Art Brut Top Of The Pops The End Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Art Brut shows us why you should care on new compilation Top Of The Pops. Album Review: When Art Brut hit the scene back in 2005 they were a breath of fresh air from the UK that possessed a powerful venom from … Read more
Phoenix Bankrupt! Glassnote Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Phoenix took their time but come back with plenty of new avenues. Album Review: Like many other bands coming off their biggest record, French electro-indie-pop artist Phoenix cautiously approached their follow up here as it has been four years since Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix took the scene by … Read more
Buffalo Killers Ohio Grass Alive Natural Sounds Records [2013] Fire Note Says: This 6 song Record Store Day release captures the essence of Cincinnati’s Buffalo Killers. Album Review: The Buffalo Killers have been perfecting their warm classic rock sound over their last several albums which hit a high point on last summer’s fourth full length … Read more
Broadheds Broadheds Dangerbird Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Peter Walker returns with a 2 tone spirit and a quick guitar. Album Review: You may know Peter Walker from his band Eulogies or his earlier solo work but Broadheds represents his new gig with James King (Fitz & The Tantrums), Justin Meldal-Johnson (Beck, M83, NIN) and … Read more
Kopecky Family Band Kids Raising Kids ATO Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Nashville’s Kopecky Family Band will surprise you with their complex and upbeat sounding California pop. Album Review: Don’t let the name fool you as Nashville’s Kopecky Family Band (family here = close circle of friends) may sound like the next indie folk band … Read more
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Mosquito Interscope Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Yeah Yeah Yeahs return with the somewhat disjointed Mosquito which still possesses a bite. Album Review: It is hard to believe that it has been 10 years since Karen O and Yeah Yeah Yeahs took the indie world by storm with their debut Fever To … Read more
Fourth Of July Empty Moon High Dive Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Fourth Of July return with another batch of infectious indie jangles. Album Review: Lawrence, Kansas band Fourth Of July are as indie rock as you can get with their laid back vocal approach, tight musicianship, and memorable lyrics. Empty Moon is their third … Read more
Deap Vally Get Deap! EP Cherrytree/Interscope/Island Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Deap Vally bring the noise with scorching guitar and killer drum beats on debut EP – Get Deap! Album Review: Don’t believe the hype – isn’t that what people always tell you. That especially holds true in the music business where the next “it” … Read more
The Ocean Blue Ultramarine Korda Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Ocean Blue return with a batch of melodic pop that sounds like they never went away! Album Review: There have been plenty of bands coming back to the scene lately but I never thought that The Ocean Blue would be one of them. There … Read more
The Postal Service Give Up (Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition) Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Give Up from The Postal Service easily passes the 10 year test! Album Review: Side projects are supposed to be something that keep artists busy when they are on a break from their main gig. They should be a … Read more
Kurt Vile Wakin On A Pretty Daze Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Kurt Vile throws caution to the wind and creatively expands his sound on the excellent Wakin On A Pretty Daze. Album Review: Kurt Vile’s new fifth long player, Wakin On A Pretty Daze, is easily his boldest and most confident release to … Read more
Fairmont The Grand And Grandiose Mint 400 Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Fairmont deliver one of their most engaging records to date! Album Review: Clifton, New Jersey’s Fairmont is one of the hardest working indie pop bands out there that nobody has heard of. That is hard to believe as The Grand And Grandiose represents … Read more
Mudhoney Vanishing Point Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Mudhoney return after 5 years and guess what – they still have plenty to say! Album Review: There is nothing like a good raw Mudhoney record to bring a person back to music reality. The band has always been one of the grittiest Seattle groups … Read more
Bleached Ride Your Heart Dead Oceans Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Bleached release their debut that emotes the spirit of the 60’s girl group rock while sounding completely fresh in 2013! Album Review: Bleached have a cool name, a cool sound and a cool energy! I know that is a lot of cool but the … Read more
Generationals Heza Polyvinyl Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Generationals rock it up a bit more on third long player Heza. Album Review: One thing I can say about New Orleans duo Generationals is that they are consistent. The band can produce indie pop with the best of them and on their third long player, Heza, … Read more
Guided By Voices Xeno Pariah 7” Guided By Voices Inc. [2013] “Xeno Pariah” is the fourth single from Guided By Voices forthcoming full length English Little League which is due out on April 30th. The 7-inch A-side is track number one on Little League so fans will start to get eager for the full length … Read more
Mark Kozelek Live At Mao Livehouse Shanghai & Beijing Caldo Verde Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Live Mark Kozelek showcases the true talent of this veteran singer/songwriter. Album Review: Mark Kozelek has worn several hats over the years but when you get a chance to check out his live sets you typically get to hear … Read more
Telekinesis Dormarion Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Telekinesis returns with a bigger sound on third long player Dormarion. Album Review: Michael Benjamin Lerner’s Telekinesis project returns with its third record, Dormarion, and finds the group maturing its sound and confidently delivering an indie rock experience. You may remember that before Telekinesis’s 2011 sophomore effort, … Read more
Colleen Green Sock It To Me Hardly Arts Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Colleen Green charms you with her lo-fi pop punk flare! Album Review: There is a lot to be said about no gimmicks rock n roll and the Hardly Art debut, Sock It To Me, from Colleen Green is another example of how … Read more
Rilo Kiley RKives Little Record Company [2013] Fire Note Says: Rilo Kiley return with a compilation of past goodies. Album Review: I have always thought that Rilo Kiley was a great band. The impeccable vocals of lead woman Jenny Lewis with the tight song structures and playing of the talented Blake Sennett, Pierre de Reeder … Read more
The Milk Carton Kids The Ash & Clay ANTI- Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Milk Carton Kids return with a simple and elegant harmonizing sophomore record. Album Review: It is definitely getting crowded in the world of indie folk and the saturation will unfortunately detract listeners from the quality releases out there. Sometimes simple … Read more
Harper Simon Division Street Play It Again Sam Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Harper Simon plugs in on his sophomore effort Division Street. Album Review: I can’t imagine how hard it is to be the son of legend Paul Simon. If I were Harper it probably would have been easy to create a metal or … Read more
Clawhammer 7-Inch Record Wee Rock Records [2013] When your inbox is crammed with new music, band names are always the first thing that sticks out. When we received the new 7-inch record from Springfield, Missouri’s Clawhammer, I instantly expected some sort of punk rock maybe even a metal mix type of record. To our surprise … Read more
Billy Bragg Tooth & Nail Cooking Vinyl Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Billy Bragg walks the dusty road and gets more personal than political this time out. Album Review: Billy Bragg has never been an artist that America has ever really understood. Mostly because dating back into the early 80’s his anti-folk electric guitar songs … Read more
Marnie Stern The Chronicles Of Marnia Kill Rock Stars [2013] Fire Note Says: Marnie Stern loosens things up and lets her vocals soar! Album Review: I will fully admit that The Chronicles of Marnia was the record I have been somewhat expecting from the crafty guitar slinger Marnie Stern. It is album that pushes her … Read more