! Album Review: A soaring indie pop record primarily written on a violin should have made people run to the hills but instead the debut, 151a, from K. Ishibashi (aka Kishi Bashi) landed at #5 on … Read more
Wussy Attica! Shake It Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Wussy rivals their best with addictive Attica! Album Review: The upward progression of a band is the reason people should stick with a group and follow their career. Too many people are stuck on shuffle these days and Spotify makes it so easy to skip around. … Read more
Me First And The Gimme Gimmes Are We Not Men? We Are Diva! Fat Wreck Chords [2014] Fire Note Says: Me First are back with 12 diva delights! Album Review: To some, it may be a surprise that Me First and the Gimme Gimmes have been cranking out cover records since their 1997 debut Have … Read more
Cheap Girls Famous Graves Xtra Mile Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: Cheap Girls are ready to be your favorite new rock n roll band. Album Review: There is nothing like hitting the local pub and hearing a band that just blows its walls off. You know the type of group I am talking about – … Read more
Lykke Li I Never Learn Atlantic Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Lykke Li’s third album is not only her best yet but also one of the top break up records released this decade. Album Review: There is nothing like a good breakup record. Time and time again these type of heart driven albums make for … Read more
Old 97’s Most Messed Up ATO Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Old 97’s bring a catchy recklessness to their tenth album Most Messed Up. Album Review: I still remember when the Old 97’s style of rambunctious alt-country music was being hailed as the freshest thing on the block back in 1994. I am not sure … Read more
Sonic Avenues Mistakes Dirtnap Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Sonic Avenues keep things classy on third LP Mistakes. Album Review: Punk rock is still trying to find its place in 2014 and if you look hard enough there are plenty of bands keeping it real and producing quality albums. Montreal’s Sonic Avenues is one of … Read more
Medicine “Part Time Punks” Live LP Captured Tracks [2014] Fire Note Says: Medicine releases one of the highlights on Record Store Day 2014. Album Review: Last August, Medicine returned from an 18 year hiatus with a new full length To The Happy Few. The group had previously been hailed as America’s My Bloody Valentine so … Read more
The Both The Both SuperEgo Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Aimee Mann and Ted Leo join forces and form The Both. Album Review: The music fan likes nothing better than a unique musical pairing. Over the years we have seen full length records from Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Pete … Read more
The Afghan Whigs Do To The Beast Sub Pop Records [2014] Fire Note Says: 16 years? No problem – The Afghan Whigs pick right back up where they left off! Album Review: If you caught The Afghan Whigs 2012 reunion tour, you probably were not that surprised to hear the announcement of the band’s first … Read more
Unwelcome Guests Wavering Dirt Cult Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Buffalo’s Unwelcome Guests offer you an honest 30 minutes of rock on their new record, Wavering. Album Review: There are only two things you need to know about Unwelcome Guests. They hail from Buffalo and have released their new record, Wavering, on Dirt Cult Records. … Read more
PUP PUP SideOneDummy Records [2014] Fire Note Says: PUP give punk a fresh breath. Album Review: In this modern age of punk there are only a few bands that I can recall having made some noise stateside that hail from Toronto. I am thinking Fucked Up and METZ without going too small or underground as … Read more
Mikal Cronin/Superchunk “Takin’ It Easy” b/w “Good Morning” Merge Records [2014] Late last fall, Merge Records announced Or Thousands of Prizes which is a subscription-based, bonus-filled box set celebrating Merge Records’ twenty-fifth anniversary. Merge also did a really cool thing and donated all the proceeds to Oxfam America. Part of this box set includes 7-inch … Read more
Somos Temple Of Plenty Tiny Engines [2014] Fire Note Says: Somos unearth a genre on their pop-inflected emo punk debut. Album Review: When you get to a certain age the saying “what was old is new again” seems to become a more common occurrence which just is a nod to my experience! Sure! Take the … Read more
Manchester Orchestra Cope Loma Vista / Republic Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Manchester Orchestra goes bigger on their fourth album Cope. Album Review: The muscular guitar opening of “Top Notch” on Manchester Orchestra’s fourth album Cope is all business as the band makes the full transition from indie start-ups to mainstream alternative rock act. 2011’s … Read more
Mount Carmel Get Pure Alive Naturalsound Records [2014] Fire Note Says: If you are starving for raw blues rock then Mount Carmel will satisfy your hunger. Album Review: Columbus Ohio’s Mount Carmel was once described as “the only non-bullshit hard rock band in goddamn America.” Those are high standards to live up to but for … Read more
Baby Baby Big Boy Baller Club The Gospel Of Rhythm Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: Fun Atlanta group Baby Baby have a party ready for you on sophomore album. Album Review: When is the last time you listened to a fun record? I am talking about some guilty pleasure, a free spirited pop-punk record or … Read more
The Fire Note’s March Bandcamp feature is here and ready to supply you with 10 more bands you should know about. There is a little bit of something for everyone this month as we get some LA riot grrrl, Phily chillwave, English psychedelic and some heavy sludge from Minneapolis. Till next month – Discover, Support … Read more
The Hold Steady Teeth Dreams Washington Square/Razor & Tie Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Hold Steady beef up the guitars and expand the songs on the arena ready Teeth Dreams. Album Review: In today’s music scene I challenge you to start naming legitimate rock groups that have only released albums this decade. Sure, you … Read more
Tony Molina Dissed And Dismissed Melters/Slumberland Records [2013/2014] Fire Note Says: Tony Molina only needs 12 minutes to win you over! Album Review: Veteran Bay Area musician Tony Molina released a limited run record last year that I guarantee not enough people heard. His twelve minute album, Dissed And Dismissed, came out on the small … Read more
Perfect Pussy Say Yes To Love Captured Tracks [2014] Fire Note Says: Perfect Pussy live up to their name and hype! Album Review: If you are into vinyl then you know the feeling you get when the needle hits the first groove. You hear just a little bit of white noise before the special wax … Read more
Death Vessel Island Intervals Sub Pop Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Death Vessel return after six years with an upgraded sound and Northern outlook on life. Album Review: The first thing you should know about Death Vessel is that the voice behind the music is Joel Thibodeau. This will save you from some embarrassing remark … Read more
Foster The People Supermodel Columbia Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Foster The People steer their kicks in a new direction. Album Review: Foster The People blew up in 2011 with their debut Torches and its infectious track “Pumped Up Kicks” but overnight success is an extremely hard act to follow. Place that pressure with the … Read more
With more snow hitting the ground in March it only makes sense to skip thinking about Spring and go straight for Summer. With that thought in mind, I rummaged through TFN collection and went to several must listens that always make their way to my player when the sun is high. Clearly this list could … Read more
Farewell Dear Ghost We Colour The Night Minty Fresh Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Farewell Dear Ghost provide plenty of melodic indie rock that sticks. Album Review: Let me tell you about this melodic new album from Austria’s Farewell Dear Ghost. It is a record that I have been sitting on since December but consistently … Read more