Morningbell Bôa Noite Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Morningbell’s Bôa Noite is an exercise in time and space jubilation! Album Review: It’s rare to find a group such as Morningbell, excess without pretension (I may be glancing your way Arcade Fire). Taking their name from Kid A’s “Morning Bell,” this band has big brains and … Read more
New Politics A Bad Girl In Harlem RCA Records [2013] Fire Note Says: With their sophomore album, New Politics breaks away from their gritty, indie roots, trading it in for a pop rock, punk sound. Album Review: A Bad Girl in Harlem, the sophomore album from New Politics, takes a short walk away from the … Read more
Duquette Johnston Rabbit Runs A Destiny Communicating Vessels [2013] Fire Note Says: Birmingham, Alabama singer/songwriter finally releases an album worthy if his considerable talent. Album Review: Since forming 90’s alt-rock band Verbena (with A. A. Bondy) Johnston has kept a relatively low profile. He quit the band prior to their signing to Capitol Records and … Read more
Scout Niblett It’s Up To Emma Drag City Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Emma Louise Niblett’s decade-long run of excellence continues. Album Review: When most critics talk of Scout Niblett they inevitably bring up Cat Power and PJ Harvey. But it is her work with Bonnie “Prince” Billy and especially the late, great Jason Molina … Read more
Saturday Looks Good To Me One Kiss Ends It All Polyvinyl Records [2013] Fire Note Says: One Kiss Ends It All draws heavily from the past to create pop for the present. Album Review: Saturday Looks Good to Me first came to my attention with their 2003 album All Your Summer Songs, which was about … Read more
The Baptist Generals Jackleg Devotional To The Heart Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Baptist Generals follow up their No Silver/No Gold lp 10 years after the fact, and it is worth the wait! Album Review: The term Jackleg has several meanings (I know because I looked it up), but it’s most common … Read more
Dead Gaze Dead Gaze Fat Cat Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dead Gaze’s debut full-length is a lo-fi diamond in the rough. Album Review: Northern Mississippi is hardly known as a hotbed of indie music but perhaps that is about to change thanks to something called the Cats Purring Collective outside Oxford, a college town … Read more
The Front Bottoms Talon Of The Hawk Bar/None Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Front Bottoms return with another record full of catchy wordplay that will make you smile. Album Review: I remember hearing the folky-punk debut from The Front Bottoms back in 2011 and thinking that these guys were onto something. Simple songs, simple … Read more
Graham MacRae Dundrearies A Man A Plan A Canal [2013] Fire Note Says: LA singer/songwriter’s second album shows signs of real potential. Album Review: After a five year absence, Los Angeles native Graham MacRae returns with his sophomore release. Having not heard his first album I felt it important to catch up and spent some … Read more
Come 11:11 Deluxe 20th Anniversary Edition Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Excellent reissue of the long out print debut album from influential noise rockers, Come! Album Review: Come came roaring out of Boston in the early nineties sounding like an unholy alliance between The Rolling Stones, Soundgarden, and Sonic Youth. Lead vocalist Thalia Zedek, … Read more
Daft Punk Random Access Memories Columbia Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Daft Punk take one giant artistic leap for mankind on Random Access Memories. Album Review: I find it interesting that the first track on the new Daft Punk album is called “Give Life Back to Music” particularly since their last album was the coolly … Read more
Christopher Paul Stelling False Cities Mecca Lecca Recording Co. [2013] Fire Note Says: False Cities takes listeners back to that old time religion! Album Review: “Christian” music, deservedly or not, often gets a bad rap. The CCM establishment has given the genre(s) the reputation of being an awful imitation of what was popular a decade … Read more
Shannon And The Clams Dreams In The Rat House Hardly Art Records [2013] Fire Note Says: 50’s rock ’n’ roll meets 60’s garage on this chaotic collection. Album Review: There are lots of “retro-rock” or “neo-garage” bands out there these days who play gritty, 60s-inspired tunes. Shannon and the Clams differentiate themselves from all those … Read more
The National Trouble Will Find Me 4AD Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The National are a band at the top of their craft doing what they do best! Album Review: I feel there is a prerequisite for starting this review: a glass of red wine-if a red is not your thing then I’m sure a … Read more