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
Wand Ganglion Reef GOD?/Drag City Records [2014] Fire Note Says: With one wave of Wand, originality and individuality immediately become apparent. Album Review: We live in a world where many artists try to reshape psychedelic music, and a lot of those who try fail. When trying to capturing lightning in a bottle for that crucial … Read more
So I am not quite ready to let go of summer and Chicago punks Knuckle Puck have the perfect song in “Oak Street” to keep the season alive. The band is releasing a 2 song flexi 7″ via Bad Timing Records on September 2, which coincides with their supporting slot on Senses Fail’s Let It … Read more
Los Angeles Police Department Los Angeles Police Department Forged Artifacts [2014] Fire Note Says: LAPD’s self-titled debut is a concentrated dose of swirling, fuzzy psych-pop. Album Review: Los Angeles Police Department aren’t from California, nor are they a law enforcement agency—and neither is LAPD a “they.” Instead, it’s the name Ryan Pollie (who’s from Philadelphia, … Read more
The Fire Note’s August Bandcamp feature is closing out the summer with another batch of new artists to put an ear on. In this edition you can find some elegantly-wasted country from LA, harder edged music from Germany, folk and brass from Greensboro and good old indie rock from Bloomington. Make sure you Discover, Support … Read more
The Rentals Lost In Alphaville Polyvinyl Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Rentals are back and they still want to be your friend! Album Review: I will admit that I had no idea what to think about ex-Weezer Matt Sharp bringing back The Rentals brand after a 15 year absence. I lived the heyday of … Read more
Bear In Heaven Time Is Over One Day Old Dead Oceans [2014] Fire Note Says: Bear In Heaven sticks with their sound for better and worse on Time Is Over One Day Old. Album Review: Bear In Heaven is one of those bands with a distinctive sound. You know when you’re listening to a Bear … Read more
Ty Segall Manipulator Drag City Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Segall has crafted his first bona fide masterpiece with this shape shifting epic! Album Review: Ty Segall has been riding an incredible wave of creativity that seemed to hit a peak in 2012 with the release of the triple entente of rock, Slaughterhouse, Hair, and … Read more
The Gaslight Anthem Get HurtUniversal Music [2014] The Gaslight Anthem returns on their fifth LP of new material with Get Hurt. The cover of the album is an upside-down heart – you know what you’re in for with the title and cover. The New Jersey band had a breakout sophomore album with The ‘59 Sound, … Read more
Ryan Adams 1984 PAX-AM Records [2014] When I took a look at Ryan Adams latest 7-inch, I thought that the track listing was a joke. 10 songs? Seriously?! Well that is right. 1984 is the next installment of Adams’ PAX-AM 7” series and it is a 13 minute keeper. Completely separate from his forthcoming self-titled … Read more
Nothing like getting a quick follow up from Montreal’s Elephant Stone. It was just last year we were grooving to their psychedelic self-titled record! Fast forward a year and the band is back with another sitar-infused indie rock record in Three Poisons. The Fire Track today is “Knock You From Yr Mountain” and it highlights … Read more
Cory Branan The No-Hit Wonder Bloodshot Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Cory Branan brings his friends along for a fun ride! Album Review: Call his music country, call it Americana, call it folk, call it whatever you want but artist Cory Branan is a sincere, hardworking and talented singer songwriter that shines even brighter on … Read more
“Rubbing alcohol or scotch, I don’t care” is the first and last laid back line you will hear in the new Emily & The Complexes video for “Jersey City Blues.” The track is from the Columbus Ohio’s band new EP, Dirty Southern Love that was just self-released this past Tuesday. The song is a good … Read more
The Raveonettes Pe’ahi Beat Dies Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Raveonettes continue to evolve and expand their densely constructed sound. Album Review: The Raveonettes have never made a bad record in their 12 year recording career. Their 7 albums and 1 mini album have all ranged from very good to great. Their consistency has … Read more
Museum Mouth Alex I Am Nothing Self Aware Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Concept record about obsession rocks to the nerve. Album Review: From the first note, you can hear the fragile state that NC indie/pop/punk band Museum Mouth are in on their third proper full length, Alex I Am Nothing. This component alone completely … Read more
OBN III’s Live In San Francisco Castle Face Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Explosive live set from aggressive Texas punk rockers. Album Review: Castle Face Records hits another one out of the park with their latest entry in the Live in San Francisco series, this time out featuring Texas punks OBN IIIs. I didn’t know … Read more
The Skygreen Leopards Family Crimes Woodsist Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Family Crimes is steeped in easygoing 60s folk-rock vibes. Album Review: On paper, Skygreen Leopards’ new record Family Crimes looks like something out of the Elephant 6 camp: a strange album cover, fourteen songs in barely over thirty minutes, straight-to-tape recording, and titles like … Read more
Ryan Pollie goes under the moniker Los Angeles Police Department, which I will say is an ear catching band name. What is better than the name is Pollie’s soft and effortless delivery on his first single form the self-titled debut due out September 2 via Forged Artifacts. When Pollie repetitively sings the chorus the magic … Read more
Lucero Live From Atlanta Liberty And Lament Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Lucero brings their energetic live show right to your record player. Album Review: Have you ever been to a Lucero show? I had my first taste last year in Detroit rock city at the Magic Stick and I will tell you that Lucero … Read more
People 3xaWoman Telegraph Harp Records [2014] Fire Note Says: People’s 3xaWoman is a weird and wonderful clash of musical styles. Album Review: From the opening notes on People’s LP 3xaWoman, you know something strange is afoot and you are in for something that does not stay on the path of convention. Experimental avant-garde jazz guitarist, … Read more
The Young Chrome Cactus Matador Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Texans kicking up goth-tinged tumbleweeds. Album Review: “Oh, good,” I thought at the first riffs of lead track “Metal Flake”, “someone is finally aping [Urge Overkill’s] Saturation.” This didn’t stick, but it’s a starting point. The riffs and grooves are the stars here: the vocals … Read more
sElf Super Fake Nice El Camino Media [2014] Fire Note Says: Matt Mahaffey’s sElf returns to form with new EP. Album Review: What was so 90’s is now new again. Matt Mahaffey, aka sElf, is another artist from that era that makes a return to the music scene here with the six song EP Super … Read more
The singer/songwriter will always hold a special place in music history. They can make you laugh, they can make you cry and they can make you whistle along. It always seems that the singer/songwriter can tap those emotions faster and stronger than any other music configuration you can put together. That brings us to Mobile, … Read more
Connections Into Sixes Anyway Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Connections third LP, Into Sixes, is full of indie rock hooks and anthems. Album Review: Connections had a very efficient first year as a band releasing two full length LP’s (Private Airplane and Body Language) as well as a 7-inch e.p. (Tough City). Anyway Records offers … Read more
Dirty Lungs Dirty Lungs Communicating Vessels [2014] Fire Note Says: Dirty Lungs dig up some retro-leaning hard psych, but leave a little modern dirt. Album Review: Dirty Lungs’ self-titled LP opens strong with “I Suck in Bed,” a scuzzy, raging garage rocker with a catchy wordless vocal refrain. It’s so strong, in fact, that I … Read more