Barsuk Records

Death Cab For Cutie: Asphalt Meadows [Album Review]

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Death Cab For CutieAsphalt MeadowsAtlantic Records [2022] While responses to the 2018 release from Death Cab For Cutie were mixed, there were hints in several tracks on the back half of the album that suggested that songwriter Ben Gibbard and new bandmates Dave Depper and Zac Rae were beginning to see their way to the … Read more

Yellow Ostrich – “Julia” [Video]

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Yellow Ostrich, the project led by Minneapolis songwriter/producer Alex Schaaf, has just released the video for their latest single “Julia” and announced their new album Soft, the first Yellow Ostrich in seven years, will be out April 23rd on Barsuk Records. “Julia” features Schaaf’s crystal-clear vocal melodies as he analyzes the ongoing struggle against an … Read more

Nada Surf: Never Not Together [Album Review]

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Nada Surf Never Not Together Barsuk Records [2020] Nada Surf’s ninth studio recording and first in almost four years, Never Not Together, does not necessarily mark new territory for the band but highlights the veteran groups quality writing, musicianship, and knowledge of how to grab the listener with a hook. For some that remember the … Read more

Charly Bliss: Young Enough [Album Review]

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Charly Bliss Young Enough Barsuk Records [2019] Who: Charly Bliss are back with their sophomore album Young Enough. It was produced by Joe Chiccarelli (U2, Beck, Alanis, The Strokes, The Killers, My Morning Jacket, Cage The Elephant). Sound: Unlike some of the alt grunge on debut Guppy (2017), Charly Bliss now goes darker and poppier … Read more

Active Bird Community: Amends [Album Review]

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Active Bird Community Amends Barsuk Records [2018] Who: Active Bird Community is a Brooklyn band formed in 2005. Amends is their Barsuk Records debut. Sound: Strong 90’s alt-rock influences as they have a vibe that will take you back to the days of Tripping Daisy, Jimmy Eat World, and Harvey Danger while giving you a … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Active Bird Community – “Unwind With Me”

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Brooklyn, NY’s Active Bird Community instantly will get you excited to bring out the rock. The band have a new album coming out on September 14th via Barsuk Records and today’s Friday Fire Track is the perfect introduction.

“Unwind With Me” starts off innocent enough with the slow burning guitar strum and the band’s woo hoo harmony vocals. Singer Tom D’Agustino then calmly sings “and now you’re really over there, and I am thousand pounds of scared – I’ll fuck this up.” That is when the band’s muscular guitar comes out and injects this song a solid backbone that is unforgettable. Enjoy your Friday!

Active Bird Community Website
Active Bird Community Facebook
Barsuk Records

Charly Bliss: Guppy [Album Review]

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Charly Bliss Guppy Barsuk Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Charly Bliss’s debut LP Guppy finds the Brooklyn-based punks turning rock conventions on their heads and sewing together sugary-sweet grunge-pop rippers–and having a ton of fun doing it. Album Review: The grunge revival has long been underway, but until now, the Speedy Ortizes, Courtney Barnetts and … Read more

Nada Surf: Peaceful Ghosts [Album Review]

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Nada Surf Peaceful Ghosts Barsuk Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Nada Surf expands their group with a full orchestra. Album Review: This live recording finds Nada Surf joining forces with the esteemed Potsdam, Germany-based orchestra Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg. Quite simply – indie rock meets strings! At this point in Nada Surf’s career, Peaceful Ghosts captures … Read more

Say Hi: Bleeders Digest [Album Review]

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Say Hi Bleeders Digest Barsuk Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Say Hi is Seattle’s Eric Elbogen and he has been making records under this moniker since 2002. His ninth, Bleeders Digest, is an album about vampires and a sequel to Impeccable Blahs (2002). Say Hi’s sound has not changed much over the years and … Read more

