Here is vinyl set that has been long out of print and costs dearly at the second hand market. The Magnetic Fields excellent 69 Love Songs is being reissued by Merge on November 6. The limited-edition of 1000 10-inch box set includes six records—2 black, 2 red, and 2 clear—housed in a sturdy slipcase along … Read more
Mike Krol Turkey Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Mike Krol gives you a short but fun fuzzy rocker in Turkey. Album Review: 19 minutes. That is what you get on Mike Krol’s Merge debut Turkey. 19 minutes of feedback heavy indie rock that catches your ear fast and then quickly dissipates. This is Krol’s … Read more
HeCTA The Diet Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Kurt Wagner follows a new path with his band HeCTA. Album Review: Kurt Wagner tends to duck any fight to establish a legacy as a treasured American songwriter. He’s a considerable talent, but not particularly interested in pushing it on you. Where Lambchop cut a very … Read more
Destroyer Poison Season Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Dan Bejar is back with the right-on-target Poison Season. Album Review: It’s easy to see why Dan Bejar is so embraced by music critics. He makes music that is unique and complex; distinctive yet accessible to the patient listener. Bejar is back under the Destroyer name … Read more
Titus Andronicus The Most Lamentable Tragedy Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Risking over-ambition and failure, The Most Lamentable Tragedy has it merits—just hope you’ve done your homework. Album Review: From a literary standpoint, Titus Andronicus could be considered William Shakespeare’s first tragedy, a gruesome tale of rape, violence, and revenge. While New Jersey’s Titus … Read more
On September 18, Merge Records will present The Diet, the debut album from HeCTA. Using the idea of combining the notion of “song” and elements from stand-up comedy, and electronic music and a shared love of the electronic form and its many permutations, HeCTA respectfully, playfully explored and experimented to make The Diet. HeCTA is … Read more
Mikal Cronin MCIII Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: How do you follow-up an album of the year? Easy, record another potential album of the year! Album Review: To say that expectations are high for the new Mikal Cronin lp at Fire Note Headquarters is a massive understatement. Cronin’s last album, MCII, came in at … Read more
Mac McCaughan Non-Believers Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: First solo record from Superchunk and Merge Records founder Mac McCaughan. Album Review: It is really hard to believe that 2015 brings us the first solo record from Mac McCaughan. As founder of Superchunk, Portastatic and Merge Records, Mac has always stayed extremely busy so there … Read more
The Mountain Goats Beat The Champ Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: The Mountain Goats return with a fun, thoughtful themed album. Album Review: The cover of Beat The Champ, the latest album by The Mountain Goats, has a picture of two wrestlers going at it in the ring. John Darnielle’s 15th studio album is … 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
We really could not get enough of Ex Hex’s debut record last year as Rips landed number 5 on our Blazing Top 50. Rips’ twelve songs definitely delivered a lesson on what it takes to create a great rock album. Now you can watch the trio of Mary Timony, Laura Harris and Betsy Wright have … 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
Twerps Range Anxiety Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Twerps return with another batch of indie jangle bliss. Album Review: There is always a place for simple guitar, simple lyrics and bright melodies in indie rock and that is exactly what Australia’s Twerps offered on their 2011 self-titled debut. With plenty of critic praise, it … Read more
2015 just got a little better as Merge Records has announced the new Mikal Cronin, MCIII, will be released May 5th. The first 500 orders of MCIII on LP in the Merge store will receive the album on clear colored vinyl. You can grab your copy HERE. MCIII is the follow up to Cronin’s excellent … Read more
Waxahatchee’s new album Ivy Tripp will be out April 7 via Merge Records. The record will be the highly anticipated follow up to Cerulean Salt, which landed #6 in our Top 50 of 2013. The album was recorded and engineered by Kyle Gilbride of Wherever Audio at band founder, leader, and singer Katie Crutchfield’s home … Read more
I honestly didn’t see this one coming but why not. Arcade Fire’s Will Butler has announced a solo effort titled Policy out March 10, 2015 via Merge Records. Any guesses on what direction Policy will go? I can’t stop thinking that modern day Cheap Trick will be the approach.
Caribou Our Love Merge Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Caribou returns after a four year absence with a drop dead gorgeous record. Album Review: Dan Snaith burst into our consciousness as Manitoba in 2003, with the classic album Up in Flames. After a name change to Caribou following that album’s release, Snaith continued releasing one … Read more
Ex Hex Rips Merge Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Ex Hex debut backs up its album title! Album Review: Ex Hex has quickly become one of the best female power trios on the music scene today. The band is lead by Mary Timony, which through the mid 90′s she fronted the Matador Records band Helium, … Read more
Bob Mould has unveiled a new video for “The War” off his new Merge Records album Beauty & Ruin. The video captures Bob and his band sweating out a show in the pure rock fashion that they always offer! “The War” is another great tune in Mould’s arsenal and make sure you watch till the … Read more
David Kilgour & The Heavy Eights End Times Undone Merge Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Yet another in a long line of consistently excellent releases from the New Zealand legend! Album Review: David Kilgour has been releasing and performing music since the late 70’s, starting with The Clean before moving on to The Great Unwashed, … Read more
Reigning Sound Shattered Merge Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Reigning Sound fill the heart with lots of soul. Album Review: Reigning Sound could have probably been huge as the band is fronted by Memphis garage punk legend Greg Cartwright (The Oblivians, Detroit Cobras, Compulsive Gamblers). Their debut was released in 2001 on Sympathy for the … Read more
Bob Mould Beauty & Ruin Merge Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Bob Mould returns with an emotionally charged record. Album Review: Right from the opening track “Low Season” you recognize that Beauty & Ruin is one of the most emotionally driven records Bob Mould has released. The song is a slow burner that finds Mould … Read more
There isn’t a Spoon album that I don’t enjoy. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga ranks up there with the best and now Newbury Comics and Merge Records have given it an exclusive vinyl pressing. 500 copies on 180 gram transparent red swirl makes this one special and the album also comes with a digital download … Read more
Chapel Hill’s Spider Bags just announced that they have joined the Merge Records roster. Frozen Letter, the band’s fourth full-length album and first for Merge, will be released on August 5th. If you are new to the band then “Back With You Again In The World” is your first listen into their style of rock … Read more
Wye Oak Shriek Merge Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Wye Oak trades guitars for synths with (mostly) positive results Album Review: It seems a lot of bands these days are switching out guitars for keyboards, often totally changing their sound in the process. For Wye Oak, at least it makes some practical sense: a duo … Read more