Cleaners From Venus: Return To Bohemia [Album Review]

Cleaners From Venus Return To Bohemia Soft Bodies Records [2014] Fire Note Says: A stunning return from the legendary lo-fi cult act! Album Review: Martin Newell titled his 1993 album The Greatest Living Englishman, and with Return To Bohemia, he proves that this was no mere cheeky title, he damn well might be the greatest … Read more

David Kilgour & The Heavy Eights: End Times Undone [Album Review]

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

Blank Pages: Blank Pages [Album Review]

Blank Pages Blank Pages Dirt Cult Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Catchy garage rock that is guaranteed to blow your hair back and make you raise a rock fist in the air! Album Review: This self-titled record from Germany’s Blank Pages reminds me of the time ol Marty McFly plugged the guitar into Doc Brown’s … Read more

Sweet Apple: The Golden Age Of Glitter [Album Review]

Sweet Apple The Golden Age Of Glitter Tee Pee Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Sweet Apple invites you to turn it up and rip the knob off! Album Review: I hesitate to call Sweet Apple a supergroup, though some of the members are sort of famous, but that term supergroup has all sort of preconceived … Read more

White Fence: For The Recently Found Innocent [Album Review]

White Fence For The Recently Found Innocent Drag City Records [2014] Fire Note Says: White Fence breaks through to the next level and fulfills all expectations on their new album. Album Review: Tim Presley first came onto my radar as a member of Darker My Love, a band that really knocked me out with their … Read more

Matt Kivel: Days Of Being Wild [Album Review]

Matt Kivel Days Of Being Wild Woodsist Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Floating on a gorgeous ocean of reverb, Days of Being Wild is an unquestionable success! Album Review: Matt Kivel is a difficult artist to get, but difficult in the way that someone like Bon Iver was when For Emma, Forever Ago was released. … Read more

Beverly: Careers [Album Review]

Beverly Careers Kanine Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Promising debut album from Frankie Rose and Drew Citron. Album Review: Beverly is a duo consisting of Drew Citron and Frankie Rose. The pair spent the bulk of 2013 on the road together as Citron played In Frankie’s band. The roles are reversed on Careers, the first … Read more

The Cleaners From Venus: Volume 3 (Box Set) [Album Review]

The Cleaners From Venus Volume 3 (Box Set) Captured Tracks [2014] Fire Note Says: The third box set from The Cleaners From Venus is far and away the best one yet, and absolutely essential listening. Album Review: Captured Tracks has now released their third box set from The Cleaners From Venus, the legendary lo-fi 80s … Read more

Circulatory System: Mosaics Within Mosaics [Album Review]

Circulatory System Mosaics Within Mosaics Cloud Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: 60’s pop melodies and wild psychedelic excursions woven together to create a giant sonic tapestry. Album Review: It’s impossible to overstate the importance of the Elephant 6 Collective and the impact that it had on rock music, and in fact, the influence it still … Read more

Howler: World Of Joy [Album Review]

Howler World Of Joy Rough Trade Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Former buzz band takes a solid step forward from their debut on World of Joy. Album Review: Howler was a bit of a buzz band a few years ago when their debut album America Give Up was released. It was a tasty slice of … Read more

Cretin Stompers: Looking Forward To Being Attacked [Album Review]

Cretin Stompers Looking Forward To Being Attacked HoZac Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Cretin Stompers bring both the rock and the weird on their debut album. Album Review: Cretin Stompers have quite an impressive pedigree, featuring ex members of Jay Reatard’s band, Wavves, Barbaras, and the one and only Big Muff Radio, (who I am … Read more

Sun Hoax: Biome Digs EP / Full Joy EP [Album Review]

Sun Hoax Biome Digs EP / Full Joy EP Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Sun Hoax is the latest offering from lo-fi auteur Dean Wells. Album Review: Dean Wells is the lo-fi wizard behind The Capstan Shafts, and if you haven’t heard any of their recordings, I’m going to need you to rectify that as … Read more

Wooden Wand: Farmer’s Corner [Album Review]

Wooden Wand Farmer’s Corner Fire Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Farmer’s Corner is a confident, cool, laid back trip down a long dusty road. Album Review: Farmer’s Corner, the new album from Wooden Wand has some pretty high expectations to live up to. Blood Oaths of the New Blues, Wooden Wand’s album from 2013, received … Read more

