Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros Vagrant Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros offer up another batch of freedom rock. Album Review: I remember the first time I heard “Home” off of Edward Sharpe’s debut record Up From Below (2009) and thinking that with … Read more
Grant Hart The Argument Domino Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Ambitious concept album from former Hüsker Dü member is a winner. Album Review: Let’s get the history lesson out of the way right off the bat. Grant Hart was the yin to Bob Mould’s yang in Husker Du. In my mind; he wrote the poppier … Read more
Lust For Youth Perfect View Sacred Bones Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Hannes Norrvide’s second album as Lust For Youth is a monolithic slab of smooth 80’s synth pop. Album Review: Sweden is a cold place. Winters there are not a great deal of fun (or so I’m told.) So here we are in the … Read more
Time Cat Space And Time Cat EP Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Akron’s Time Cat turns up the blues rock on their new EP. Album Review: I hate to scold a band, especially when it’s not all that deserved. After seeing this Akron blues duo perform live I had a lot of hopes for their … Read more
The New Amsterdams Outroduction Nightshoes Syndicate [2013] Fire Note Says: Who knew an album of outtakes and B-sides could work so well? Album Review: The New Amsterdams were one of those bands I always meant to check out, because they sounded like my kind of thing (at least up to a point): acoustic-based indie rock … Read more
Hunx And His Punx Street Punk Hardly Art Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Believe the title as Hunx And His Punx bring the noise! Album Review: With an album title like Street Punk and an album cover with a tattooed bare-chested dude you better bring it when it comes to the music. Hunx And His … Read more
Andrew Cedermark Home Life Underwater Peoples Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Laid-back rhythms and layers of guitar make Home Life an introverted, yet satisfying experience. Album Review: Recorded with two “skeleton crew” bands consisting of bass, drums, and guitar (with some keys sprinkled in here and there), you’d be forgiven for thinking an album like … Read more
Heliotropes A Constant Sea Manimal Vinyl [2013] Fire Note Says: All girl Brooklyn four piece drop a very satisfying sludge-filled, psych-pop debut. Album Review: Every day, it seems, there comes down the pike another new band brandishing remnants and half-remembered pieces of yesteryear’s sound. From 60’s girl group to 70’s stoner rock and 80’s new … Read more
Jackson Scott Melbourne Fat Possum Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Jackson Scott hits one out of the park on his debut record. Album Review: Do yourself a favor, don’t read any more about Jackson Scott after you read this review, until you hear his debut lp, Melbourne. I did a little research after I received … Read more
Elway Leavetaking Red Scare Industries [2013] Fire Note Says: Elway’s pop-punk stylings in Leavetaking are full throttle from start to finish. Album Review: Elway is definitely the best band ever named for a quarterback taken in the storied first round of the 1983 NFL draft. Sorry Laces Out Marino! (not a real band), Jim Kelly: … Read more
Deap Vally Sistrionix Island Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Deap Vally bring a familiar bolt of rock forward with their own style. Album Review: Rock n roll will never die and LA group Deap Vally are a good example why. The duo made up of guitarist and vocalist Lindsey Troy and drummer Julie Edwards create … Read more
Day 3 at Cincinnati’s Bunbury Music Festival was even hotter but that absolutely did not slow the bands or fans down from having a good time. Even a quick 20 minute early evening shower couldn’t hold the show back. Belle & Sebastian, Black Joe Lewis , The National and many others all had great shows … Read more
Day 2 at Cincinnati’s Bunbury Music Festival brought higher temperatures but that did not stop any of the artists from putting on killer sets. You can read below what several of our writers had to say about the fun at day 2 and we hope you enjoy the pictures! Saturday (Day 2) Culture Queer (Bud … Read more
Gauntlet Hair Stills Dead Oceans Records [2013] Fire Note Says: With their second album the electro-noise duo move closer to the mainstream – but only a little. Album Review: On their 2011 self-titled debut, Denver-via-Chicago duo Gauntlet Hair appeared to be one of many like-minded acts operating with a clear and obvious debt to Animal … Read more
The Fire Note has been all over Rose Windows since they released their excellent debut on Sub Pop Records just a month ago. Their new album, The Sun Dogs, was *Headphone Approved* (TFN review HERE) and the record has been spinning at TFN headquarters ever since. The Fire Note had the chance to catch up … Read more
Bell X1 Chop Chop BellyUp Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Bell X1’s 6th LP is assured while being subdued. Album Review: Ireland’s Bell X1 has changed up their sound with their sixth studio album Chop Chop. The country’s second biggest band after U2 worked with The National producer Peter Katis and with Thomas Bartlett, who … Read more
The Cleaners From Venus Volume 2 (Box Set) Captured Tracks [2013] Fire Note Says: The second set of reissues from The Cleaners From Venus is even better than the first! Album Review: The first volume of the Captured Tracks reissue series of Cleaners From Venus was a game changer. It came wrapped up in a … Read more
The Fire Note was on the ground this past weekend for Cincinnati’s Bunbury Music Festival. The bands, festival organizers and the Queen City put on a great show for all that attended. Check out what some of our writers had to say and enjoy the pictures from Day 1! Friday (Day 1) The Features (Main … Read more
Casey Black Lay You In The Loam CatBeach Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Casey Black crafts a deep album that tightens its grip with each listen. Album Review: Casey Black’s fourth LP Lay You In The Loam faced an uphill battle with me. Black has a baritone voice that is distinct and either one you … Read more
Gregory Alan Isakov The Weatherman Suitcase Town Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Gregory Alan Isakov’s third full length may just be his best! Album Review: Sometimes there is just nothing better than a softly played indie-folk record like The Weatherman, the third full-length album from Gregory Alan Isakov. The album is full of his confident … Read more
Heavy Times Fix It Alone HoZac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Heavy Times deliver a knockout blow with new album, Fix It Alone. Album Review: HoZac Records has built up quite an impressive stable of artists, releasing albums in the past few years from the likes of Radar Eyes, GAMES and Idle Times to name … Read more
Laura Stevenson Wheel Don Giovanni Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Laura Stevenson’s Wheel offers a variety of simple, organic Americana music. Album Review: Laura Stevenson gives the listener a lot with her third album, Wheel. It’s almost country, a little bit rock, and mostly Americana. With a league of instruments, lap steel, mandolin, banjo, trumpet, … Read more
When Ben Gibbard (of Death Cab for Cutie) and Jimmy Tamborello (of Dntel) released Give Up in 2003, their collaborative album under the Postal Service banner, no one could have predicted the runaway success it became. Songs appeared in movies, TV shows, and were remixed and covered by artists as wide-ranging as Iron & Wine … Read more
Secret Colours Peach Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Secret Colours check all the boxes when it comes to psychedelia. Album Review: Leave it to a band like Chicago’s Secret Colours to right my wrongs and relieve my muddled mind. Debating review scores, struggling for references, and more times than not writing myself into a corner, … Read more
I always like when music is unearthed and given new life. That is the case with the posthumous debut full length from Speedwell titled Start To Finish. The band began in the fall of 1996 as Meredith Bragg, Troy Farmer, and Jonathan Roth with Brian Minter coming in a bit later. Speedwell eventually released an … Read more