Autistic Youth Nonage Dirtnap Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Autistic Youth bring the punk on their junior LP Nonage. Album Review: Punk rock has been in a weird place for a while now but that does not mean there has not been several quality records released. In fact, it just means there are plenty of … Read more
Black Flag What The… SST Records [2013] Fire Note Says: First New Black Flag studio album in 26 years is better than you have heard. Album Review: It’s been 26 years since Black Flag last roared out of SoCal with a new album. 26 years, that’s hard to believe isn’t it? On their new album, … Read more
Epicycle You’re Not Gonna Get It HoZac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Chicago area powerpop/punk band get the anthology treatment. Album Review: File under: could have been big. Or three years of bratty suburban mayhem distilled into one really cool record. During their original incarnation Epicycle put out one LP and a handful of 7″ … Read more
Magik Markers Surrender To The Fantasy Drag City Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Noise rockers present Surrender To The Fantasy, but is their creativity drying up? Album Review: Magik Markers’ Elisa Ambrogio has said “Nobody would make art if it was sensible, logical, or responsible.” “That‘s why we called the album Surrender To The Fantasy,” … Read more
Sink Tapes How You Mean Mint 400 Records[2013] Fire Note Says: Kick back, relax and let Sink Tapes brand of easy pop wash all over you. Album Review: I first encountered Sink Tapes on their excellent second album, Please Touch. It had a casual confidence to it that I really enjoyed. So needless to say … Read more
Robert Pollard Blazing Gentlemen Guided By Voices Inc. [2013] Fire Note Says: Pollard brings the rock on his second solo record in 2013 – Blazing Gentlemen. Album Review: Did you think you could close out 2013 without hearing from Robert Pollard one last time? Hell no! As he says, “writer’s block is for pussies!” Pollard’s … Read more
Thee Oh Sees Singles Collection Volume 3 Castle Face Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Thee Oh Sees brandish their catalogue rarities/gems’ with the same familiar fun and intensity. Album Review: I‘m a huge Thee Oh Sees fan as Floating Coffin (TFN Review), for me, is a top fifteen of the year. But this isn’t going … Read more
The Holiday season is upon us and I am sure that between Black Friday and Cyber Monday everyone has already had enough. What always makes it better for me is to pull out the Christmas music and start spinning some of my favorites. With that said, I have 10 holiday songs below that will get … Read more
Mike Doughty Circles Super Bon Bon Sleepless… Snack Bar / Hornblow Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Mike Doughty returns to his Soul Coughing days with 13 reimagined versions. Album Review: It has been well documented over the years that Mike Doughty despised his time in Soul Coughing. In fact, he hated everything that those songs … Read more
Emerson Lake & Palmer Live in Montreal 1977 Shout! Factory [2013] Fire Note Says: Live in Montreal features ELP backed by a 70 piece orchestra on their Works tour! Album Review: Emerson Lake and Palmer’s 1977 tour was an ambitious undertaking, a failure on some levels, and an absolute triumph on other levels. The band … Read more
Brendan Benson You Were Right Readymade Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Brendan Benson returns to his power pop roots with an added twinge of Nashville. Album Review: Brendan Benson has had a solid run so far even if he is still not a household name. The singer/songwriter probably has a much higher profile than most … Read more
Bailterspace Trinine Arch Hill Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Shoe-gazing noise merchants try to reemerge with a case on why they still matter. Album Review: It’s never a good thing to be nervous after the first track of an album. You want to be as excited as you can about an artist, especially when phrases … Read more
Bad Religion Christmas Songs Epitaph Records [2013] Fire Note Says: We wish you a merry Bad Religion Christmas! Album Review: I am a sucker for Christmas albums. I mean how excited can you really be to hear another version of “Little Drummer Boy” right? Well, I always seem to muster up some spirit this time … Read more
Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs Under The Covers Vol. 3 Shout! Factory [2013] Fire Note Says: Sweet and Hoffs revisit the 80’s on their latest Under The Covers installment. Album Review: It’s felt like too long a wait for those who enjoyed Susanna Hoffs and Matthew Sweet’s collection of 60’s and 70’s covers that made … Read more
Thanksgiving is over and now it is time to shop! Before you go looking for the best price on designer socks check out these fine artists below in our November Bandcamp feature. There are some great bargains here but even better – great music. Remember that they are in no particular order and make sure … Read more
Black Friday was historically for all of those crazy early morning shoppers but Record Store Day has turned it into a limited vinyl collector’s day. With that said, you already know that The Fire Note loves shiny round plastic so here are 10 Black Friday releases you might check out! #10 Blind Boys Of Alabama/Jason … Read more
The Slims Slowpoke Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Morningbell-affiliated The Slims put together an album of eclectic late-night soul with Slowpoke. Album Review: Gainesville, Florida’s Morningbell just released their Fire Note “Headphone Approved” LP Bôa Noite earlier this year [TFN Review], but that hasn’t stopped frontman Travis Atria from immediately jumping into another musical project. … Read more
Soundgarden Screaming Life/Fopp Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Soundgarden are one of the most important bands to emerge from early 90’s Seattle. Album Review: I caught the Soundgarden bug during my freshman year at college when a friend bought Louder Than Love and proclaimed it the best rock album of the year. I … Read more
Ha Ha Tonka Lessons Bloodshot Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Ha Ha Tonka makes changes with their fourth full-length Lessons. Album Review: When a band pushes me outside of my comfort zone it’s not only appreciated but welcomed. That’s not to say that I don’t have a bearing on southern-indie rock or that folksy Americana … Read more
Yuppies Yuppies Dull Tools Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Yuppies come at you from all angles on self-titled debut! Album Review: Over the decades of music there has always been bands that just came off as weird. Not bad weird but good music odd weird. You know the bands I am talking about – gorgeous … Read more
Far-out Fangtooth Borrowed Time Siltbreeze Records[2013] Fire Note Says: Fires burn and cauldrons bubble as Far-out Fangtooth continue atmospheric amp worship on Borrowed Time. Album Review: Have you ever wondered what it’s like to wander into the castle laboratory of Dr. Frankenstein? The Philly foursome known as Far-out Fangtooth try to provide the best answer … Read more
Who is ready for some 2014 music? I know we haven’t properly finished off 2013 yet but that is the beauty of the Friday Fire Track! Up today is Axxa/Abraxas which is the music and art project of 23 year-old Atlanta native Ben Asbury. The name is derived from two principles that Asbury associates together, … Read more
Next week we celebrate Thanksgiving so what better way to get ready for tons of food, football and family you may or may not want to hang out with! The Weekly Top 10 does just that with its Songs of Thanks – in their own special way! #10 “Thanks” Chatham County Line You would probably … Read more
The Crookes Hold Fast Modern Outsider [2013] Fire Note Says: Finally, the sophomore album from The Crookes is available in the US! Album Review: Hold Fast, the second album from British indie pop band The Crookes, was originally released overseas in 2012, and now is finally out in the US thanks to Modern Outsider. I … Read more
Wymond Miles Cut Yourself Free Sacred Bones Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Fresh & Onlys guitarist gets dark on his second solo album. Album Review: Anyone expecting the kind of garage psych-pop his main band deals in would have been sadly disappointed with Wymond Miles’ debut offering last year. Under The Pale Moon was … Read more