Muse Drones Warner Bros. Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Muse create another stadium rocker. Album Review: I remember when Muse released their debut, Showbiz (1999), and they were considered a muscular Radiohead. The band quickly separated themselves with their sophomore effort, Origin of Symmetry (2001), and has never looked back. Over their last several releases, … Read more
Unknown Mortal Orchestra Multi-Love Jagjaguwar [2015] Fire Note Says: UMO redefine what you thought you knew. Album Review: If you would have told me this time last year that I‘d be shaking my ass to a Unknown Mortal Orchestra album, I‘d have called you crazy. Having sprung out of New Zealand in 2011 with their … Read more
Lost Boy? Canned Papercup Music [2015] Fire Note Says: Lost Boy? are a dream come true for 90’s indie rock fans. Bits and pieces of your favorite bands pasted together in a catchy and fun album. Album Review: I have been listening to Davey Jones’ project, Lost Boy? for the last year or so. They … Read more
The Vaccines English Graffiti Columbia Records [2015] Fire Note Says: The Vaccines’ third album has highs and lows. Album Review: The Vaccines are of a proud lineage – the next great rock band from the UK that never quite has the world-beating success that seemed predestined when it hit the scene. The Vaccines have toured … Read more
Warm Soda Symbolic Dream Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Symbolic Dream is a refreshing power pop gem! Album Review: I didn’t love Warm Soda’s last album, Young Reckless Hearts. I felt like it was a pretty big letdown from their wonderful debut album, Someone For You, which ended up being one of my … Read more
You can hear the fierceness of Negative Scanner on today’s fire track in their new single “Would You Rather.” Lead vocalist Rebecca Valeriano-Flores has a PJ Harvey meets Sleater-Kinney sound as her pulsing energy drives this song and makes you want to hear more. Negative Scanner’s punk is for real and “Would You Rather” showcases … Read more
Yes Progeny: Seven From Seventy-Two Atlantic Records [2015] Fire Note Says: 7 complete concerts from 1972 recently unearthed, cleaned up and presented warts and all. Yes! Album Review: 1972 was a very good year for Yes. They had just released Close To The Edge and it was hailed as their masterpiece. After more than forty … Read more
Brandon Flowers The Desired Effect Island Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Brandon Flowers’ second album is for the masses. Album Review: The voice of the commoner has been taken on by Brandon Flowers. This was hinted at in the The Killers’ (Flowers is the lead singer of the band) previous album, the coming-of-age Battle Born, … Read more
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin The High Country Polyvinyl Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Missouri’s finest band returns with gusto. Album Review: Way, way back in 2006 and the dawn of the mp3 blog era there seemed to be so many bands popping up from every corner of the universe and the only hope … Read more
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Quarters Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Quarters is an intriguing and rewarding long player. Album Review: So here is a crazy idea. How about make a record with only 4 tracks that each runs a total time of 10 minutes and 10 seconds and then name it … Read more
Kopecky Drug For The Modern Age ATO Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Kopecky streamlines both their name and their style. Album Review: I became aware of the Kopecky Family Band’s 2012 debut album, Kids Raising Kids, last year and was immediately enchanted. The Nashville band’s mix of pop with Americana twists was fresh and lively, … Read more
Brooklyn-based Dead Stars flex their 90’s-influenced indie rock muscles 30 seconds into their new single and today’s Fire Track “Calm Punk.” The catchy laid back guitar riff and its companion toned first verse sets you up for surprise as the track quickly explodes and turns the amps past 10. This back-n-forth tempo works well and … Read more
Oh May! Here are 10 artists you should check out today. We have sister rock from Ohio, a singer/songwriter from Alaska, underground sounds from Los Angeles, power pop out of Philadelphia and indie-afro-soul from Oakland. Also, do everyone a favor – Discover, Support & Share! Max Gowan Raleigh, North Carolina I don’t believe that we … Read more
Jack Name Weird Moons Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Jack Name returns with an ever-eccentric brand of far-out space pop. Album Review: The first time that I heard Jack Name’s debut album, Light Show, it was easy to place him in the hall of pop eccentrics. Name wasn’t afraid to add concept to … Read more
The Helio Sequence The Helio Sequence Sub Pop Records [2015] Fire Note Says: The Helio Sequence’s latest is long on atmosphere but short on surprises. Album Review: Over the course of five LP’s since forming in 1996, Brandon Summers and Benjamin Weikel have carved out a little niche in the Indie Rock scene by combining … Read more
Föllakzoid III Sacred Bones Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Föllakzoid successfully recreate the sound of 1970s German rock via modern-day Chile. Album Review: I’ve been on something of a “krautrock” (more properly called “Kosmische Musik” or “German Space Rock”) kick lately, and the new album from Chilean outfit Föllakzoid fits into my recent listening habits … Read more
I am not sure what your current relationship is with the emo punk genre but I will tell you that it is having a quiet comeback. Some of it is being driven from the label Tiny Engines that released quality records from The Hotelier and Somos last year. Well, June 9th you can add Kent, … Read more
Swiftumz Everybody Loves Chris Melters [2015] Fire Note Says: Swiftumz offers up a diverse record that will surprise you with each turn. Album Review: There is something to be said for doing your own thing. Chris McVicker, a.k.a. Swiftumz, has been doing just that since his 2011 debut full length Don’t Trip. After releasing a … Read more
Passion Pit Kindred Columbia Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Passion Pit’s most commercially viable album. Album Review: Upon listening to Passion Pit’s new album Kindred, something felt off. As a big fan of the band’s first two albums, I had hefty expectations for this new one. The usual electronic pop was there, a little more … Read more
Faith No More Sol Invictus Reclamation Recordings [2015] Fire Note Says: Faith No More remind you of their relevance. Album Review: Do you know the definition of relevant? Relevant means to bear upon or connect with the matter at hand; pertinent. This one word always surfaces when a band like Faith No More reappear on … Read more
Froth Bleak Burger Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Froth find the pop between the fuzz! Album Review: The psychedelic rock train is really hard to slow down right now as West Coasters Froth have just delivered a sophomore album in Bleak that is another shining moment for the genre. There is only so much you … Read more
The Sonics This Is The Sonics Revox Records [2015] Fire Note Says: The Sonics return after more than forty years to show modern garage rockers how it’s done. Album Review: When it comes to garage rock bands, you’d be hard-pressed to find a group more legendary than Tacoma, WA’s The Sonics. Formed in 1960, the … Read more
Let’s start out by saying that I think La Luz will be one of the bigger indie surprises in 2015. The Seattle surf-rock female foursome had an excellent debut with 2013’s It’s Alive and after hearing today’s fire track, “You Disappear,” I have a heightened anticipation for their sophomore effort Weirdo Shrine due out August … Read more
Surfer Blood 1000 Palms Joyful Noise Recordings [2015] Fire Note Says: Surfer Blood rides the middle with their latest release. Album Review: Surfer Blood splashed onto the scene six years ago with a great debut album, Astro Coast. Their 2012 follow-up saw the band adopt a more polished sound that didn’t resonate quite the same … Read more
Anekdoten Until All The Ghosts Are Gone Self-Released [2015] Fire Note Says: Anekdoten remain the champions of dark and brooding Prog. Album Review: There are a handful of bands that, way back in the early nineties, had the cojones to attempt a revival of the most scorned and hated genre of rock music ever: the … Read more