Mikal Cronin/Superchunk “Takin’ It Easy” b/w “Good Morning” Merge Records [2014] Late last fall, Merge Records announced Or Thousands of Prizes which is a subscription-based, bonus-filled box set celebrating Merge Records’ twenty-fifth anniversary. Merge also did a really cool thing and donated all the proceeds to Oxfam America. Part of this box set includes 7-inch … Read more
Vertical Scratchers Daughter Of Everything Merge Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Vertical Scratchers are all about sharp and quick indie rock. Album Review: Vertical Scratchers were destined to create indie rock, as members John Schmersal (ex-Brainiac/Enon, live Caribou, and Crooks on Tape) and Christian Beaulieu (ex-Triclops!/Anywhere) resume suggest. Their debut record, Daughter of Everything, is … Read more
Hospitality Trouble Merge Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Hospitality’s Trouble happily doesn’t live up to its title. Album Review: I’ve listened to Hospitality’s sophomore LP Trouble many times and it is still difficult to get a feel for this album. At times psychedelic, at others poppy, and yet at others rocking, Trouble doesn’t lend itself … 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
Polvo Siberia Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Chapel Hill band release their second excellent post-reunion album. Album Review: When Polvo returned in 2009 they were way ahead of the pack. Little did we know that pretty much every 90’s indie band of consequence would reform, tour and attempt to recapture the magic of an … Read more
Here is the new video from Mikal Cronin for “Peace of Mind”. It is a track off of his latest and excelllent record MCII which recieved our *Headphone Approved* honors back in May (TFN Review). The video below was directed by Lara Gallagher and stars Mary Timony (Wild Flag, Helium) as a hotel maid who … 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
Saint Rich Beyond The Drone Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Saint Rich bring a warm indie vibe to their debut Beyond The Drone. Album Review: Saint Rich is the musical partnership of Christian Peslak and Steve Marion. You may know Steve from his instrumental band, Delicate Steve, which has released two albums on David … Read more
Neutral Milk Hotel In The Aeroplane Over The Sea Merge Records Released: February 10, 1998 Producer: Robert Schneider Length: 39:55 It‘s really hard not to bring up the Elephant 6 Music collective without one name and band coming to mind: Jeff Mangum/Neutral Milk Hotel. While many brilliant and underappreciated artists (Elf Power, The Olivia Tremor … Read more
Richard Buckner Surrounded Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Buckner expands his sonic palette on his tenth studio record. Album Review: Buckner spent nearly five years working on the follow up to his 2006 lp, Meadow. When 2011’s Our Blood was finally released, after having been rerecorded three times, most were pleased with the results. … Read more
We know a little more today than yesterday and we will even more tonight from what we know right now. That seems to be the media roll out for the new Arcade Fire record Reflektor due out October 29 on Merge. Everyone loves a mystery right? This feels like a case for the Hardy Boys … Read more
King Khan & The Shrines Idle No More Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: King Khan is back with a soul rock record that will get you grooving in a hot second. Album Review: Album Review: It has been six years since King Khan & The Shrines released a full length of new material, so … Read more
Superchunk I Hate Music Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Superchunk return with an energetic and thought stirring tenth record. Album Review: “I hate music – what is it worth? / Can’t bring anyone back to this earth” is the first line in the single “Me & You & Jackie Mittoo” from Superchunk’s tenth studio … Read more
The Love Language Ruby Red Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Every song on The Love Language’s Ruby Red is good – making you want to listen to the album again and again. Album Review: Ruby Red is the first I’ve heard of indie/rock band The Love Language. After listening to the album’s first track, … Read more
Superchunk “Me & You & Jackie Mittoo” b/w “Sunset Arcade” Merge Records [2013] I love that we can once again get hyped up over a new Superchunk record. Their last album, Majesty Shredding, found the band back in perfect form and from the sounds of this 7-inch, their next full length, I Hate Music (out … Read more
Future Bible Heroes Partygoing Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: After an eleven year hiatus Stephin Merritt revives the Future Bible Heroes brand. And it was worth the wait. Album Review: Stephin Merritt is a titan. The Mount Rushmore of indie is almost certainly carved with his face on it (along with Pollard, Malkmus and … Read more
Eleanor Friedberger Personal Record Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Sophomore album Personal Record secures Eleanor Friedberger’s full time status as a solo act. Album Review: With The Fiery Furnaces on a hiatus it seems like the perfect time for Eleanor Friedberger to release her sophomore album Personal Record. The record once again highlights her … Read more
She & Him Volume 3 Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: She & Him embrace a higher profile as Volume 3 maintains their retro swagger. Album Review: It is really crazy how many things have happened to Zooey Deschanel since She & Him’s sophomore record was released back in 2010. She now has the Fox … Read more
Superchunk will release I Hate Music, their tenth studio album, on August 20. After taking nearly a decade off following the release of Here’s to Shutting Up, Mac, Laura, Jon, and Jim decided to shout it out again in 2010 with Majesty Shredding, an album perfectly described by its own title. The band’s forthcoming release, … Read more
Mikal Cronin MCII Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Don’t miss out on this Album of the Year contender! Album Review: Despite the excellence of his debut self titled solo album released late in 2011, Mikal Cronin is best known as the bass player for the Ty Segall band. His collaboration 2009 with Segall, Reverse … Read more
Superchunk Void b/w Faith 7” Merge Records [2013] This 7-inch turned out to be one of the highlights of Record Store Day 2013. Two brand-new Superchunk songs inspired by Mac McCaughan’s favorite hardcore records, the punk split album on Dischord with the bands Faith and Void. McCaughan stated that “musically we aren’t like either of … Read more
William Tyler Impossible Truth Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Tyler takes you on an acoustic psychedelic trip on Impossible Truth. Album Review: This is a tough one to review, not because it’s a bad record, in fact it’s damn good. It’s tough because it’s an instrumental guitar record, and I am about as fluent … Read more
Telekinesis Dormarion Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Telekinesis returns with a bigger sound on third long player Dormarion. Album Review: Michael Benjamin Lerner’s Telekinesis project returns with its third record, Dormarion, and finds the group maturing its sound and confidently delivering an indie rock experience. You may remember that before Telekinesis’s 2011 sophomore effort, … Read more
Shout Out Louds Optica Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Shout Out Louds conjure up the spirits of New Order and The Cure on their 4th lp, Optica. Album Review: On their fourth lp Optica, the follow-up to 2010’s Work, the Shout Out Louds have crafted an album that is equal parts Cure inspired pop … Read more
Mount Moriah Miracle Temple Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Mount Moriah offer a lesson in restraint on their engaging sophomore outing Miracle Temple. Album Review: Mount Moriah’s new sophomore record, Miracle Temple, is one of those albums that just gets embedded in your head as it plays with its countrified rhythms, charismatic lead vocals … Read more