DIIV Oshin Captured Tracks Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The debut from DIIV will be one of the best releases you hear in 2012! Album Review: Which came first? The music or the lyrics? When it comes to the new band from Beach Fossils touring guitarist Zachary Cole Smith called DIIV it might be a … Read more
Guided By Voices Class Clown Spots A UFO GBV Inc. [2012] Fire Note Says: Class Clown Spots A UFO respectfully captures past GBV glories while making “the classic lineup” a force on the current indie rock scene! Album Review: Ready for round two? You better be as Class Clown Spots A UFO is the second … Read more
Archie Powell & The Exports Great Ideas In Action Good Land Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Archie Powell & The Exports perfect their good time rock out on sophomore outing Great Ideas In Action! Album Review: Sometimes it is best to not change a thing when you have a winning formula and that is exactly … Read more
The Walkmen Heaven Fat Possum Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Walkmen release another stellar album with the graceful Heaven! Album Review: One could say that The Walkmen have hit their stride but I believe this top end streak started about 4 years ago and has never halted evidenced by the excellent You & Me … Read more
Jack White Blunderbuss Third Man/Columbia Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Jack White releases his debut solo record Blunderbuss that aims to entertain from beginning to end! Album Review: Right from the opening Rhodes piano playing you just have a sense that one of the true sides of Jack White has just been unleashed to the … Read more
Spiritualized Sweet Heart Sweet Light Fat Possum Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Spiritualized return with the excellent Sweet Heart Sweet Light that most definitely will be one of the best releases this year! Album Review: 15 years is a long time to hit all the right keys but I feel the seventh long player from … Read more
Kishi Bahsi151aJoyful Noise Recordings [2012] A soaring indie pop record primarily written on a violin might scare you a bit but that is exactly the creative process behind the debut 151a from K. Ishibashi aka Kishi Bashi. Now before you run off based on that intro know that 151a uses a full array of instruments … Read more
The Shins Port Of Morrow Aural Apothecary/Columbia Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Shins return with a bigger sound that results in the same outcome – stellar! Album Review: Five years is a lifetime in the music scene but that is exactly how long it has been since the release of The Shins last record … Read more
The Men Open Your Heart Sacred Bones Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Men release their most exciting record to date! Album Review: The Men proved to be one of the harder hitting post-punk groups out there after last years thrilling Leave Home record took everyone that listened by surprise. Just as jolting is that … Read more
Perfume Genius Put Your Back N 2 It Matador Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Another deep record from Perfume Genius that leaves the lo-fi behind this time and displays an entire new level of talent! Album Review: I don’t believe that most people think of albums as sequels but that is the exact way to … Read more
Frankie Rose Interstellar Slumberland Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Frankie Rose makes her best album yet! Album Review: Frankie Rose already has a superb indie resume as a member of the Vivian Girls, Dum Dum Girls, and Crystal Stilts plus an excellent solo debut released in 2010. It is a track record that has lead … Read more
Audra Mae & The Almighty Sound Audra Mae & The Almighty Sound SideOneDummy Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Audra Mae turns up the heat with her backing band The Almighty Sound and creates one hell of a sophomore record! Album Review: If you checked out Audra Mae’s debut, The Happiest Lamb [2010], then you already … Read more
Cloud Nothings Attack On Memory Carpark Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Cloud Nothings evolve again on their spectacular sophomore outing Attack On Memory! Album Review: Sometimes it is amazing how much can change in a year as the ever evolving Cloud Nothings follows up a really good self-titled debut record released last January with the … Read more
Guided By Voices Let’s Go Eat The Factory Guided By Voices Inc. [2012] Fire Note Says: Oh yeah, did you hear? Guided By Voices are back! Album Review: I can’t think of many other upcoming 2012 albums that people have been waiting 15 years to hear, so the new record from the “classic line up” … Read more
Real EstateDaysDomino [2011] Simplistic splendor is one way to describe the sophomore full-length album, Days, from New Jersey’s Real Estate. The album possesses a pure flow that carries the listener seamlessly from track to track, anchored by the soft vocal delivery of singer/guitarist Martin Courtney. His voice engages in an internal struggle with the surrounding … Read more
Wild FlagWild FlagMerge Records [2011] I don’t think there are that many records that we know about a year in advance, but that is how long we have been tracking indie supergroup Wild Flag’s debut. The female four-piece brings a plethora of experience to the party, as Wild Flag consists of Sleater-Kinney guitarist/singer Carrie Brownstein … Read more
Tame Impala Innerspeaker Modular Recordings [2010] Fire Drill Album Review: My first listen to Aussie export trio Tame Impala really didn’t do too much for me. Sure – their debut Innerspeaker has plenty of fuzz and psychedelic 60’s rock but it was so dense that I kept grabbing the record in pieces. Big mistake. Innerspeaker … Read more
Real EstateReal EstateWoodsist Records [2009] The debut album from Real Estate is indeed the breezy affair that their album cover suggests. The New Jersey quartet blends a mellow indie sway with a surf music backdrop, all wrapped in subtle yet gorgeous melodies. The band’s approach has a calming effect on the listener, and their record … Read more
The Gaslight AnthemThe ’59 SoundSideOneDummy Records [2008] The ’59 Sound by The Gaslight Anthem is the type of album you’ve been waiting for all year long. The New Jersey band’s sophomore release is filled with tracks that blend Springsteen’s storytelling prowess with the spirit of The Replacements, and it doesn’t hold anything back. It’s the … Read more
Spoon Ga Ga Ga Ga GaMerge Records [2007] Spoon is back with their highly anticipated 6th full length Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. Everyone’s favorite band from Austin gives you 10 songs of their standard jagged rock that will instantly grab your attention but will take multiple listens to really appreciate. I must admit that … Read more
Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m NotDomino Records [2006] The British are coming, The British are coming. I say, bring them on! The UK has been trying to break a band here in the US since the Beatles. However, most of the time, the next big thing over there ends … Read more