The Fratellis We Need Medicine BMG [2013] Fire Note Says: The Fratellis return with the safe-but-fun We Need Medicine. Album Review: The Fratellis have returned with their third long player, We Need Medicine. The Fratellis are a three-piece band from Glasgow, Scotland, made up of Jon Fratelli (nee John Lawler), Barry Fratelli (Barry Wallace), and … Read more
Cage The Elephant Melophobia RCA Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Cage The Elephant’s uneven third LP Melophobia has some great moments. Album Review: Bowling Green’s (KY) Cage The Elephant has returned with their third LP, Melophobia. Cage The Elephant has been a popular band in their first two outings and their sound remains true in … Read more
Kodaline In A Perfect World RCA Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Kodaline’s In A Perfect World is a likeable, if familiar, debut. Album Review: Do you know someone who likes Coldplay? How about Mumford & Sons? May I suggest a stocking stuffer for that person? Kodaline’s In A Perfect World is a nice blend between … Read more
Arliss Nancy Wild American Runners Black Numbers Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Wild American Runners is booze soaked rock album with a heart of gold. Album Review: Arliss Nancy is the name of a Colorado quintet that just might be the best band of its kind going right now. These guys have picked up the … Read more
Sunwolf Angel Eyes EP Dischord Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Sunwolf invokes short, punchy fun with Angel Eyes. Album Review: In the wake of Washington D.C.’s garage rock revival many have been answering the call to arms. The brainchild of Rob “Kalani“ Tifford, Sunwolf mixes the lo-fi fuzz of raw, 60‘s L.A. rockers The Seeds … Read more
Frog Eyes Carey’s Cold Spring Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Carey Mercer confronts riots, protests, storms and floods – and his own mortality – on his sixth album as Frog Eyes. Album Review: The Bandcamp page which is being used to sell Carey’s Cold Spring also details the vision Mercer had going into the writing … Read more
Sleigh Bells Bitter Rivals Mom + Pop Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Sleigh Bells return with a flurry of noise pop endearments. Album Review: As a listener it‘s sometimes hard to know what I want. Sleigh Bells surprised us all with 2010‘s unforgettable Treats. Guitars boomed, drums thundered, and vocals looped as they reached to … Read more
Lee Ranaldo And The Dust Last Night On Earth Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Last Night on Earth might be the best guitar record you hear this Fall. Album Review: I didn’t see this one coming. I thought that Lee Ranaldo’s first album for Matador, 2012’s Between the Times and the Tide was pretty … Read more
Mind Spiders Inhumanistic Dirtnap Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Mind Spiders return with a new wave driven record that should make Devo and Gary Numan proud. Album Review: How many times does an album’s title, cover and first track prelude give you true insight on the record you are about to hear? Not that often … Read more
Anna Calvi One Breath Domino Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Anna Calvi proves why Brian Eno called her “the best thing since Patti Smith.” Album Review: On Anna Calvi’s self-titled debut she drew comparisons to PJ Harvey, Jeff Buckley and (what?) even Bruce Springsteen. However, her virtuoso guitar playing and Edith Piaf-esque voice defied those … Read more
Lisa Papineau Blood Noise Neurotic Yell Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Lisa Papineau‘s Blood Noise is a moody weave of beauty and darkness. Album Review: It‘s always my job as a music journalist to expand my horizons and branch out. With Lisa Papineau‘s new album Blood Noise, that‘s exactly what I did. It‘s funny though, … Read more
The Dismemberment Plan Uncanney Valley Partisan Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Dismemberment Plan recaptures some of that old magic on their first album in 12 years. Album Review: The Dismemberment Plan hasn’t put out a record in 12 years, which is an eternity in the indie rock world. What made the break even harder … Read more
Albert Hammond Jr AHJ Cult Records [2013] It’s nice to hear Albert Hammond Jr. back with his solo work. The Strokes guitarist has not released any new material since his 2008 sophomore album, ¿Cómo Te Llama?. Both of his solo full-length records never tried too hard to separate themselves from The Strokes’ recordings, which I … Read more