Robert Randolph & The Family Band Lickety Split Blue Note Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Robert Randolph cranks the guitars up and the fun dance party even higher! Album Review: I have been following Robert Randolph & The Family Band since their 2003 sophomore record Unclassified. Its combination of soul, funk, hard rock, folk, gospel … Read more
Shocked Minds Shocked Minds HoZac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The debut album from Shocked Minds is as grimy and sleazy as 1970’s NYC! Album Review: This may be a debut lp from Atlanta’s Shocked Minds, but these guys are anything but rookies. Featuring members of The Carbonas, Gentleman Jesse and His Men, and GAMES, … Read more
Blood Ceremony The Eldritch Dark Rise Above Records [2013] Fire Note Says: If Black Sabbath and Jethro Tull had a love child – this would be it. Album Review: The occult rock phenomenon that has taken hold of the metal world had a beginning and it was Canada’s Blood Ceremony. The blueprint had been there … Read more
Cincinnati’s Bunbury Music Festival is quickly becoming a force to reckon with as it returns for its second year with its fan-friendly atmosphere. With fun., MGMT and The National headlining – all who attend will be in for a good time. The Fire Note will be on the ground in Cincy this weekend covering the … Read more
Spectrals Sob Story Slumberland Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Spectrals’ Sob Story successfully skirts sophomore slump! Album Review: Diversity is one of those prized musical qualities that many artists strive for; if you can pull it off, having a wide-ranging, eclectic sound is a major plus—it’s why we all love the Beatles so much. But … Read more
Belgrade Belgrade Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Belgrade creates a nuanced, easy-to-miss alternative rock album. Album Review: Belgrade is an indie rock band from Philadelphia that specializes in straightforward alternative that harken back to the late 90s and early 2000s. At first I wondered when Ed Roland from Collective Soul became the lead singer for … Read more
The Purrs The Boy With Astronaut Eyes Fin Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Another rock n roll ride from Seattle’s Purrs. Album Review: Ten years going strong and still working on name recognition, Seattle’s The Purrs are one of the better bands that you still have not heard. The group has consistently released solid records … Read more
Rumspringer Stay Afloat Dirt Cult Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Rumspringer drop a punk rock bombshell! Album Review: Dirt Cult is quickly becoming a can’t miss label for me, earlier this year they dropped the Big Dick record on me, and then a few months ago, the had the awesome Sundowners record, and now we … Read more
Pedaljets What’s In Between Electric Moth Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Pedaljets return after a twenty-three year break with a solid, if unremarkable, album. Album Review: Back in the late eighties Lawrence, Kansas four-piece, Pedaljets, released two strong LP’s (1988’s Today Today and a self-titled follow-up in 1989) to some acclaim – mostly critical. … Read more
Daughn Gibson Me Moan Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Very unique sophomore record from Daughn Gibson will bring love and hate! Album Review: If you are familiar with Daughn Gibson’s debut All Hell from last year then you already know this dude has an interesting deep baritone for a voice. You combine this … Read more
Elusive Parallelograms Fragments Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Elusive Parallelograms show solid chops and song schizophrenia on Fragments EP Album Review: If I were a psychologist evaluating Milwaukee’s prolific Elusive Parallelograms, some of these terms might pop up: schizophrenia, bipolar, post-traumatic stress. By no means am I trying to give Elusive Parallelograms new Fragments EP … Read more
New Politics A Bad Girl In Harlem RCA Records [2013] Fire Note Says: With their sophomore album, New Politics breaks away from their gritty, indie roots, trading it in for a pop rock, punk sound. Album Review: A Bad Girl in Harlem, the sophomore album from New Politics, takes a short walk away from the … Read more
Robert Pollard Honey Locust Honky Tonk Guided By Voices Inc. [2013] Fire Note Says: One of Robert Pollard’s strongest solo outings to date! Album Review: I know that these days a solo record from Robert Pollard is almost expected as he typically releases two albums under his own name a year. This streak actually goes … Read more
Thundercat Apocalypse Brainfeeder [2013] Fire Note Says: Thundercat’s sophomore effort is a psychedelic soul experience. Album Review: Stephen Bruner, playing under the name Thundercat, returns with a solid second outing in Apocalypse. Thundercat collaborated with Flying Lotus on this album and the spacey, trippy sounds reflect the two artists’ sensibilities. On Apocalypse you’ll find a … Read more
Future Bible Heroes Partygoing Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: After an eleven year hiatus Stephin Merritt revives the Future Bible Heroes brand. And it was worth the wait. Album Review: Stephin Merritt is a titan. The Mount Rushmore of indie is almost certainly carved with his face on it (along with Pollard, Malkmus and … Read more
Deafheaven Sunbather Deathwish Inc. [2013] Fire Note Says: The most hyped metal album in years lives up to its over-sized ambition. Album Review: From Stereogum’s Album Of The Week designation to Pitchfork’s Best New Music tag, Deafheaven’s sophomore album, Sunbather, has certainly been getting a lot of attention in the indie music blogosphere. Some have … Read more
Owen L’ami Du Peuple Polyvinyl Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Chicago’s Owen delivers thoughtfully constructed indie rock. Album Review: I have to admit that when I first heard this album I was very skeptical. I started asking questions: “Can someone be too indie for their own good?” and “Why does it sound like Owen’s emulating … Read more
Oblivians Desperation In The Red Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Memphis legends return with a strong blast of garage punk! Album Review: A funny thing happed over the 15 years that have passed since the Oblivians last put out an album. Hard, fast and dirty garage rock exploded, then died off, and has exploded again. … Read more
Son Volt is an interesting story in 2013 because you still can’t talk about Jay Farrar without mentioning his previous band Uncle Tupelo, Tupelo’s break up and then Tupelo writing partner, Jeff Tweedy, which formed Wilco. Although I do feel in 2013 that the discussion can be brief so we are going to move on! … Read more
Pity Sex Feast Of Love Run For Cover Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Pity Sex makes an instantly familiar but irresistible album with Feast of Love. Album Review: A band with the name Pity Sex is asking for attention. You may think that the name is a cover-up for inconsequential mediocre music (think LMFAO, or … Read more
Teenage Guitar Force Fields At Home Guided By Voices Inc. [2013] Fire Note Says: Teenage Guitar gives Robert Pollard an entire new canvas for his creativity and art! Album Review: “In Bob We Trust” is a motto that is used quite frequently around TFN headquarters and is especially utilized when a more challenging record from … Read more
Boards Of Canada Tomorrow’s Harvest Warp Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Tomorrow’s Harvest may not quite live up to the hype, but is a warm, moody listen all the same. Album Review: Part of me thinks that a big portion of the mystique surrounding Boards of Canada and their latest album, Tomorrow’s Harvest, is just … Read more
Editors The Weight Of Your Love Play It Again Sam Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Editors once again swing for the fences on their fourth LP. Album Review: The UK’s Editors is a band that I wish would just knock me out with a killer record. They have all the right components with a … Read more
The Builders And The Butchers Western Medicine Badman Recording Co. [2013] Fire Note Says: More High Plains drama from Portland via Alaska desert folk rockers. Album Review: Soaked in the soil and dusty from the desert, head Builder/Butcher Ryan Sollee is an intense singer and truly an acquired taste. His strange relationship with pitch and … Read more
Coma Cinema Posthumous Release Fork And Spoon Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Posthumous Release is full of songs both strange and inviting. Album Review: Even though Mat Cothran (aka Coma Cinema) has three previous albums under his belt, Posthumous Release is his first recorded in a proper studio, and that environment lends this set of … Read more