Anna Calvi One Breath Domino Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Anna Calvi proves why Brian Eno called her “the best thing since Patti Smith.” Album Review: On Anna Calvi’s self-titled debut she drew comparisons to PJ Harvey, Jeff Buckley and (what?) even Bruce Springsteen. However, her virtuoso guitar playing and Edith Piaf-esque voice defied those … Read more
The Kinks Muswell Hillbillies (Deluxe Edition) Universal Music UK [1971; 2013] Fire Note Says: Kinks klassic gets loaded up with great bonus material! Album Review: After “Lola” and its accompanying album (1970’s Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One,), The Kinks had a good deal of bargaining power: the single took the world by … Read more
Bird Nest Roys Me Want Me Get Me Need Me Have Me Love Captured Tracks/Flying Nun Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Reissue compiles Aukland band’s entire recorded output and reminds us of Flying Nun Records’ enormous impact. Album Review: I’ll admit it right up front: I love Kiwi-pop. I love Flying Nun for all the … Read more
Nirvana In Utero (20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition) Universal Music [1993; 2013] Fire Note Says: A classic turns 20! Album Review: It is interesting how different Nirvana’s third LP, In Utero, sounds 20 years after its release. Not different like I have never heard things before but this album stands taller today without any of … Read more
Sweatshop Boys The Great Depression Dirt Cult Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Impressive punk-pop-rock debut from Israel band Sweatshop Boys. Album Review: About 11 days ago I sent an unofficial review of Sweatshop Boys debut album, The Great Depression, to our friends at Dirt Cult Records. This is what it said: “This record rocks!” Now … Read more
The Mountain Goats All Hail West Texas Merge Records [2002; 2013] Fire Note Says: The Mountain Goats’ classic All Hail West Texas gets a remastered reissue with new tracks. Album Review: One of the great things about reissues is having an opportunity to revisit or discover classics that were missed the first time around. The … Read more
Elvis Costello and The Roots Wise Up Ghost and Other Songs Blue Note Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Teaming up with The Roots is an obvious next step on Costello’s life-long creative quest! Album Review: Over the decades, the one time punk rocker Elvis Costello has proved surprisingly versatile in a variety of musically diverse … Read more
Bill Callahan Dream River Drag City Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Bill Callahan slows life down on the entrancing Dream River. Album Review: Bill Callahan is still best known from his work with Smog but since his first solo record, Woke on a Whaleheart, was released under his own name back in 2007, he has … Read more
Leeroy Stagger Truth Be Sold Gold Lake Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Leeroy Stagger’s Truth Be Sold is one of the better Americana records you will hear this year! Album Review: I think everyone who listens to a vast amount of music always has one or two artists in their back pocket that are relatively … Read more
Tedeschi Trucks Band Made Up Mind Sony Masterworks [2013] Fire Note Says: Tedeschi Trucks Band honors all that was vital and consistently relevant in the tradition with fresh, authentic voices. Album Review: If the combined talents of Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks felt like a revelation to so many blues fans when they brought their … Read more
Bob Dylan Another Self Portrait (1969-1971): The Bootleg Series Vol. 10 Columbia Records [2013] Fire Note Says: From one of Dylan’s most reviled albums comes one of his most essential releases. Album Review: 1969-71 was one of many periods of transition for Bob Dylan, but it was one of the most important. He’d already gone … Read more
The Clean Vehicle Captured Tracks Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Fantastic reissue from New Zealand legends The Clean. Album Review: Kiwi legends, The Clean, have been delivering their jangle pop goodness to their devoted following since the late 70’s. They started their career releasing a handful of ep’s on the Flying Nun label, before brothers … Read more
Adam Franklin & Bolts Of Melody Black Horses Goodnight Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Ex-Swervedriver front man consistently delivers and Black Horses may be his best solo work yet. Album Review: For those of us who still worship at the altar of Oxford shoe gazers Swervedriver the mere fact that Adam Franklin is still active … Read more
Black Joe Lewis Electric Slave Vagrant Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Black Joe Lewis unleashes a rip roaring rock party on third LP – Electric Slave! Album Review: In our recent interview with Joe Lewis he stated that his third full length, Electric Slave, represents a new beginning for himself and the band. He went … Read more
No Age An Object Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: No Age continues to perfect their garage psychedelia sound with An Object. Album Review: Los Angelinos Randy Randall and Dean Allen Spunt (the two principals of No Age) return with their fourth long-player, An Object. The album title is an interesting statement – I … Read more
Wiretree Get Up Cobalt Works Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Any of Get Up’s ten tracks could be a hit single, and they only get better with time. Album Review: “How have I not heard of this band?” This was the question I asked myself as I listened to Wiretree’s fourth LP, Get Up. Hailing … Read more
Morningbell Bôa Noite Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Morningbell’s Bôa Noite is an exercise in time and space jubilation! Album Review: It’s rare to find a group such as Morningbell, excess without pretension (I may be glancing your way Arcade Fire). Taking their name from Kid A’s “Morning Bell,” this band has big brains and … Read more
The White Stripes Nine Miles From The White City Third Man Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Vault Package #16 captures The White Stripes at one of their highest points! Album Review: When we last left our good friend Jack White, he was giving us an interesting-yet flawed-look at the past. Jack White and The Bricks … Read more
Speedy Ortiz Major Arcana Carpark Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Massachusetts band release an album of surprising depth despite their early nineties indie rock obsession. Album Review: Speedy Ortiz lead singer and songwriter Sadie Dupuis hails from Northampton, MA – a stone’s throw from Amherst, hometown of J. Mascis. The geographic proximity is bested, however, … Read more
Blood Ceremony The Eldritch Dark Rise Above Records [2013] Fire Note Says: If Black Sabbath and Jethro Tull had a love child – this would be it. Album Review: The occult rock phenomenon that has taken hold of the metal world had a beginning and it was Canada’s Blood Ceremony. The blueprint had been there … Read more
Robert Pollard Honey Locust Honky Tonk Guided By Voices Inc. [2013] Fire Note Says: One of Robert Pollard’s strongest solo outings to date! Album Review: I know that these days a solo record from Robert Pollard is almost expected as he typically releases two albums under his own name a year. This streak actually goes … Read more
Pity Sex Feast Of Love Run For Cover Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Pity Sex makes an instantly familiar but irresistible album with Feast of Love. Album Review: A band with the name Pity Sex is asking for attention. You may think that the name is a cover-up for inconsequential mediocre music (think LMFAO, or … 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
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
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