Lady Lazarus All My Love In Half Light Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: All My Love in Half Light is a solid sophomore album warranting Lady Lazarus attention on the ambient folk scene. Album Review: Lady Lazarus is an old soul playing to a new genre of ambient folk. Named from the Sylvia Plath poem … Read more
ON AN ON Give In Roll Call Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The remnants of indie pop stalwarts Scattered Trees triumphantly release a dark and diverse debut. Album Review: With only two weeks before Chicago/Minneapolis band Scattered Trees were scheduled to record a new album in Toronto with famed producer Dave Newfeld (Broken Social Scene, … Read more
Lost Animal Ex Tropical Hardly Art Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Lost Animal’s debut is an odd mix of ambient keyboards, colorful electronics, and half-sung half-spoken musings. Album Review: Ex Tropical finds Jarrod Quarrell—the sole member of Lost Animal—using a bank of keyboards to craft a ten-track set of strange, atmospheric tunes. Drawing inspiration from … Read more
Tegan and Sara Heartthrob Warner Bros. Records [2013] Fire Note Says: With Heartthrob, Tegan and Sara mix in new sounds with familiar stories of love and heartbreak. Album Review: Tegan and Sara’s seventh studio album, Heartthrob, strays slightly from the duo’s previous albums, mixing pop and club music with their familiar singer/songwriter sound. True to … Read more
Local Natives Hummingbird Frenchkiss Records [2013] Fire Note Says:No sophomore slump for the Local Natives with Hummingbird. Album Review: Local Natives’ first album, Gorilla Manor, was one of my favorite albums of 2010. With tracks like “Airplanes,” “Camera Talk,” “Wide Eyes,” and “Sun Hands” the Los Angeles-based band had an accessible sound that also challenged … Read more
Shy Mirrors Negative Collector Big School Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Shy Mirrors come at you with all their indie punk barrels loaded on Negative Collector. Album Review: Shy Mirrors may have a Swedish postal address but the band is 100% American rock n roll as founder Mike Downey hails from Champaign, IL and is … Read more
Wake Owl Wild Country EP Vagrant Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Wake Owl’s EP Wild Country leaves an incredible first impression, making the listener want more. Album Review: Wake Owl’s EP, Wild Country, leaves an incredibly hopeful first impression. The band’s sound is mello and folksy, blending upbeat notes with country undertones. Wake Owl resonates … Read more
Radar Bros. Eight Merge Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Eight is as gorgeous and lush as you would expect from these indie vets! Album Review: On their new album, Eight, Radar Bros aren’t reinventing themselves, or delving into electro pop or anything ridiculous like that. What Jim Putnam and company are doing, is perfecting their … Read more
Tomahawk Oddfellows Ipecac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Tomahawk shuffles the deck to middling results. Album Review: Things begin inauspiciously. A couple of rock-cliché-ridden tracks kick things off in a way that reeks of rock bands saying things like “kick things off.” Or maybe Tomahawk’s just paying winking homage to classic heavy rockers. Either way, … Read more
The Ruby Suns Christopher Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Christopher is a chilled out dance pop filled with hooks and melody. Album Review: When Sea Lion was released in 2008, The Ruby Suns seemed to be a band on the brink. “Oh, Mojave” from that album was featured in a Windows Vista commercial … Read more
Adam Green & Binki Shapiro Adam Green & Binki Shapiro Rounder Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Adam Green & Binki Shapiro add a joyful sound to emotional heartbreak. Album Review: I don’t think that many people have moved past The Moldy Peaches years when referring to Adam Green but if you have been following his … Read more
Yellow Red Sparks Yellow Red Sparks Org Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Yellow Red Sparks make a strong debut on the indie folk scene! Album Review: “Whatcha gonna buy me honey?” is the strong first line you hear on the debut from the Yellow Red Sparks that instantly grabs your attention and makes you take … Read more