Grouper The Man Who Died In His Boat Kranky Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Grouper creates a siren song that’s delicate, deep, and engaging. Album Review: The world of ambient music can always be a mixed bag from the post rock haze ambience of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, to the technocratic textures of Brian Eno, … Read more
Missing Number Contrast EP Self-Released [2012] Fire Note Says: Make your ears happy by listening to Missing Number’s Contrast. Album Review: I’m gonna take just a second to be a hipster and point out that I was a fan of these guys before they even began recording this EP. I want everyone to know that … Read more
Wake Owl Wild Country EP Vagrant Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Wake Owl’s EP Wild Country leaves an incredible first impression, making the listener want more. Album Review: Wake Owl’s EP, Wild Country, leaves an incredibly hopeful first impression. The band’s sound is mello and folksy, blending upbeat notes with country undertones. Wake Owl resonates … Read more
My Bloody Valentine m b v Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: 22 Years later, My Bloody Valentine release m b v and it seems like this noise wall is only built on strength. Album Review: It is Ralph Waldo Emerson that said “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is … Read more
Yellow Red Sparks Yellow Red Sparks Org Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Yellow Red Sparks make a strong debut on the indie folk scene! Album Review: “Whatcha gonna buy me honey?” is the strong first line you hear on the debut from the Yellow Red Sparks that instantly grabs your attention and makes you take … Read more
The Joy Formidable Wolf’s Law Atlantic Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Wolf’s Law is the record Joy Formidable fans were hoping for…and then some! Album Review: How do you follow-up a record like 2011’s The Big Roar, which was my #2 album of the year in 2011? After all, as great as that record was, … Read more
Wooden Wand Blood Oaths Of The New Blues Fire Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Put on the headphones, turn out the lights, and enjoy the new Wooden Wand record! Album Review: I didn’t see this one coming at all. When I looked at the list of upcoming albums I thought, “I’ll give the new Wooden … Read more
Blackfeet Braves Blackfeet Braves Lolipop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Blackfeet Braves take listeners back to the Sunset Strip circa 1968, dragging them through the dusty southwest along the way. Album Review: Most “retro” or “neo-[insert genre here]” acts stay just that: an act, in which the band prefers to mimic the creativity of their … Read more
Parquet Courts Light Up Gold Dull Tools Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Parquet Courts released one of the indie rock gems of 2012 – glad we finally took a listen! Album Review: Sometimes in the review world you feel like a total idiot when you miss one. I say that as we were late to … Read more
Yo La Tengo Fade Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: There won’t be many records this year that are better than the new Yo La Tengo! Album Review: There aren’t many bands out there that have been putting out records as consistently good as Yo La Tengo has, for as long as Yo La Tengo … Read more
Jack White Live At Third Man Records Third Man Records [2012] Fire Note Says: If the turntable is a rocking then the Third Man Record Vault must have opened! Album Review: Ears be praised as Third Man Records and Jack White open up the record vault once again to present us with Vault Package # … Read more
Various Artists Alive at The Deep Blues Fest Alive Natural Sound Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Alive at The Deep Blues Fest is put together with perfection as every band here scratches that blues itch in its’ own special way. Album Review: I thought reviewing my first compilation might be a challenge but, thank goodness … Read more
… And You Will Know Us From The Trail Of Dead Lost Songs Superball Music [2012] Fire Note Says: Art rock at its distorted best. Album Review: Call me nostalgic, but I still think some of Trail of Dead’s best work came off of Source Tags & Codes, their third full-length studio album. They’ve always … Read more
West End Motel Only Time Can Tell Warner Bros. Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Metal master mind’s West End Motel takes a direction that’s surprising and appreciated. Album Review: First before beginning I feel a disclaimer needs to be put in place – A lot of people know that Brent Hinds is one of the … Read more
Neil Young and Crazy Horse Psychedelic Pill Reprise/Warner Bros. Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Neil Young saddles up the Horse for a long psychedelic journey through the past! Album Review: Until this spring, it had been nearly a decade since Neil Young had saddled up his longtime backing band Crazy Horse and recorded with them. … Read more
Godspeed You! Black Emperor Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! Constellation Records [2012] Fire Note Says: This is more than a comeback record, it’s a landmark! Album Review: Here’s the thing about instrumental post rock, you almost always know what you are going to get before you put the record on. It’s going to be dramatic, it’s … Read more
Pinback Information Retrieved Temporary Residence LTD. [2012] Fire Note Says: Time means nothing to Pinback as they return strong as ever! Album Review: It has been 5 years since Pinback released their last studio album, Autumn of the Seraphs [2007], and you absolutely wouldn’t know it after taking in the sonic adventure that is their … Read more
Tame Impala Lonerism Modular Recordings [2012] Fire Note Says: Like a black hole this album sucks you in and then proceeds to explode like a super nova! Album Review: If Tame Impala’s first album Innerspeaker [2010] is their Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band then Lonerism has to be their Dark Side of the Moon. … Read more
Ty Segall Twins Drag City Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Segall saves his best of three albums in 2012 for last! Album Review: Ty Segall is walking in rarified air these days. There aren’t many artists who can put out three excellent albums in a year. Ryan Adams tried it with his trilogy of Cold … Read more
Lord Huron Lonesome Dreams IAMSOUND Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Lord Huron delivers a sparkling, thoughtful full-length debut with Lonesome Dreams. Album Review: Let’s not talk about Fleet Foxes or Band of Horses, nor Crosby, Stills & Nash. Doubtless most considerations of Lord Huron’s first full-length album will be full of backward-looking and sidelong scrutinies. … Read more
Murder By Death Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon Bloodshot Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Murder By Death not only deliver the goods on their sixth full length, Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon, but have also released one of the best albums in 2012! Album Review: I love it when an album takes hold of me from the very first track … Read more
How To Dress Well Total Loss Acephale Records [2012] Fire Note Says: How to Dress Well impresses with their second full-length Total Loss. Album Review: How to Dress Well is Tom Krell, a Brooklynite who produces and sings on the second full-length album Total Loss. Much of the album is sung in falsetto, which reminded … Read more
The Avett Brothers The Carpenter American/Universal Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Avett Brothers go beyond just providing a record and deliver an experience that will keep you coming back! Album Review: The Avett Brothers return to the music scene next week with the release of their seventh album, The Carpenter, which once again reunites … Read more
Red River Dialect “awellupontheway” Self-Released [2012] Fire Note Says: You may not have heard of them yet but Red River Dialect have released a record that is one of the best albums of 2012! Album Review: Do you want to hear a totally under the radar psych-folk record that should easily land high on our … Read more
Holograms Holograms Captured Tracks Records [2012] Fire Note Says: All post-punk business from the Holograms stellar self-titled debut! Album Review: Stockholm’s Holograms are not messing around and their post-punk self-titled debut is loud, punchy and downright addicting. It is the type of modern gritty album that gets under your skin in a good way, makes … Read more