Felsen I Don’t Know How To Talk Anymore Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Felsen will keep you hooked on their DIY fourth record. Album Review: When Oakland’s Felsen declare that rock and roll is not dead on the opening track of their fourth album, I Don’t Know How To Talk Anymore, you take notice because … Read more
The Fire Note admittedly does not pay enough attention to the indie hip hop scene but Birmingham’s Shaheed & DJ Supreme have caught our ear with their newly released record Knowledge, Rhythm and Understanding. It also is a plus that Shaheed & DJ Supreme have found a quality record label that we are familiar with … Read more
The Vaccines Melody Calling EP Columbia Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Vaccines contine to evolve. Album Review: London’s Vaccines have had their ups and downs with critics since their 2011 debut What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?. I really liked that record but thought their sophomore outing Come Of Age (2012) was not … Read more
MiniBoone MiniBoone Ernest Jenning Record Co. [2013] Fire Note Says: MiniBoone splashes onto the scene with a strong eponymous debut. Album Review: MiniBoone is a five-piece band from New York that has been kicking around since 2008. They have just released their first full-length album but have two EP’s and a 7-inch to their name … Read more
Sara Jackson-Holman Cardiology Expunged Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Fans of quirky, soulful female artists will love Sara Jackson-Holman’s Cardiology. Album Review: With similar fun, quirky, and soulful tracks like that of Ingrid Michaelson, Feist, and Fiona Apple, Sara Jackson-Holman’s sophomore album, Cardiology, provides a variety of beats and sounds. Each track has a different … Read more
Sebadoh Defend Yourself Joyful Noise Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Lo-fi pioneers Sebadoh return with a brutish and unpolished gem. Album Review: With all the nineties acts resurfacing to reclaim past glories, it’s hard to separate the new Sebadoh album from say, Dinosaur Jr. and Guided By Voices’ recent releases. Comparisons are inevitable and, as … Read more
Laura Veirs Warp And Weft Raven Marching Band Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Veirs offers up a more lushly-produced follow up to July Flame. Album Review: Portland-based Laura Veirs’ ninth album Warp And Weft feels like a natural extension of her excellent 2010 effort July Flame. But where that album felt as organic and natural … Read more
The Julie Ruin Run Fast TJR Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Bikini Kill legend Kathleen Hanna returns with the debut of new group The Julie Ruin. Album Review: There really is no argument on how legendary riot grrrl pioneer Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill, Le Tigre) has impacted the music scene today. It also seems that … Read more
Richard Buckner Surrounded Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Buckner expands his sonic palette on his tenth studio record. Album Review: Buckner spent nearly five years working on the follow up to his 2006 lp, Meadow. When 2011’s Our Blood was finally released, after having been rerecorded three times, most were pleased with the results. … Read more
Joanna Gruesome Weird Sister Slumberland Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Debut from Joanna Gruesome is packed with high energy and loud guitars. Album Review: Boy/girl vocals, teenage angst, noise pop, loud guitars, high energy, feedback and double time drums are just some of the great rock n roll moments you will hear on the debut … Read more
Pond Hobo Rocket Modular Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Perth natives continue to stir the Pond into a strange, interstellar brew. Album Review: Why can’t we just grade albums a fun factor anymore? If that was the case 5 headphones for Pond, done and done. This album was made by fans of music for fans … Read more
Nine Inch Nails Hesitation Marks Columbia Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Nine Inch Nails returns with the large sonic palette Trent Reznor calls Hesitation Marks. Album Review: Jumping into the new Nine Inch Nails, Hesitation Marks, feels like deciding to take a swim from Cuba to Florida. It is possible but it is a really … Read more
Man Man On Oni Pond ANTI- Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Man Man‘s fifth full length shows the group using many different sounds. Album Review: I‘m quite the Man Man fan. I‘ve heard at times that this fearsome Philly five-some can be hard to get into, that their unique sound could be mistaken for “insane … Read more
A.S. Exile Inedible Records [2013] Fire Note Says: A.S.’s second album Exile is moody and atmospheric. Album Review: The enigmatically named band A.S. consists of Nick McRoberts (voice, piano) and Idriss Halfaoui (guitars). The duo is based out of Paris (and sings in English) and it’s safe to say that the occasional grayness of the … Read more
XTC Drums And Wires Virgin Records Released: August 17, 1979 Producer: Steve Lillywhite Length: 52:32 The album cover got me right away. I had to hear this record. So I bought it without the slightest idea what they would sound like. And I was hooked. From that moment on I have been a fanatic of … Read more
The Dodos Carrier Polyvinyl Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Dodos stay true to their sound with Carrier. Album Review: The Dodos have released their fifth album, which has the name Carrier. The San Francisco duo of Meric Long and Logan Kroeber are following up on 2011’s No Color. No Color was one of my … Read more
Kitten Forever Pressure Guilt Ridden Pop [2013] Fire Note Says: Kitten Forever have a riot for you! Album Review: After spinning through the quick 23 minute sophomore effort, Pressure, from the Minneapolis based trio Kitten Forever, I realized how much I miss this loose and fun riot grrrl style of music. Like so many quality … Read more
The Gardenheads Growing Season Wee Rock Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Midwest rockers split the difference between power pop and classic rock on sophomore album. Album Review: I don’t know anything about Springfield, Missouri except that it is home to the great Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin and Missouri State University. I Googled it … Read more
Body/Head Coming Apart Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Kim Gordon and Bill Nace create beauty out of chaos and improvisation. Album Review: Following the breakup of Sonic Youth, one of the most beloved alternative acts of all-time, we are now seeing the band members move on to new projects. Thurston Moore formed Chelsea Light … Read more
J. Roddy Walston & The Business Essential Tremors ATO Records [2013] Fire Note Says: J. Roddy Walston & The Business show why they are one of the best bar bands in the land! Album Review: There is something about the raw sounding J. Roddy Walston that I just enjoy. His relaxed style bar rock has … Read more
If you’re a fan of The White Stripes like The Fire Note, then you know how raw, primal, and fierce they can sound. Not to call their later work tame by any means but the Stripes were special early on. Their talent has always been highlighted in their records well beyond their singles hence our … Read more
Arctic Monkeys AM Domino Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Arctic Monkeys bravely push into a new groove on their engaging AM. Album Review: It does not seem that long ago since everyone was rocking out 2006 with the Arctic Monkeys’ hit “I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor.” It would have been easy … Read more
Holograms Forever Captured Tracks Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Swedish post-punk band proudly fly the Factory Records flag on solid second album. Album Review: Stockholm is usually perceived as a peaceful, almost Utopian, place. That image was shattered after ten days of intense rioting in May of this year as immigrant youth took to the … Read more
New Swears Funny Isn’t Real Dirt Cult Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Ottawa’s New Swears throw a party and we’re all invited to come over and break some stuff. Album Review: Funny Isn’t Real, the new album from New Swears, has so much swagger it can barely be contained on wax. This Ottawa band is … Read more
Volcano Choir Repave Jagjaguwar Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Repave finds Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon kicking back and having fun. Album Review: Justin Vernon has reached the status where everything he does with Bon Iver is scrutinized, complemented, made fun of, hated and loved. Basically, Bon Iver stirs an array of emotions and many people … Read more