With their new Fragments EP out tomorrow, you can now hear the premiere of single “Semantics” from Milwaukee, WI band Elusive Parallelograms. Fragments represents their fifth release and finds the band growing and more confident than ever. “Semantics” is a music handful as Elusive Parallelograms drop shoegaze, prog-rock and power pop in a blender to … Read more
The Mantles Long Enough To Leave Slumberland Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Mantles wear their influences on their sleeves but don’t call this a revival. Album Review: The San Francisco garage scene is alive and well. Yes indeed. With The Fresh & Onlys, Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees, White Fence, etc. there seems to … Read more
ASG Blood Drive Relapse Records [2013] Fire Note Says: ASG’s Blood Drive delivers a satisfying metal experience. Album Review: The metal genre today is literally saturated with thousands of bands and hundreds of genres and sub-genres. Mastodon, The Sword, Torche, Between The Buried and Me, Sleep, Electric Wizard, Baroness, Black Tusk, Helmet, High On Fire; … Read more
Light Heat Light Heat Ribbon Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Mazarin frontman Quentin Stolzfus returns to the scene after seven years with Light Heat debut. Album Review: I actually would be impressed if many of our readers remembered the early 2000 psych-pop band Mazarin. The group had three full length albums with the sophomore effort … Read more
Perhapst Revise Your Maps Jealous Butcher Records [2013] Fire Note Says: A fulfilling dose of Byrdsian folk rock and lush sophisticated pop from Perhapst. Album Review: John Moen is one helluva talented musician. He’s obviously best known as the drummer for The Decemberists, but he has also drummed for a who’s who of indie rock … Read more
Duquette Johnston Rabbit Runs A Destiny Communicating Vessels [2013] Fire Note Says: Birmingham, Alabama singer/songwriter finally releases an album worthy if his considerable talent. Album Review: Since forming 90’s alt-rock band Verbena (with A. A. Bondy) Johnston has kept a relatively low profile. He quit the band prior to their signing to Capitol Records and … Read more
Wolf People Fain Jagjaguwar Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Wolf People compose a codex entitled: Progressive Rock for Beginners. Album Review: When a band goes after its influences and tries to hit near the roots of the progressive rock tree a few concepts, places, and bands come to mind. Headley Grange being a great place … Read more
Sigur Rós Kveikur XL Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Sigur Rós get heavier and more visceral on Kveikur. Album Review: Sigur Rós have been busy since returning from their hiatus. In the span of about eighteen months, they’ve released a live album (Inni) as well as a studio album (Valtari), and after the departure of … Read more
I Am Empire Anchors Tooth & Nail Records [2013] Fire Note Says: I Am Empire makes a compelling case with Anchors. Album Review: I Am Empire is a four-piece band coming out of San Jose, CA. Anchors is their third overall LP (second with their current label Tooth & Nail Records). For the most part … Read more
Hausu Total Hardly Art Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Hausu provide a fresh and precision based debut record. Album Review: It wasn’t till about the fourth track here on Hausu’s debut, Total, that I started to get where the Portland, OR band was coming from with their retro post-punk sound. Did they sound like Fugazi? … Read more
Ben Folds Five Live Sony Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Ben Folds Five puts out a fan-pleasing but uneven live album. Album Review: One of the songs that I most identify with high school is “Underground.” I remember driving my blue Chevy Beretta to school, listening to the radio (94.1) and there being this weird … Read more
Double Dagger 333 Thrill Jockey Records [2013] Fire Note Says: An incredible swan song from Double Dagger! Album Review: Baltimore’s Double Dagger, broke up in late 2011, and their final record, 333, is now seeing the light of day. The trio has now gone their separate ways, playing with the likes of Roomrunner, Peals, and … Read more
Eddie Spaghetti The Value Of Nothing Bloodshot Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Value of Nothing is the perfect mix of punk attitude and outlaw spirit! Album Review: What do you get when you mix garage punk, rockabilly, and the hell raising side of country music? The answer is Eddie Spaghetti’s new album, The Value … Read more
The Lonelyhearts Years In The Great Interior Maximum Ames Records [2013] Fire Note Says: There’s a lot more going on with The Lonelyhearts than a first listen might suggest. Album Review: The practice of writing good and interesting lyrics is somewhat of a lost art. Folk singers were the true torch carriers throughout much of … Read more
Case Studies This Is Another Life Sacred Bones Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Case Studies tells it like it is on sophomore album This Is Another Life. Album Review: Case Studies is the current moniker for singer/songwriter Jesse Lortz who was previously one half of The Dutchess And The Duke. This Is Another Life is … Read more
Rose Windows The Sun Dogs Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Take Rose Windows as your spirit guide, for they will not lead you astray. Album Review: Sub Pop has acquired quite an eclectic catalog of artists over the years. Nirvana, Mudhoney, Fleet Foxes, The Postal Service, METZ, The Shins, Wolf Parade; it’s no … Read more
Smith Westerns Soft Will Mom + Pop Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Smith Westerns return with a another batch of purposeful dream rock. Album Review: Coming off an excellent record like Smith Westerns sophomore effort Dye It Blonde (2011) is never easy. Once you add in the stress of playing the road till you about … Read more
Hooded Fang Gravez Full Time Hobby Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Hooded Fang pack charm and quirk into blistering power pop. Album Review: I know it’s common to chide a band for their overuse of a trope or technique over an entire album. But I won’t do that here: Canada’s Polaris Prize-nominated Hooded Fang not … Read more
Kanye West Yeezus Def Jam Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Kanye comes at you 90 mph with the impressive Yeezus. Album Review: Let me be the first to say that I am not a regular listener to Kanye West or rap music in general. You may stop reading now or you might just give this … Read more
Jason Isbell Southeastern Southeastern Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Southeastern shows that Isbell is poised and ready to step into the limelight with the finest record of his career. Album Review: When Jason Isbell left Drive-By Truckers, I expected huge things from him, and he delivered right out of the gate with his first solo … Read more
And So I Watch You From Afar All Hail Bright Futures Sargent House Records [2013] Fire Note Says: ASIWYFA create melodic, engaging, (mostly) instrumental rock tunes. Album Review: Instrumental music, especially instrumental rock music, often walks a thin line between being something worthy of your full attention and merely pleasant background music. Thankfully for ASIWYFA, … Read more
Jimmy Eat World Damage RCA Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Jimmy Eat World stay consistent on seventh album Damage. Album Review: Jimmy Eat World have had a good ride. The emo band has outlasted and outplayed many in the genre while maintaining a major label contract and carrying a solid fan base. This is even … Read more
Eisley Currents Equal Vision Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Eisley return with an album that accentuates their best qualities. Album Review: Eisley has been through a lot over the years, from the highs of opening for Coldplay and signing with Reprise Records, to the lows of being dropped from that label, touring issues, and personal … Read more
King Tuff Was Dead Burger Records [2013] Fire Note Says: King Tuff’s reissue Was Dead is a garage weirdo’s pride for the simple things. Album Review: Kyle Thomas (aka King Tuff) is a simple man enjoying the simple pleasures of Brattleboro, Vermont. Way back in 2006 when not drinking endless cups of black coffee, sketching … Read more
The intent of our Label Profile feature is to simply highlight a record label that we feel aligns with our own belief here at The Fire Note that music is an experience. Today we profile Communicating Vessels. A huge thanks to founder Jeffrey Cain for taking the time to answer our questions. If you like … Read more