I Am Empire Anchors Tooth & Nail Records [2013] Fire Note Says: I Am Empire makes a compelling case with Anchors. Album Review: I Am Empire is a four-piece band coming out of San Jose, CA. Anchors is their third overall LP (second with their current label Tooth & Nail Records). For the most part … Read more
Surrogate Post-Heroic Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Surrogate add heavier textures to their already winning formula, and sound more cohesive than ever before. Album Review: You’ve probably never heard of Surrogate. Ever since their 2007 debut on Tooth & Nail Records, Love is For the Rich, the Chico, California band has flown under the radar, … Read more
Georgiana Starlington Paper Moon HoZac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Georgiana Starlington’s debut Paper Moon is a solid taste of western mysticism. Album Review: Siblings Julie and Jack Hines (Jack, former Black Lips member and both members of K-Holes) have created Neko Case’s “Prison Girls” the album, review over…Of course it’s not over, but when … Read more
Lapland Lapland Hundred Pockets Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Mellow folk-pop meets lush ambient arrangements on Lapland’s debut. Album Review: Lapland’s bio sheet lists influences from “60s and 70s synth pioneers” to Fleetwood Mac, but the most apt (and surprising) influence listed is “French impressionists like Ravel and Debussy.” As pretentious as this may sound, … Read more
Black Bug Reflecting The Light HoZac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Equal parts garage and experimental rock, Reflecting the Light is a giant kick in the ass! Album Review: Reflecting the Light is the sonic equivalent of turbo charged truck stop coffee that has been sitting on the warmer for a few hours. It’s dense, … Read more
Wire Change Becomes Us Pinkflag [2013] Fire Note Says: Wire looks back to their past to create an album that ranks among their finest. Album Review: Change Becomes Us, is the 4th full length from legendary art punks Wire since their return in 2000, and it is quite possibly the best of their post reunion … Read more
Wavves Afraid Of Heights Mom + Pop Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Nathan Williams cleans it up and gives us a solid slab of SoCal stoner punk. Album Review: Given the straight-line creative arc within the Wavves discography, the high gloss production values of Afraid Of Heights should come as no surprise. Following two lo-fi … Read more
The Milk Carton Kids The Ash & Clay ANTI- Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Milk Carton Kids return with a simple and elegant harmonizing sophomore record. Album Review: It is definitely getting crowded in the world of indie folk and the saturation will unfortunately detract listeners from the quality releases out there. Sometimes simple … Read more
The Strokes Comedown Machine RCA Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Strokes continue to evolve on the highly enjoyable Comedown Machine. Album Review: The Strokes are carrying a lot of baggage around these days, the kind of excess baggage that makes it tough to keep putting out records. For starters, they most likely aren’t ever … Read more
Harper Simon Division Street Play It Again Sam Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Harper Simon plugs in on his sophomore effort Division Street. Album Review: I can’t imagine how hard it is to be the son of legend Paul Simon. If I were Harper it probably would have been easy to create a metal or … Read more
Wax Idols Discipline And Desire Slumberland Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Wax Idols is both a breath of fresh air and a blast from the past. Album Review: This album come out of a time machine. Seriously. The more I listened to it, the more I forgot this was brand new and instead thought I … Read more