The Strypes Snapshot Virgin EMI Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Strypes show that age means nothing on contagious debut! Album Review: Every now and then you run across a new band whose debut is so strong that you want to remember the first time you heard them. First time, many of us heard The … Read more
Buffalo Killers Heavy Reverie Sun Pedal Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: The Buffalo Killers return with a sonically polished 5th studio effort entitled Heavy Reverie. Album Review: The Buffalo Killers are no strangers to success. In fact, their previous four albums have gained them critical claim from Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes who knows … Read more
Lykke Li I Never Learn Atlantic Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Lykke Li’s third album is not only her best yet but also one of the top break up records released this decade. Album Review: There is nothing like a good breakup record. Time and time again these type of heart driven albums make for … Read more
Easton Stagger Phillips Resolution Road Campfire Propaganda/Rebeltone Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Easton Stagger Phillips return with a sophomore record that is a breath of fresh Alaskan air! Album Review: What happens when you get three extremely talented singer/songwriters in one room together? You guessed it – great songs, great harmonies and a record that … Read more
Black Pistol Fire Hush Or Howl Modern Outsider Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Black Pistol Fire hits the target with their second album. Album Review: Black Pistol Fire has followed up their strong debut from last year, Big Beat ‘59, with an even better sophomore effort with Hush or Howl. The duo, consisting of Canadians … Read more
Lab Partners Seven Seas Pravda Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Lab Partners have returned with an early contender for Album of the Year. Album Review: Dayton, Ohio’s favorite guitar hero’s the Lab Partners have returned with their first record since their 2010’ LP Moonlight Music, which was released by Chicago Label Pravda. The same label … Read more
Woods With Light And With Love Woodsist Records [2014] Fire Note Says: With Light and With Love is the 5th amazing album in a row from Woods! Album Review: 2012’s Bend Beyond was the fourth fantastic album in a row from Woods and one of my top ten albums for the year. When a band … Read more
The Afghan Whigs Do To The Beast Sub Pop Records [2014] Fire Note Says: 16 years? No problem – The Afghan Whigs pick right back up where they left off! Album Review: If you caught The Afghan Whigs 2012 reunion tour, you probably were not that surprised to hear the announcement of the band’s first … Read more
together PANGEA Badillac Harvest Records [2014] Fire Note Says: LA trio does garage punk the way it’s supposed to be done. Album Review: I’ll be perfectly honest: I hadn’t heard of these guys until Badillac started getting some positive reviews in the music press. Although this is their third long player, it is their first … Read more
Mac DeMarco Salad Days Captured Tracks [2014] Fire Note Says: There isn’t a song less than great on Salad Days! Album Review: Salad Days, the second album (or third if you count Rock and Roll Nightclub as an lp) from Mac DeMarco could easily have been a letdown, but instead it ends up being incredibly … Read more
The Singles Look How Fast A Heart Can Break Sound Artifacts Music [2014] Fire Note Says: The Singles hit a home run on their third swing. Album Review: This long-awaited, third full-length release from former Detroit band The Singles may be the ideal record for summer 2014. Look How Fast a Heart Can Break, the … Read more
Temples Sun Structures Fat Possum Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Temples’ impressive debut is melodic psych done right Album Review: Temples is a four-piece hailing from the small English town of Kettering and while they haven’t been around for long, their brand of pop-inflected psych rock has garnered a lot of attention. Listening to Sun … Read more
The War On Drugs Lost In The Dream Secretly Canadian Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Lost In The Dream is an instant classic. Album Review: Hailing from Philadelphia, The War on Drugs is the musical brainchild of Adam Granduciel, but also includes Dave Hartley and Robbie Bennett. The band had previously existed somewhat in the … Read more
Damien Jurado Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son Secretly Canadian Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Damien Jurado creates a masterpiece in an underrated career. Album Review: There is a lot of music out there to discover. I’d heard of Damien Jurado and even owned a few of his records before giving a listen to … Read more
Smug Brothers On The Way To The Punchline Gas Daddy Go! Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Smug Brothers offer listeners a mature and hook-laden album packed with incredibly catchy and unpredictable Dayton rock. Album Review: I was a bit surprised when I had read that On the Way to the Punchline was Dayton Ohio’s Smug … Read more
Yellow Ostrich Cosmos Barsuk Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Yellow Ostrich reach for the stars and release a truly stellar album. Album Review: Every great album has to have a great back story or at least something to enliven the press release. The story of Cosmos, Yellow Ostrich’s fifth album and third for Barsuk, goes … Read more
Beck Morning Phase Capitol Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Morning Phase is a record that has nothing to prove but everything to give! Album Review: It is really hard to believe that it has been 20 years since Beck Hansen stormed into the music scene with his hit debut record Mellow Gold (1994). It was … Read more
Mozes And The Firstborn Mozes And The Firstborn Burger Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Mozes and the Firstborn’s debut brings an excellent mix of garage rock from the Netherlands to your speakers! Album Review: The self-titled debut from the Netherlands, Mozes and the Firstborn took me by surprise when I first hit play with its … Read more
Death Of Samantha If Memory Serves Us Well St. Valentine Records [2014] Fire Note Says: If Memory Serves Us Well is a fierce reminder of why this band is so fondly remembered. Album Review: Death of Samantha are one of a handful of influential Cleveland bands that are more likely to have been heard of … Read more
Kishi Bashi Live On Valentine’s Joyful Noise Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: Just in time for Valentine’s day Kishi Bashi reinvents the magic in a live setting. Album Review: When you‘re an artist like Kishi Bashi, stripping out some elements that made his debut 151a so irresistible could be a death sentence. But, when you … Read more
Sun Kil Moon Benji Caldo Verde Records [2014] Fire Note Says: An intense lyrical driven record from Sun Kil Moon that takes a deep look at life. Album Review: Following Mark Kozelek’s career over the years can push every sensory button that includes the highest highs and lowest lows. It happened in the Red House … Read more
Russian Circles Memorial Sargent House Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Russian Circles puts out an intense, emotional album with Memorial. Album Review: Russian Circles is a three-piece rock/metal band from Chicago, consisting of Mike Sullivan (guitar), Dave Turncrantz (drums), and Brian Cook (bass). Memorial is the band’s fifth album and also served as my introduction … Read more
Jus Post Bellum Oh July Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Jus Post Bellum tell a historical story of war that is hard to turn away from! Album Review: I know that the indie neo-folk sound has been in the spotlight this past year with bands like The Lumineers, The Civil Wars, the Avetts and those … Read more
Mutual Benefit Love’s Crushing Diamond Fat Possum Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Mutual Benefit release a spectacular sounding debut! Album Review: I love it when a debut hits all the right notes from the start. That is the way I feel about the proper debut from Mutual Benefit, Love’s Crushing Diamond. The record does not … Read more
Arcade Fire Reflektor Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Arcade Fire have created a massive art-rock record that is grandiose in every superb way! Album Review: “Magic Mirror, on the wall, who is the biggest band of them all?” Arcade Fire of course is the correct response and after taking on this behemoth of a … Read more