JJ Grey & Mofro Ol’ Glory Provogue Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Imitation is the greatest form of appreciation. Album Review: Working out of Northern Florida, JJ Grey & Mofro have come closest to capturing their live energy on their 9th full-length project in 15 years, a sound that has made them fans in the … Read more
Waxahatchee Ivy Tripp Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Indie stardom hasn’t diminished Katie Crutchfield’s songwriting flame. Album Review: It’s a tricky thing – working on the follow-up to your breakout LP. Many musicians have wilted under the pressure of increased critical scrutiny and fan expectations. Do you return with more of the same or … Read more
Toro y Moi What For? Carpark Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Toro y Moi refreshes his sound on What For? Album Review: Toro y Moi (aka Chaz Bundick) has taken a leap forward on his new album, What For? Previously Bundick’s music has been much more relaxed and streamlined, heavy on the synthesizer. Bundick forsakes … Read more
Speedy Ortiz could easily produce songs that sound rote. But within their 90’s indie trappings a distinct personality develops with the help of angular guitars, barely-disguised pain, and poetically-delivered wit. They’ve delivered before, so it can only be assumed that this personality will transfer over to their new release Foil Deer. After the exciting release … Read more
Godspeed You! Black Emperor Asunder, Sweet And Other Distresses Constellation Records [2015] Fire Note Says: The noisy Canadians are back. Better run for the hills. Album Review: If ever there was a band in a perpetual bad mood it would have to be these Montreal freaks. Although their targets are mostly well-worn demons: Capitalism, Globalization, … Read more
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Freedom Tower – No Wave Dance Party 2015 Mom + Pop Music [2015] Fire Note Says: The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion return with no class-believe me that’s a good thing. Album Review: After asking to pay respects during opener “Funeral,” Spencer then asks “Fellas, are you ready to hit it … Read more
The Splits hail from Helsinki, Finland and after one spin of today’s fire track you will not be surprised that they have a love for 70’s punk. The velocity of “Melody” is all I need to hear with the power vocals and backup ahh ahhs to make my day better. Their new record, simply titled … Read more
The King Khan & BBQ Show Bad News Boys In The Red Records [2015] Fire Note Says: King Khan & BBQ return with another fun and rockin’ set of songs. Album Review: We last heard from King Khan on the 2013 Merge Records release Idle No More with the Shrines. It was one of most … Read more
Evans The Death Expect Delays Slumberland Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Evans the Death enthralls with Expect Delays. Album Review: London’s Evans The Death has returned with their second album, Expect Delays, following up their 2012 eponymous debut. Band members include Katherine Whitaker (vocals and keys), Dan Moss (guitar), Olly Moss (bass), and James Burkitt … Read more
Modest Mouse Strangers To Ourselves Epic Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Modest Mouse returns and it was almost worth the wait. Album Review: A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work. Which is to say that even if this were the least impressive album of Modest Mouse’s career (which it is) … Read more
Madonna Rebel Heart Boy Toy / Interscope Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Rebel Heart is a pretty safe and predictable offering. Album Review: We have to give Madonna her due. In 1983, it was easy to assume that she was just one more “Lucky Star,” a flash in the pan, one and done. Dance/disco acts … Read more
Pile You’re Better Than This Exploding In Sound Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Pile’s third LP continues their trend of incredible releases, and this time they have out done themselves. This is album of the year material. Album Review: Once upon a time, I heard a disjointed, but oddly intriguing LP, Pavement’s Slanted and Enchanted. … Read more
Hayden Hey Love Arts & Crafts [2015] Fire Note Says: Toronto’s Hayden adds another strong record to his ever growing catalog. Album Review: Hayden had immediate attention on his 1996 debut Everything I Long For. His brooding vocals and lonely arrangements landed perfectly and were very fresh at the time, as the alternative rock explosion … Read more
Today’s Fire Track comes from Columbus, Ohio’s Van Dale. The trio have a back-to-basics self-titled record coming out March 31st via Fleeting Youth Records and I will tell you that after one spin it is a fun ride! “Speak Yellow” is the highlighted track today and I think you will dig it from its opening … Read more
Wand Golem In The Red Records [2015] Fire Note Says: The title says it all; Wand’s Golem is a fantastical, heavy monster. Album Review: Please do yourself a favor and shout it from the mountain tops, “WAND IS BACK!” Coming out of nowhere with their debut Ganglion Reef—my number six top album for 2014—Wand devised … Read more
Moon Duo Shadow Of The Sun Sacred Bones Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Shadow Of The Sun has Moon Duo going for the groove. Album Review: Moon Duo’s Ralph Waldo Emerson inspired LP of 2012, Circles, was the first thing to put the group on my radar, offering up sprawling, acid-damaged, hypnotic jams that could … Read more
Tobias Jesso Jr. Goon True Panther Sounds [2015] Fire Note Says: The performing singer/songwriter is alive and well on Goon. Album Review: I don’t know exactly how many times I have said it around here but music always is circular. A style that was dominate in the past and then fades away, always seems to … Read more
No Spill Blood Heavy Electricity Sargent House Records [2015] Fire Note Says: No Spill Blood’s debut album is a shot of pure adrenaline for your ears. Album Review: Some bands like to impress you with their vast knowledge of various and sundry musical genres in a culmination of years and years of crate digging self-gratification. … Read more
Iron & Wine Archive Series Vol. No. 1 Black Cricket Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Archival recordings take listeners back to Iron & Wine’s whispery homespun origins. Album Review: Sam Beam has come a long way since his 2002 Sub Pop debut The Creek Drank the Cradle: since those earliest days, Iron & Wine has … Read more
Seth Avett & Jessica Lea Mayfield Seth Avett & Jessica Lea Mayfield Sing Elliott Smith Ramseur Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Avett & Mayfield take a risk with Elliott Smith cover record. Album Review: If you are going to cover Elliott Smith you better bring it. There are only a handful of deceased modern artists … Read more
of Montreal Aureate Gloom Polyvinyl Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Kevin Barnes version of the break-up record is as schizo as you’d imagine. Album Review: After eleven years Kevin Barnes and wife Nina Grottland called it quits and we, the indie music consumer, are the ultimate beneficiaries. All the typical Of Montreal signifiers are there … Read more
I will admit that it takes quite a bit to get me excited when it comes to new music these days. So much of it comes at us from so many different directions anymore it really is hard to keep up. Do I still love it? – Absolutely. Is picking a worthy “fire” track every … Read more
Victor Villarreal Sleep Talk Joyful Noise Recordings [2015] Fire Note Says: Sleep Talk is the perfect record for a late night of socializing with spirits or just putting on the headphones and drifting off. Album Review: Victor Villarreal has quietly become one of the most respected guitarists on the indie rock scene with his work … Read more
Spring is around the corner and hopefully the March Bandcamp edition will hit you like a Lion! This month we have a psych-folk group from Korea, a classic indie band from Memphis, progressive music from Greece and an energetic group from Allentown, PA. Enjoy the new artists below and please Discover, Support & Share! The … Read more
Will Butler Policy Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: The solo debut from Arcade Fire’s spunky multi-instrumentalist Will Butler. Album Review: Who is Will Butler you ask? Well, he is a multi-instrumentalist from the band Arcade Fire and also the younger brother of lead singer Win. I will admit that Will is not the first … Read more