The Vaccines Melody Calling EP Columbia Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Vaccines contine to evolve. Album Review: London’s Vaccines have had their ups and downs with critics since their 2011 debut What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?. I really liked that record but thought their sophomore outing Come Of Age (2012) was not … Read more
The Julie Ruin Run Fast TJR Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Bikini Kill legend Kathleen Hanna returns with the debut of new group The Julie Ruin. Album Review: There really is no argument on how legendary riot grrrl pioneer Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill, Le Tigre) has impacted the music scene today. It also seems that … Read more
Joanna Gruesome Weird Sister Slumberland Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Debut from Joanna Gruesome is packed with high energy and loud guitars. Album Review: Boy/girl vocals, teenage angst, noise pop, loud guitars, high energy, feedback and double time drums are just some of the great rock n roll moments you will hear on the debut … Read more
Nine Inch Nails Hesitation Marks Columbia Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Nine Inch Nails returns with the large sonic palette Trent Reznor calls Hesitation Marks. Album Review: Jumping into the new Nine Inch Nails, Hesitation Marks, feels like deciding to take a swim from Cuba to Florida. It is possible but it is a really … Read more
Kitten Forever Pressure Guilt Ridden Pop [2013] Fire Note Says: Kitten Forever have a riot for you! Album Review: After spinning through the quick 23 minute sophomore effort, Pressure, from the Minneapolis based trio Kitten Forever, I realized how much I miss this loose and fun riot grrrl style of music. Like so many quality … Read more
J. Roddy Walston & The Business Essential Tremors ATO Records [2013] Fire Note Says: J. Roddy Walston & The Business show why they are one of the best bar bands in the land! Album Review: There is something about the raw sounding J. Roddy Walston that I just enjoy. His relaxed style bar rock has … Read more
Arctic Monkeys AM Domino Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Arctic Monkeys bravely push into a new groove on their engaging AM. Album Review: It does not seem that long ago since everyone was rocking out 2006 with the Arctic Monkeys’ hit “I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor.” It would have been easy … Read more
Volcano Choir Repave Jagjaguwar Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Repave finds Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon kicking back and having fun. Album Review: Justin Vernon has reached the status where everything he does with Bon Iver is scrutinized, complemented, made fun of, hated and loved. Basically, Bon Iver stirs an array of emotions and many people … Read more
Bad Sports Bras Dirtnap Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Third album from Bad Sports rekindles a 70’s era that too many have forgotten or never heard. Album Review: Is it possible for a garage rock band from Denton, Texas to grow up? Well for Bad Sports that may have just happened on their third full … Read more
Neko Case The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You ANTI- Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Neko finds her way back from a long and lonely road. Album Review: Neko Case has always shot from the hip when it comes to her solo records. She loves … Read more
King Khan & The Shrines Idle No More Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: King Khan is back with a soul rock record that will get you grooving in a hot second. Album Review: Album Review: It has been six years since King Khan & The Shrines released a full length of new material, so … Read more
strangewave Pop Noir Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: strangewave offers up an engaging debut with Pop Noir! Album Review: strangewave’s debut, Pop Noir, is the final result after a year of composing, producing and recording. The Dayton, Ohio duo of J. Trenton Crace and Katrina Eresman have labeled themselves as dream-pop which I feel works … Read more
Robbie Fulks Gone Away Backward Bloodshot Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Robbie Fulks comes around full circle on Gone Away Backward. Album Review: If you have been an active listener of music that dates back to the mid to late 90’s then you might recall the real momentum that the “Alt-Country” genre had at the … Read more
Black Joe Lewis Electric Slave Vagrant Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Black Joe Lewis unleashes a rip roaring rock party on third LP – Electric Slave! Album Review: In our recent interview with Joe Lewis he stated that his third full length, Electric Slave, represents a new beginning for himself and the band. He went … Read more
Travis Where You Stand Red Telephone Box [2013] Fire Note Says: After a five year hiatus, Travis are back with the breezy Where You Stand. Album Review: I still scratch my head over the lack of success by Travis as the band helped pave the way for groups like Coldplay, Muse, Keane and Snow Patrol. … Read more
Superchunk I Hate Music Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Superchunk return with an energetic and thought stirring tenth record. Album Review: “I hate music – what is it worth? / Can’t bring anyone back to this earth” is the first line in the single “Me & You & Jackie Mittoo” from Superchunk’s tenth studio … Read more
Tim Easton Not Cool Campfire Propaganda/Thirty Tigers [2013] Fire Note Says: Singer/songwriter Tim Easton has a new vibe on the entertaining Not Cool. Album Review: Guess what? Tim Easton has a new record titled Not Cool. Who is Tim Easton you say? He is just a native Ohio artist that is on his tenth studio … Read more
Pop. 1280 Imps Of Perversion Sacred Bones Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Pop. 1280 return with more noise rocking on sophomore record Imps Of Perversion. Album Review: Are you searching for a new record to get your blood pumping? Look no further than this sophomore effort from Brooklyn’s Pop. 1280 because Imps Of Perversion is … Read more
Barrence Whitfield & The Savages Dig Thy Savage Soul Bloodshot Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Barrence Whitfield is back to shake your soul! Album Review: Bloodshot Records has had an injection of “soul” lately with the recent release of JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound (TFN Review) and now Boston’s legendary Barrence Whitfield & The … Read more
Washed Out Paracosm Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Washed Out offers up a warm pop vibe on the likable Paracosm. Album Review: What do you do when your genre fades away? That is the question that Washed Out’s Ernest Greene had to answer as his debut full length, Within And Without, was a … Read more
The Moondoggies Adiós I’m A Ghost Hardly Art Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Moondoggies return with the memorable and confident Adiós I’m A Ghost. Album Review: By the time a band gets to their third album they typically have reached some sort of crossroad. For Seattle’s Moondoggies, their third album Adiós I’m A Ghost … Read more
Vacation Candy Waves Don Giovanni Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Vacation’s sophomore record takes you on a punk fueled trip! Album Review: Cincinnati’s Vacation comes at you with their style of loud rowdy rock on their sophomore record Candy Waves that immediately will get you going. The album has a raw flare and venom of … Read more
Dumb Numbers Dumb Numbers Joyful Noise Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Dumb Numbers is an indie supergroup on paper and succeeds as a band on record! Album Review: So I am thinking if I started a band today and asked some of my friends to play in it – who would join? OK – I … Read more
Dinosaur Bones Shaky Dream Dine Alone Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dinosaur Bones provides a soaring post-rock sophomore outing with Shaky Dream. Album Review: Toronto’s Dinosaur Bones are back with their sophomore record, Shaky Dream, that is filled with a catchy song style of brooding post-rock, memorable hooks and floating instrumental backdrops. All of this … Read more
The Mother Hips Behind Beyond Mother Hips Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Mother Hips return with another solid batch of California country-tinged melodies. Album Review: How old were you in 1993? I only ask because that would be the year The Mother Hips released their debut album, Back To The Grotto, on Rick Rubins … Read more