The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger: Midnight Sun [Album Review]

The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger Midnight Sun Chimera Music [2014] Fire Note Says: Full-fledged psychedlia infused with whimsical 60’s trippy pop and vibe. Album Review: The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger is a band that was formed by Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl, and while they have two other releases under … Read more

Nones: Midwestern Family Values [Album Review]

Nones Midwestern Family Values HoZac Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Unhinged and chaotic, Midwestern Family Values delivers the goods. Album Review: Nones are rock. Let me repeat that just a little bit louder, NONES ARE ROCK! This Chicago band is the music you play when you are in a bad mood and you want to … Read more

The Crookes: Soapbox [Album Review]

The Crookes Soapbox Modern Outsider [2014] Fire Note Says: The Crookes continue their upward trajectory with their new album. Album Review: I’m not really sure why The Crookes aren’t bigger. I guess I understand why they aren’t bigger here in the US, suffering the same fate as bands like Maximo Park, who seem to be … Read more

Gruff Rhys: American Interior [Album Review]

Gruff Rhys American Interior Turnstile Music [2014] Fire Note Says: American Interior blends psych, folk, pop, rock and traces of dance music into a potent blend that is uniquely Rhys and completely satisfying. Album Review: The Super Furry Animals have been on hiatus since 2010, following the release of Dark Days/Light Years. Since that time, … Read more

The People’s Temple: Musical Garden [Album Review]

The People’s Temple Musical Garden HoZac Records [2014] Fire Note Says: The new album from The People’s Temple is a fertile Musical Garden. Album Review: The People’s Temple has been one of my go to bands for whenever I want a 60’s garage rock fix. Hailing from Lansing, Michigan, these guys bring the psychedelic leanings … Read more

The Moles: Flashbacks And Dream Sequences – The Story Of The Moles [Album Review]

The Moles Flashbacks And Dream Sequences: The Story of The Moles Fire Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Amazing career retrospective from one of the great “lost” bands of the 90’s. Album Review: Are The Moles one of the great lost bands of the 90’s? Fire Records makes a strong argument for this with the release … Read more

PAWS: Youth Culture Forever [Album Review]

PAWS Youth Culture Forever FatCat Records [2014] Fire Note Says: PAWS are poised for their breakthrough moment with their sophomore effort! Album Review: PAWS burst onto my radar with their 2012 debut album Cokefloat!, which rushed by like a sugar addled adrenaline rush. I thought it was a promising debut and though not terribly original, … Read more

Damon Albarn: Everyday Robots [Album Review]

Damon Albarn Everyday Robots Parlophone Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Everyday Robots tries to make sense of the fragility of human emotion in relation to technology. Album Review: Everyday Robots is the first official solo record from Damon Albarn, better known as singer for Blur and Gorillaz. You probably know that already, but what you … Read more

Bobby Bare Jr.: Undefeated [Album Review]

Bobby Bare Jr. Undefeated Bloodshot Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Undefeated is full of dark tales and nasty breakups, but laced with the wit and wisdom that only Bare can provide. Album Review: I don’t think I have ever instantly fallen in love with a Bobby Bare Jr album. I didn’t instantly fall in love … Read more

Pixies: Indie Cindy [Album Review]

Pixies Indie Cindy PIAS Recordings [2014] Fire Note Says: Though not as good as you hoped it would be, it’s definitely not as bad as you’ve heard it is. Album Review: I have mixed feelings about Indie Cindy, the first new album from Pixies since 1991. On the one hand, I think they are long … Read more

Dead Wives: Buzzy Fuzzy [Album Review]

Dead Wives Buzzy Fuzzy ObscureMe Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Speedy Ortiz drummer steps out front with his own band, and the results are stellar! Album Review: I am not going to pretend I have the inside scoop on cool bands; for the most part I rely on word of mouth from friends or on … Read more

Kaiser Chiefs: Education, Education, Education, & War [Album Review]

Kaiser Chiefs Education, Education, Education, & War ATO Records [2014] Fire Note Says: Don’t write off Kaiser Chiefs yet, there is still some gas left in the tank! Album Review: I’ve never been able to fully buy in to the Kaiser Chiefs, and I have been trying for a long time. Employment certainly had its … Read more