Mikal Cronin MCIII Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: How do you follow-up an album of the year? Easy, record another potential album of the year! Album Review: To say that expectations are high for the new Mikal Cronin lp at Fire Note Headquarters is a massive understatement. Cronin’s last album, MCII, came in at … Read more
Best Coast California Nights Harvest Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Best Coast does not stray too far from the catchy formula. Album Review: Sometimes third albums put artists in weird places. You have your introducing debut, avoid the sophomore slump with either more of the same or pushing your artistic boundaries and then where do … Read more
The Tallest Man On Earth Dark Bird Is Home Dead Oceans [2015] Fire Note Says: The Tallest Man on Earth manages to grow up even more. Album Review: With a name like The Tallest Man on Earth, you’d think that there wouldn’t be room for an artist to grow. Sweden’s Kristian Matsson has managed to … Read more
Fuzzy psychedelic rock! That is what Froth is all about and you can hear it for yourself on the group’s first single from their forthcoming sophomore record, Bleak. “Turn It Off”, will make you imagine a dusk beach fire with the waves crashing in and the clouds slowly passing by in the background. Froth has … Read more
Ryan Adams Live At Carnegie Hall PAX-AM [2015] Fire Note Says: Two night live set will not disappoint fans. Album Review: Ryan Adams live used to be “watch and see” because Adams might do something nuts like kick someone out of the show, walk off the stage, go into a rant and then go into … Read more
Alabama Shakes Sound & Color ATO Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Alabama Shakes take you on another pendulum ride full of raw expression. Album Review: Three years ago, when Alabama Shakes came out of nowhere to rock the world with their debut, Boys & Girls, driven by soulful R&B-influenced roots rock and the stunningly unique … Read more
Robert Pollard Faulty Superheroes Guided By Voices Inc. [2015] Fire Note Says: Uncle Bob’s first solo LP since disbanding GbV (again) is also one of his best. Album Review: Hmmm… Let’s see: last time Robert Pollard pulled the plug on Guided By Voices he seemed intent on focusing all his considerable energies into creating as … Read more
The Mountain Goats Beat The Champ Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: The Mountain Goats return with a fun, thoughtful themed album. Album Review: The cover of Beat The Champ, the latest album by The Mountain Goats, has a picture of two wrestlers going at it in the ring. John Darnielle’s 15th studio album is … Read more
Today’s Fire Track, “New Hobbies,” is from Brooklyn band Fort Lean which will see their debut album, Quiet Day, release June 23 via Ooh La La Records. The single has a delivery strength of a Gaslight Anthem but if you dive deeper into the new full length (which you can hear at their website) you … Read more
The Splits II Dirtnap Records [2015] Fire Note Says: The Splits take no prisoners on sophomore album II. Album Review: Helsinki’s Splits have just arrived on the US shore with their sophomore album, II. The record is a care free 70’s punk ride with a complete in your face attitude that never lets up for … Read more
The Tangent A Spark In The Aether Inside Out Music [2015] Fire Note Says: Andy Tillison’s love letter to progressive rock hits all the right notes. Album Review: The Tangent is a strange beast of a band. If Yes were part of the Canterbury Scene of English bands back in the seventies (a clutch of … Read more
April can’t end yet! Why? Because we haven’t rolled out the April Bandcamp edition yet! This month’s feature includes some heavy rock from St. Louis, west coast indie from LA, a classic Pacific-Northwest sound and lo-fi psychedelic from Canada. Remember to Discover, Support & Share! Dot Legacy Paris, France While the album was released in … Read more
Michael Rault Living Daylight Burger Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Michael Rault delivers a strong record to the modern garage rock crowd. Album Review: Are you tired of the whole modern garage rock revival scene? Me neither! Enter Toronto guitarist/songwriter Michael Rault to the club and his Burger Records debut Living Daylight. Each artist in … Read more
It has been five years since Sufjan Stevens released The Age of Adz (2010), so it is no surprise that there is some hype for his latest full length, Carrie & Lowell, which is due out next week via Asthmatic Kitty. The album is a return to Stevens’ earlier sounding work, which was more intimate … Read more
I can never turn down catchy power pop so featuring Milwaukee’s The Midwestern Charm today was a no-brainer. The band’s newest record, Growing Pains, actually was released last year but the group recently signed to Texas Is Funny who’s given the album a re-release this week. “Can’t Stand It” leads with its somewhat nasally vocals … Read more
Van Dale Van Dale Fleeting Youth Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Van Dale screams 90′s indie rock with its unkempt vibe but that is the appealing part. Album Review: Columbus, Ohio’s Van Dale have a very indie back-to-basics sound and that is exactly why you won’t want to put the record down. The band’s self-titled … Read more
Speedy Ortiz Foil Deer Carpark Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Sometimes a band actually lives up to the hype. Album Review: Massachusetts quartet Speedy Ortiz began life as a solo project for poetry professor Sadie Dupuis and her decidedly nineties take on indie rock. Her lyrics came at you fast and furiously and she released … Read more
IZZ Everlasting Instant Self-Released [2015] Fire Note Says: IZZ continue making progressive dinner party music. Album Review: I imagine the place settings and flatware laid out just so. Fleshly cut flowers in crystal adorn the dining room table. The guests, carefully selected, have arrived and look splendid. They drove here in BMW’s and Audi’s. The … Read more
Captured Tracks is still one of my favorite labels but as their roster has grown I think some of their early core sound has been somewhat overshadowed. Great albums from Beach Fossils, DIIV and Wild Nothing highlighted a break out period for the label and reissued to the world the classic indie-alternative meets new wave … Read more
The Apartments The Evening Visits…and Stays For Years Captured Tracks [2015] Fire Note Says: An often overlooked 80’s classic is given the deluxe reissue treatment. Album Review: The Evening Visits…and Stays for Years is a dark and brooding indie pop album from the 80’s, led by a former (brief) member of The Go-Betweens. Peter Milton … Read more
Glass Hammer The Breaking Of The World Sound Resources [2015] Fire Note Says: American Prog stalwarts use their increased exposure well. Album Review: Back in 2012 when Yes announced they had a new lead singer, Jon Davison from Chattanooga band Glass Hammer, few outside the tiny Prog community had heard of either him or the … Read more
Ex-Cult Cigarette Machine EP Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Ex-Cult delivers an excellent, adrenaline-filled punk rock EP. Album Review: I have to say I am quite impressed with Memphis-based punk band, Ex-Cult. Cigarette Machine is a lean and mean EP filled with punk rock rage reminiscent of 80’s hardcore. They have a solid … Read more
Penicillin Baby is a psych-pop band out of Nashville, who mix fuzzy surf-pop melodies, pounding bass and rhythmic drums. Did that grab your attention? If so, then you will want to check out their single “Stick It Out,” either from the soundcloud stream or their new video below. What makes this band appealing is all … Read more
Passenger Peru Light Places Fleeting Youth Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Brooklyn duo expands upon their excellent debut with an even better sophomore album! Album Review: I have been sitting on this review for a few weeks, trying to figure out some hook to tie this whole thing together and then I had an epiphany. … Read more
José González Vestiges & Claws Mute Records [2015] Fire Note Says: José González’s third album shows why he gives indie singer-songwriters a good name. Album Review: José González has always been on the periphery of my music radar—”recommended if you like” lists, collaborations or tours with artists I’m more familiar with, or just word of … Read more