Dum Dum Girls Too True Sub Pop Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Too True features a throwback 80s sound that is hard to root against. Album Review: It seems to me like Dee Dee Penny is searching for her own sound. The first Dum Dum Girls album, I Will Be, was a wonderful collection of … Read more
Rebuilder Rebuilder EP Refuse Rethink Rebuild Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Rebuilder brings the energy with their eponymous debut EP. Album Review: Rebuilder is a punk band from Boston that formed in January 2013 and then put out their first EP (Rebuilder) in July of the same year. Band members include Sal Ellington (guitar and … Read more
If you weren’t at this event/show on Saturday night (Jan. 18, 2014), then you missed out. Why do I go with the whole show/event phrasing? Only because of the great idea that led to pairing together the entities of Misra Records, We Care Arts, and The Motel Beds. The “old” Yellow Cab building, a half … Read more
Here is the new single from Mac DeMarco that is well worth a Friday Fire Track honor. His new record, Salad Days, is out on Captured Tracks April 1st and is easily one of our highly anticpatied listens in 2014. “Passing Out Pieces” takes a new direction for DeMarco as this song is much more … Read more
The Gaslight Anthem The B-Sides SideOneDummy Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Gaslight Anthem fails to hit the mark with The B-Sides. Album Review: When a band releases a b-sides album you always hope that a forgotten or overlooked gem gets to shine. There are tons of examples of this – the one that always … Read more
Mogwai Rave Tapes Sub Pop Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Mogwai takes things to another level with Rave Tapes. Album Review: I have never been the world’s biggest Mogwai fan. I have always thought they were good at what they did, and sometimes even great, but other than Young Team and Mr. Beast, I never … Read more
We got word yesterday that one of our well respected all female trios, Vivian Girls, split up so The Fire Note thought it was perfect timing to name some of our favorites. I know we missed some so feel free to shout out some others in the comments. #10 Haim Haim is probably the hottest … Read more
Acid Fast Rabid Moon Protagonist Music/Stupid Bag Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Acid Fast conjure up images of a time long, long ago: the glorious post-hardcore nineties. Album Review: Some records hew just a little too close to their influences while others thread the needle by infusing enough personality to make all the rehashing bearable. … Read more
Electric Eye Pick-Up, Lift-off, Space, Time Klangkollektivet/Fuzz Club Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Electric Eye doesn‘t blink with strong debut Pick-Up, Lift-off, Space, Time Album Review: In the world of rock ‘n’ roll the electric eye is usually an omniscient being of fuzzy/metal destruction; just ask Judas Priest, FUZZ, or Black Sabbath. But under the … Read more
Below you will find the video premiere for the first single from Austin, TX’s HeadShy. “Coma” features Ikey Owens (Mars Volta, Free Moral Agents) and was directed by Chris Silagyi with Scotchrocket Productions. The video also showcases members of the up and coming band Residual Kid goofing around in the background at a scary birthday … Read more
Sleepy Sun Maui Tears Dine Alone Records [2014] Fire Note Says: San Francisco psych stalwarts return with an energetic and trippy fourth album. Album Review: Okay, so there’s this five piece band out of San Francisco named Sleepy Sun. Quick: guess what they sound like! Yup. They sound exactly like that. And then some. There’s … Read more
Grass Is Green Vacation Vinny Exploding In Sound Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Grass Is Green make a post-punk record you can have fun with. Album Review: Boston band Grass Is Green take a Fugazi meets Pavement approach on their new record Vacation Vinny which has an instant appeal right from the opening track “Sammy … Read more
Warpaint Warpaint Rough Trade Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Warpaint provide a technically and musically sound sophomore record. Album Review: It took some time with Warpaint’s debut record, The Fool (2010), to really absorb their sound but after repeat listens their smooth but somewhat cold delivery won you over. On the band’s self-titled sophomore return … Read more
AFI Burials Republic Records [2013] Fire Note Says: AFI pleases fans with its 9th album Burials. Album Review: AFI is someone’s favorite band. That person got excited when they heard that AFI was in the studio again to release their ninth studio album in 18 years. (Take a second to let that fact sink in.) … Read more
James Vincent McMorrow Post Tropical Vagrant Records [2014] Fire Note Says: James Vincent McMorrow sings from the heart on his sophomore outing Post Tropical. Album Review: There is nothing better than sheer vocal talent. James Vincent McMorrow has one of those voices that pushes each of his tracks with his floating soft voice and instantly … Read more
Terry Malts Nobody Realizes This Is Nowhere Slumberland Records [2013] Fire Note Says: San Francisco scuzz-punks return with a short reminder of why punk still matters. Album Review: With the demise of Brit-pop sound-a-likes Magic Bullets (from which all three members of Terry Malts sprang) vocalist Phil Benson, guitarist Corey Cunningham and drummer Nathan Sweatt … Read more
Dave Grohl turned 45 on Tuesday and we thought we would throw our own birthday party to celebrate! Below you find our top 10 deep cuts from the Foo’s catalog. Happy Birthday Mr. Grohl! #10 “But, Honestly” Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace RCA Records [2007] This track is second to last on Echoes and its … Read more
Sun Stone Revolvers Spaceship X Optical Sounds [2013] Fire Note Says: Sun Stone Revolvers keep things surprising with the space-soaked grower Spaceship X Album Review: It seems there are a couple of places that Sun Stone Revolvers would like to be welcomed: a vampire rave á la the movie Blade, somewhere nicely hidden in a … Read more
Upset She’s Gone Don Giovanni Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Upset play pop-punk like it should be – tight and catchy! Album Review: Here is a record I sat on stupidly last year. It can be a little overwhelming at times around Fire Note headquarters as releases roll in and sometimes we miss one that … Read more
Roseanne Cash The River & The Thread Blue Note Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Rosanne Cash explores the deep connections that make us who we are. Album Review: It’s been 8 years since Roseanne Cash released the phenomenal Black Cadillac, an intimate reflection on the passing of her parents – Vivian Liberto Distin, the first … Read more
Painted Palms Forever Polyvinyl Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Painted Palms have plenty of “moments” with their debut Forever. Album Review: I don’t know about you but I always feel like I should be more in touch with my cousins. I have one that lives close but most are over 600 miles away. Well distance … Read more
Russian Circles Memorial Sargent House Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Russian Circles puts out an intense, emotional album with Memorial. Album Review: Russian Circles is a three-piece rock/metal band from Chicago, consisting of Mike Sullivan (guitar), Dave Turncrantz (drums), and Brian Cook (bass). Memorial is the band’s fifth album and also served as my introduction … Read more
Julia Holter Loud City Song Domino Records [2013] Fire Note Says: LA art-pop songstress creates a near masterpiece with her third LP. Album Review: Julia Holter certainly doesn’t shy away from big subject matters. Her first album (2011’s Tragedy) was based on Eurypides’ Hippolytus and last year’s brilliant Ekstasis drew from Virginia Woolf (among others.) … Read more
Bruce Springsteen High Hopes Columbia Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Springsteen once again shows his uniqueness among the great rockers of our era. Album Review: You don’t get very far into the new Bruce Springsteen album before you realize that this is not “Wrecking Ball II.” First, the opening title track, an up-tempo splash of … Read more
At The Drive-In Relationship Of Command Fearless Records Released: September 12, 2000 Producer: Ross Robinson Length: 45:31 At The Drive-In didn’t invent the post-hardcore scene. But did they have impeccable right place/right timing with one of the most important works of the last decade. Their third and final LP Relationship Of Command couldn‘t be any … Read more