Calexico Edge Of The Sun ANTI- [2015] Fire Note Says: Calexico continue to conjure cinematic visions of the southwest with their latest album. Album Review: Calexico is always good. Seriously, even when they are just ok, they are still really good comparatively speaking. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Spiritoso live album, but I … Read more
The Apartments The Evening Visits…and Stays For Years Captured Tracks [2015] Fire Note Says: An often overlooked 80’s classic is given the deluxe reissue treatment. Album Review: The Evening Visits…and Stays for Years is a dark and brooding indie pop album from the 80’s, led by a former (brief) member of The Go-Betweens. Peter Milton … Read more
Passenger Peru Light Places Fleeting Youth Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Brooklyn duo expands upon their excellent debut with an even better sophomore album! Album Review: I have been sitting on this review for a few weeks, trying to figure out some hook to tie this whole thing together and then I had an epiphany. … Read more
Big Dick Disappointment Dirt Cult Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Their debut album was great…this is GREATER! Album Review: It’s no secret that Big Dick’s debut album was one of The Fire Note’s favorite albums of 2013, in fact, internally we have often dreamed that the Canadian duo would headline a mythical Fire Note Fest, … Read more
Sonny & The Sunsets Talent Night At The Ashram Polyvinyl Records [2015] Fire Note Says: A delightfully weird psychedelic pop album from Sonny & The Sunsets. Album Review: When we last heard from Sonny Smith and his shapeshifting Sunsets on 2013’s Antenna to the Afterworld, he was busy dealing with aliens, death, lost love, affairs, … Read more
Ty Segall Band Live In San Francisco Castle Face Records [2015] Fire Note Says: The Ty Segall Band take no prisoners on the excellent Live in San Francisco. Album Review: Every so often an artist comes around where you don’t even need to think about it, you just buy the records. Ty Segall is unquestionably … Read more
Belle And Sebastian Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance Matador Records [2015] Fire Note Says: By combining 60’s pop hooks with a disco beat Belle And Sebastian have redefined their signature sound! Album Review: Has it really been almost five years since we last had a new Belle and Sebastian record? Apparently so, and truth … Read more
Parkay Quarts Content Nausea What’s Your Rupture? Records [2014] Fire Note Says: A late 2014 release from Parquet Courts offshoot project is a must have! Album Review: Parkay Quarts is the side project of Andrew Savage and Austin Brown of Parquet Courts, and one can only assume that this side project is a way of … Read more
COZY Button By Button HoZac Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Give COZY 31 minutes and they will make you believe they are the best band in the world! Album Review: Two things you need to know right off the bat about COZY, they play loud, catchy power pop punk with attitude and they are on … Read more
Ty Segall $ingle$ 2 Drag City Records [2014] Fire Note Says: A fantastic collection of non-album singles and b sides brings 2014 to the perfect end for Ty Segall fans. Album Review: How does Ty Segall cap off a brilliant 2014, a year that saw him releasing the best album of his career and one … Read more
The Fire Note wouldn’t be possible without the talented writers that have signed on here to share their educated thoughts and true enjoyment of music with our readers. Our year end Top 50 is coming early next week but clearly everyone has different tastes and ideas when naming the best album released in 2014. So … Read more
TV On The Radio Seeds Harvest Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Seeds is a profound journey through pain and loss, and ultimately, spiritual recovery and rebirth! Album Review: TV on the Radio were part of that first wave of “blog bands” that hit it big in the early 2000’s based on the promise of their … Read more
Ariel Pink Pom Pom 4AD Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Pom Pom is an insanely infectious joyride that seems to take you on a different route each time you listen. Album Review: You probably haven’t heard anything like Pom Pom, the 17 track new album from Ariel Pink (minus his Haunted Graffiti) this year, and … Read more
Deerhoof La Isla Bonita Polyvinyl Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Nobody does avant-garde pop music like the insanely catchy Deerhoof. Album Review: There are two kinds of people in this world, those that get Deerhoof and those that don’t. I feel sorry for those that don’t, because they have missed out on some of the … Read more
Thurston Moore The Best Day Matador Records [2014] Fire Note Says: A thrilling, gorgeous record from an indie icon. Album Review: At this point in his career, which has spanned across the better part of 4 decades, Thurston Moore doesn’t have many surprises up his sleeve. He has done it all, from being in a … Read more
Foxygen …And Star Power Jagjaguwar Records [2014] Fire Note Says: A sprawling double lp that both excites and confounds. Album Review: The duo of Sam France and Jonathan Rado, who comprise Foxygen, can definitely not be accused of taking the easy path. After breaking up (or not breaking up) on tour for their critically acclaimed … Read more
Shellac Dude Incredible Touch And Go Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Dude Incredible is a bad mofo! Album Review: Man, it’s a shame that Shellac seems to have slowed their release pace down to roughly the speed of a glacier moving across vast stretches of land, because Dude Incredible, the trio’s first album since Excellent … Read more
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
Straight Arrows Rising HoZac Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Australian garage rockers with plenty of fuzz and lots of actual tunes! Album Review: This Australian based band led by Own Penglis is guaranteed to jump to the head of the garage rock class with their sophomore album, Rising. Rising is kind of album that jumps … Read more
Late Bloomer Things Change Self Aware/Tor Johnson/Lunchbox Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Strong sophomore album from Charlotte , NC trio. Album Review: Let me tell you about a little trio out of Charlotte that I think you are going to like. Their name is Late Bloomer, but unlike their name, these guys have fully blossomed … Read more
Half Japanese Overjoyed Joyful Noise Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: After a 13 year break, the cult legends return just as good and weird as they ever were! Album Review: Jad and David Fair, better known as Half Japanese are an acquired taste. In fact, their Greatest Hits collection holds the distinction of being the … Read more
J Mascis Tied To A Star Sub Pop Records [2014] Fire Note Says: A gorgeous acoustic record from a six string legend! Album Review: Tied to a Star is the second acoustic solo album in a row from legendary Dinosaur Jr singer and axeman J Mascis, and much like its predecessor, Several Shades of Why, … Read more
Ty Segall Manipulator Drag City Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Segall has crafted his first bona fide masterpiece with this shape shifting epic! Album Review: Ty Segall has been riding an incredible wave of creativity that seemed to hit a peak in 2012 with the release of the triple entente of rock, Slaughterhouse, Hair, and … Read more
The Raveonettes Pe’ahi Beat Dies Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The Raveonettes continue to evolve and expand their densely constructed sound. Album Review: The Raveonettes have never made a bad record in their 12 year recording career. Their 7 albums and 1 mini album have all ranged from very good to great. Their consistency has … Read more
OBN III’s Live In San Francisco Castle Face Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Explosive live set from aggressive Texas punk rockers. Album Review: Castle Face Records hits another one out of the park with their latest entry in the Live in San Francisco series, this time out featuring Texas punks OBN IIIs. I didn’t know … Read more