La Luz It’s Alive Hardly Art Records [2013] Fire Note Says: La Luz’s debut is full of surf rock surprises. Album Review: Surfy rock from the Pacific Northwest? Sign me up! The all-female Seattle four piece, La Luz have just released their debut, It’s Alive, and it is a very modernized surf record by heart … Read more
Widowspeak The Swamps EP Captured Tracks [2013] Fire Note Says: The Swamps EP from Widowspeak primes you for their next LP. Album Review: We heard from Widowspeak back in January this year with the group’s sophomore record Almanac (TFN Review). That album saw the group pair down to a duo and for me, although minimal, … Read more
So I couldn’t get all of my thoughts together on the passing of music pioneer Lou Reed last week so I thought it best to remember and capture his spirit by re-shaping The Fire Note Weekly Top 10. As always we try to steer new and old fans of music towards things we like and … Read more
Connections Body Language Anyway Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Body Language continues Connections catchy lo-fi formula! Album Review: Columbus, Ohio’s Connections once again embrace their lo-fi roots here and hopefully don’t mind that every article on the band always links them with Guided By Voices. This happens of course for several obvious reasons as Body … Read more
Mutual Benefit Love’s Crushing Diamond Fat Possum Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Mutual Benefit release a spectacular sounding debut! Album Review: I love it when a debut hits all the right notes from the start. That is the way I feel about the proper debut from Mutual Benefit, Love’s Crushing Diamond. The record does not … Read more
Radioactivity Radioactivity Dirtnap Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Jeff Burke of Marked Men returns to the States and releases debut from his new band Radioactivity! Album Review: Dirtnap Records recently released the new Mind Spiders LP (TFN Review) from ex-Marked Men Mark Ryan. Radioactivity is another ex-Marked Men project that not only involves Ryan but … Read more
Barton Carroll Avery County, I’m Bound To You Skybucket Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Barton Carroll returns with another album of solid songwriting and modern folk that should catch your attention. Album Review: If you remember the little blog we used to have, you may be familiar with singer/songwriter Barton Carroll. His last record, Together … Read more
Circus Devils My Mind Has Seen The White Trick Happy Jack Rock Records [2013] Circus Devils When Machines Attack Happy Jack Rock Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Two Circus Devils records – two completely different releases! Album Review: It was just the other day that I was talking Robert Pollard projects and Circus Devils came … Read more
Arcade Fire Reflektor Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Arcade Fire have created a massive art-rock record that is grandiose in every superb way! Album Review: “Magic Mirror, on the wall, who is the biggest band of them all?” Arcade Fire of course is the correct response and after taking on this behemoth of a … Read more
Minor Alps Get There Barsuk Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Juliana Hatfied and Matthew Caws (Nada Surf) make Minor Alps a success. Album Review: I don’t think two indie voices out there right now could be more destined to join forces than Juliana Hatfield and Matthew Caws. The alt-rock veterans have tons of cred with … Read more
Dead Gaze Brain Holiday Palmist/FatCat Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dead Gaze show depth with their indie fuzz and pop bounce on their proper debut Brain Holiday. Album Review: Fuzzed up lo-fi pop rock? Sign me up! The proper debut from Dead Gaze is an enjoyable lesson that shows everyone that all it takes is … Read more
Best Coast Fade Away Jewel City Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Best Coast release a 7 song mini album that works hard to extend summer with its warm indie pop shine. Album Review: If you have loved the indie pop of Best Coast’s previous two full lengths, then you will be completely satisfied with their … Read more
The Avett Brothers Magpie And The Dandelion American Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: The Avett Brothers return quickly with their eighth record Magpie And The Dandelion. Album Review: I really liked last year’s The Carpenter from The Avett Brothers. It was weighty, mature, warm radio styled and its songwriting was completely thought stirring. Some critics … Read more
Mind Spiders Inhumanistic Dirtnap Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Mind Spiders return with a new wave driven record that should make Devo and Gary Numan proud. Album Review: How many times does an album’s title, cover and first track prelude give you true insight on the record you are about to hear? Not that often … Read more
Tim Kasher Adult Film Saddle Creek Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Tim Kasher returns to a more straightforward rock sound on his solo sophomore album. Album Review: Tim Kasher is still best known as the frontman for Cursive and The Good Life, but Adult Film represents his sophomore solo record. To call Kasher theatrical is … Read more
Albert Hammond Jr AHJ Cult Records [2013] It’s nice to hear Albert Hammond Jr. back with his solo work. The Strokes guitarist has not released any new material since his 2008 sophomore album, ¿Cómo Te Llama?. Both of his solo full-length records never tried too hard to separate themselves from The Strokes’ recordings, which I … Read more
Girls Against Boys The Ghost List EP Epitonic [2013] Fire Note Says: Girls Against Boys are back and The Ghost List EP sounds like they never left! Album Review: Reuniting your old band is all the rave right now with The Breeders and Neutral Milk Hotel playing shows this year and we saw the release … Read more
Nirvana In Utero (20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition) Universal Music [1993; 2013] Fire Note Says: A classic turns 20! Album Review: It is interesting how different Nirvana’s third LP, In Utero, sounds 20 years after its release. Not different like I have never heard things before but this album stands taller today without any of … Read more
Sweatshop Boys The Great Depression Dirt Cult Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Impressive punk-pop-rock debut from Israel band Sweatshop Boys. Album Review: About 11 days ago I sent an unofficial review of Sweatshop Boys debut album, The Great Depression, to our friends at Dirt Cult Records. This is what it said: “This record rocks!” Now … Read more
Saint Rich Beyond The Drone Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Saint Rich bring a warm indie vibe to their debut Beyond The Drone. Album Review: Saint Rich is the musical partnership of Christian Peslak and Steve Marion. You may know Steve from his instrumental band, Delicate Steve, which has released two albums on David … Read more
The Dirtbombs Ooey Gooey Chewy Ka-Blooey! In The Red Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Next stop for The Dirtbombs – Bubblegum rock. Album Review: If you have been following The Dirtbombs since their excellent grooving 2001 soul album, Ultraglide In Black, then you know the band has never been content just staying in one genre … Read more
Bill Callahan Dream River Drag City Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Bill Callahan slows life down on the entrancing Dream River. Album Review: Bill Callahan is still best known from his work with Smog but since his first solo record, Woke on a Whaleheart, was released under his own name back in 2007, he has … Read more
The Big Sweet Bicycle Nights Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: The Big Sweet grow up on their engaging third record Bicycle Nights. Album Review: I encourage any young lads out there thinking of starting a band to check out the third LP, Bicycle Nights, from The Big Sweet. The Northeast Ohio band’s members are the … Read more
Leeroy Stagger Truth Be Sold Gold Lake Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Leeroy Stagger’s Truth Be Sold is one of the better Americana records you will hear this year! Album Review: I think everyone who listens to a vast amount of music always has one or two artists in their back pocket that are relatively … Read more
Felsen I Don’t Know How To Talk Anymore Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Felsen will keep you hooked on their DIY fourth record. Album Review: When Oakland’s Felsen declare that rock and roll is not dead on the opening track of their fourth album, I Don’t Know How To Talk Anymore, you take notice because … Read more