Say Hi releases new track “It’s A Hunger” + New album ‘Bleeder Digest’ out 9/18

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Barsuk Records just launched the new track from Say Hi, “It’s A Hunger,” from the forthcoming Bleeders Digest (out September 18th.) Say Hi is Eric Elbogen. He lives in Seattle, WA and has been making records since 2002. His ninth, Bleeders Digest, is a record about vampires and the sequel to Say Hi To Your … Read more

Chris Staples: Cheap Shades EP [Album Review]

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Chris Staples Cheap Shades EP Barsuk Records [2015] Fire Drill Album Review: Offered as a free download to concertgoers who attend shows on his tour in support of the excellent American Soft, Chris Staples’ Cheap Shades EP is a strong and surprisingly unified release. The two new tracks (“Cheap Shades” and “Cindy, Diana, Janet and … Read more

Nada Surf: B-Sides [Album Review]

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Nada Surf B-Sides Barsuk Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Nada Surf helps round out your collection. Album Review: One of the cooler concert experiences I have had in the past several years was checking out a show from Nada Surf. Their set was solid but it was what happened after the show that was truly … Read more

Cymbals Eat Guitars: Lose [Album Review]

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Cymbals Eat Guitars Lose Barsuk Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Cymbals Eat Guitars add another winner to their catalog. Album Review: Theatric indie rock. Heard of it? Well, Cymbals Eat Guitars have been releasing this type of music since their acclaimed 2009 debut Why There Are Mountains. Their sophomore effort, Lenses Alien (2011), was no … Read more

Chris Staples: American Soft [Album Review]

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Chris Staples American Soft Barsuk Records [2014] Fire Note Says: A charming and understated indie-pop/singer-songwriter album. Album Review: The penultimate track on Chris Staples’ American Soft is called “Needle Park,” and it’s really great. The instantly catchy chorus of “Well would I ever lie to you? / Of course I would, of course I would,” … Read more

Death Cab For Cutie: Live 2012 (Featuring Magik*Magik Orchestra) [Album Review]

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Death Cab For Cutie Live 2012 (Featuring Magik*Magik Orchestra) Barsuk Records [2014] Fire Note Says: A solid set list and effective orchestration makes Live 2012 worth hearing. Album Review: While their studio albums have always been produced in ways that are sympathetic to their half-somber/half-optimistic indie-emo stylings, Death Cab For Cutie have never been a … Read more

Minor Alps (Juliana Hatfield / Matthew Caws) Debut Music Video

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Minor Alps, the collaborative of Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws and Juliana Hatfield, have premiered the Emilie and Sarah Barbault directed music video for “Waiting for You.” It is the latest song off the duo’s debut album Get There (TFN Review), out now on Barsuk Records. The video features the actors Julie Gayet and Philippe Rebbot … Read more

Death Cab For Cutie: Transatlanticism (10th Anniversary Edition) [Album Review]

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Death Cab For Cutie Transatlanticism (10th Anniversary Edition) Barsuk [2013] Fire Note Says: Ben Gibbard’s Transatlanticism demos are a great addition to the original. Album Review: Transatlanticism has always been my favorite Death Cab album. Their earlier albums had some great songs, but not all of them were great, and most were either limited by … Read more

Minor Alps: Get There [Album Review]

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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

Minor Alps (Juliana Hatfield / Matthew Caws) New Music Video

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Minor Alps, the collaborative vision of Juliana Hatfield and Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws, have just released the Clyde Petersen directed music video for “I Don’t Know What To Do With My Hands”, the latest song off the duo’s forthcoming album Get There, out October 29th on Barsuk Records. In our book it is really hard … Read more

Ra Ra Riot: Beta Love [Album Review]

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Ra Ra Riot Beta Love Barsuk Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Ra Ra Riot return with a kinetic, easygoing album that asks: “can robots love too?” Album Review: Ra Ra Riot trades in strings for synths on their third album, a short but sweet set of eleven upbeat, optimistic tracks that barely breaks the half-hour … Read more