Viet Cong Viet Cong Jagjaguwar Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Ruthless, cold, endearing, and machine-like, Viet Cong produce an impressive debut. Album Review: If Viet Cong is any indication of what Matt Flegel and Mike Wallace’s previous outfit Women sounded like then I wish I knew more. The project ended on a sad note, as … Read more
Belle And Sebastian Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance Matador Records [2015] Fire Note Says: By combining 60’s pop hooks with a disco beat Belle And Sebastian have redefined their signature sound! Album Review: Has it really been almost five years since we last had a new Belle and Sebastian record? Apparently so, and truth … Read more
London-based trio Doe is made up of Nicola Leel (vocals/guitar), Matt Sykes (guitar), and Jake Popyura (drums.) The group formed in 2013 and put out a handful of singles & EPs. That work has developed into their debut record, First Four, that will see its North American release on February 24th via Old Flame Records. … Read more
Jack White Live From Bonnaroo 2014 Third Man Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Jack White releases vault package #22 as a triple LP tour-de-force. Album Review: 2015 is shaping up to be a hell of a year. A new Sleater-Kinney album, a new Radiohead album, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion’s Freedom Tower announced for March, … Read more
Sleater-Kinney No Cities To Love Sub Pop Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Sleater-Kinney have just set the 2015 bar very high! Album Review: These days, it is almost expected that at some point all previous broke up, hiatus and missing bands will all of a sudden announce that they are back. Recently, the reaction to … Read more
Parkay Quarts Content Nausea What’s Your Rupture? Records [2014] Fire Note Says: A late 2014 release from Parquet Courts offshoot project is a must have! Album Review: Parkay Quarts is the side project of Andrew Savage and Austin Brown of Parquet Courts, and one can only assume that this side project is a way of … Read more
The Decemberists What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World Capitol Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Lighter and a bit brighter, The Decemberists have greater focus on their 7th studio record. Album Review: The folky harmonica driven song that gives this 7th studio album from Portland, Oregon’s The Decemberists its title is “12-17-12,” a song … Read more
COZY Button By Button HoZac Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Give COZY 31 minutes and they will make you believe they are the best band in the world! Album Review: Two things you need to know right off the bat about COZY, they play loud, catchy power pop punk with attitude and they are on … Read more
Anyone need a little in your face snarling glam rock to get your Friday going? Well, San Fernando Valley’s Prima Donna will fill your head with a one-two punch of punk rock and glam jam on “Pretty Little Head.” The track has it all with busting out drums, large guitars, a sassy lead vocal and … Read more
2015 is here! Who is ready for some new music? We definitely are and in January’s Bandcamp feature we hope to start your year off right! In this edition, you will hear an indie pop songstress from Phili, rock from Boston, an electronic blend from Canada, mood music out of Portland and garage psychedelic from … Read more
Panda Bear Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper Domino Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Panda Bear’s latest is more accessible and tuneful. Album Review: Animal Collective and one of its core members Noah Lennox have been on the cutting edge of indie music for the past 15 years. Lennox performs as a solo act under … Read more
“Quiet is the new loud” is a phrase that always circles back around in the music scene from time to time. Those simple words capture the true essence of today’s video premiere from Brian Lopez. His Jeff Buckley meets Thom Yorke sounding vocal will instantly grab your ear as his hush delivery and calm demeanor … Read more
Luluc Passerby Sub Pop Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Luluc’s Passerby is a perfect album for a quiet wintry day. Album Review: Luluc’s sophomore album Passerby came out in July of 2014 and went unnoticed in some parts (like The Fire Note, for example). In spite of the Australian duo’s pedigree and lush songwriting, it … Read more
Speaking Suns Vanishing Country Great Guys Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Speaking Suns’ debut is a surprisingly mature musical statement. Album Review: Originally hailing from the land of Dave Chappelle and famous liberal arts school Antioch College (a.k.a. Yellow Springs, OH), Speaking Suns is a pretty young band—both in the age of its members and … Read more
Do you have the New Year’s blues? It is that feeling after the holidays of just too much everything combined with grey winter skies. Well today’s Fire Track from Ryley Walker should help pull you out of the rut and look forward to warmer days. Walker has a new album, Primrose Green, out March 31st … Read more
The Smashing Pumpkins Monuments To An Elegy Martha’s Music/BMG [2014] Fire Note Says: If you don’t over-think it, Monuments to An Elegy has a lot to offer. Album Review: Billy Corgan is one of those smart rockers, maybe too smart for his own good. One clue you may be dealing with someone who over-thinks their … Read more
Sturgill Simpson Metamodern Sounds in Country Music High Top Mountain Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Sturgill Simpson’s country album transcends the genre. Album Review: Ask someone what kind of music they like and the response is typically I like everything but…. If you, like me, are wont to respond with “country music” please do not … Read more
Red Aunts Come Up For A Closer Look In The Red Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: Get to know the Red Aunts! Album Review: For most, this new compilation release from the Red Aunts will be an introductory point and that is just fine. The all-female punk band from Long Beach, California ruled the underground … Read more
Philip Selway Weatherhouse Bella Union [2014] Fire Note Says: Radiohead’s drummer returns with a solo album that builds on the successes of his debut. Album Review: While Thom Yorke’s solo work is probably the most well-known to come out of the band’s frequent downtime, he isn’t the only member to release music outside of the … Read more
Cracker Berkeley To Bakersfield 429 Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Cracker still matters 20 years later. Album Review: Okay, let’s begin with a favorite rock star interview moment. Back in 1994, Cracker was on tour promoting its successful sophomore effort, Kerosene Hat, in an opening slot with Gin Blossoms and headliner Spin Doctors in major … Read more
We will admit that we are only human. 2014 flew by and as always there were plenty of albums that never hit our review page that should have been included in our upcoming Blazing Top 50 but missed the mark for some reason. There are several reasons (excuses) for records not making the final cut … Read more
If you have seen Ty Segall lately you might have caught his opening act Axis: Sova. The band seems to fit in with the many sides of Ty as their thundering jams are sure to shake concert venue walls across the country. The featured track today, “Fractal Ancestry,” is from their forthcoming new record Early … Read more
Matthew Melton Outside Of Paradise Southpaw Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Matthew Melton hits all the right chords on catchy sophomore outing. Album Review: From the opening guitar ramble on Matthew Melton’s sophomore album, Outside of Paradise, you just know that you are in for a really cool lo-fi garage ride. You may know Melton … Read more
Ty Segall $ingle$ 2 Drag City Records [2014] Fire Note Says: A fantastic collection of non-album singles and b sides brings 2014 to the perfect end for Ty Segall fans. Album Review: How does Ty Segall cap off a brilliant 2014, a year that saw him releasing the best album of his career and one … Read more
The Fire Note wouldn’t be possible without the talented writers that have signed on here to share their educated thoughts and true enjoyment of music with our readers. Our year end Top 50 is coming early next week but clearly everyone has different tastes and ideas when naming the best album released in 2014. So … Read more