Painted Palms Forever Polyvinyl Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Painted Palms have plenty of “moments” with their debut Forever. Album Review: I don’t know about you but I always feel like I should be more in touch with my cousins. I have one that lives close but most are over 600 miles away. Well distance … Read more
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings Give The People What They Want Daptone Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings return with another soaring spoonful of soul! Album Review: Here is a record that was scheduled to release last August but right at the time Daptone Records announced its arrival Sharon Jones was … Read more
The Dead Weather “Open Up (That’s Enough)” b/w “Rough Detective” Third Man Records [2013] This 7-inch is the first taste of new Dead Weather material. In a unique long-term strategy, they are the first of a series of two-song sets The Dead Weather will be releasing up until 2015, at which time the singles–plus numerous … Read more
Gap Dream Shine Your Light Burger Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Gap Dream go down a different path on their sophomore record Shine Your Light. Album Review: Sometimes you know what you are going to get just based on the label that an artist resides on. With Burger Records that style has typically been some … Read more
Crooks On Tape Fingerprint Misra Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Crooks On Tape continue the charm of members previous bands. Album Review: If you are similar to me then you always follow artists you like to their next project. In the case of Crooks On Tape that would be John Schmersal with a resume that … Read more
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks Wig Out At Jagbags Matador Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks create one of their most cohesive records to date. Album Review: Do you ever really know what you are going to get with a new Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks record? The answer is no … Read more
The Fire Note received over 20,000 songs this year to check out. Pairing them down to 10 was simply crazy but we did just that for this week’s Top 10. Below you will find 10 tracks that simply made us listen again and again. Enjoy. #10 “Bonnie Brae” Harper Simon The bar is already crazy … Read more
Do you have someone that has joined the vinyl revolution – or wants to? Well this week’s Top 10 is for you as it is a simple gift guide to help steer your wax needs this Christmas season. Honestly, I could go on and on but here are 10 vinyl related items that would look … Read more
Bill Mallonee & Muriah Rose Town Hall Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Bill Mallonee is a singer/songwriter to discover – again. Album Review: Bill Mallonee is probably one of the more talented singer/songwriters out there that most people have simply forgot about. He is still better known as the lead singer of Athens, Georgia group … Read more
Jorma Whittaker Jorma Joyful Noise Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Singer/songwriter Jorma Whittaker will fill your winter indie blahs. Album Review: Do you ever like to sit alone, put on some headphones and just let a singer/songwriter take over your brain? If that is the case then the new solo disc from Marmoset frontman, Jorma … Read more
Autistic Youth Nonage Dirtnap Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Autistic Youth bring the punk on their junior LP Nonage. Album Review: Punk rock has been in a weird place for a while now but that does not mean there has not been several quality records released. In fact, it just means there are plenty of … Read more
Robert Pollard Blazing Gentlemen Guided By Voices Inc. [2013] Fire Note Says: Pollard brings the rock on his second solo record in 2013 – Blazing Gentlemen. Album Review: Did you think you could close out 2013 without hearing from Robert Pollard one last time? Hell no! As he says, “writer’s block is for pussies!” Pollard’s … Read more
The Holiday season is upon us and I am sure that between Black Friday and Cyber Monday everyone has already had enough. What always makes it better for me is to pull out the Christmas music and start spinning some of my favorites. With that said, I have 10 holiday songs below that will get … Read more
Mike Doughty Circles Super Bon Bon Sleepless… Snack Bar / Hornblow Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Mike Doughty returns to his Soul Coughing days with 13 reimagined versions. Album Review: It has been well documented over the years that Mike Doughty despised his time in Soul Coughing. In fact, he hated everything that those songs … Read more
Brendan Benson You Were Right Readymade Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Brendan Benson returns to his power pop roots with an added twinge of Nashville. Album Review: Brendan Benson has had a solid run so far even if he is still not a household name. The singer/songwriter probably has a much higher profile than most … Read more
Bad Religion Christmas Songs Epitaph Records [2013] Fire Note Says: We wish you a merry Bad Religion Christmas! Album Review: I am a sucker for Christmas albums. I mean how excited can you really be to hear another version of “Little Drummer Boy” right? Well, I always seem to muster up some spirit this time … Read more
Yuppies Yuppies Dull Tools Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Yuppies come at you from all angles on self-titled debut! Album Review: Over the decades of music there has always been bands that just came off as weird. Not bad weird but good music odd weird. You know the bands I am talking about – gorgeous … Read more
Various Artists Guided By Voices Tribute Salinas Records [2013] I don’t know whose idea it was to do a Guided By Voices covers 7-inch but I am game. Especially when the four groups on this split are all what I consider to be up and comers in the indie world. With Screaming Females, Swearin’, Upset … Read more
Next week we celebrate Thanksgiving so what better way to get ready for tons of food, football and family you may or may not want to hang out with! The Weekly Top 10 does just that with its Songs of Thanks – in their own special way! #10 “Thanks” Chatham County Line You would probably … Read more
Ty Segall Gemini Drag City Records [2013] Hopefully you remember Ty Segall’s 2012 record Twins (TFN Review). It landed at number 2 in our Top 50 last year and of course received a Headphone Approved stamp with its sonic excellence. Gemini was released this week from Segall and it is essentially the Twins demos album … Read more
First Base First Base HoZac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: No down time with the upbeat and energetic debut from First Base. Album Review: Most of the time I like music when it is presented in its most simple form. No frills, no effects, no layers, no slick production – just raw instruments, snappy songs … Read more
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts Unvarnished Blackheart Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Attention: Joan Jett is not dead! Album Review: At this point in Joan Jett’s career, I don’t think there are any expectations of what a new record should sound like. I am sure there are tons of opinions but especially when Unvarnished is … Read more
2013 was like a walk down memory lane for many music fans as big records like Nirvana’s In Utero (TFN Review), The Breeders’ Last Splash (TFN Review), Pearl Jam’s Vs., The Smashing Pumpkins’ Siamese Dream, and Radiohead’s Pablo Honey all turned 20 years old. There were also some lesser known albums that turned 20 this … Read more
Los Campesinos! No Blues Wichita / Turnstile Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Los Campesinos! find the right balance between youthful energy and aging wisdom. Album Review: Sometimes familiarity in music is a good thing. Sure I always like to see progression in artists over multiple albums and years but sometimes changing the formula can also … Read more
Jus Post Bellum Oh July Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Jus Post Bellum tell a historical story of war that is hard to turn away from! Album Review: I know that the indie neo-folk sound has been in the spotlight this past year with bands like The Lumineers, The Civil Wars, the Avetts and those … Read more