Royal Forest Spillway King Electric Record Company [2013] Fire Note Says: Royal Forest seamlessly blend Americana, psychedelia, and alternative rock on Spillway. Album Review: It’s usually a good sign when you come across an album you can’t easily categorize. Records that fit neatly into a genre box can be great, but they can also be … Read more
Dirty Streets Blades Of Grass Alive Naturalsound Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Dirty Streets steep 60’s blues rock, touches of soul, and more contemporary influences on Blades of Grass. Album Review: The Alive Natural Sound catalogue was and is rife with great artists: The Black Keys; Buffalo Killers; Radio Moscow; Left Lane Cruiser; Swamp Dogg; … Read more
Wiretree Get Up Cobalt Works Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Any of Get Up’s ten tracks could be a hit single, and they only get better with time. Album Review: “How have I not heard of this band?” This was the question I asked myself as I listened to Wiretree’s fourth LP, Get Up. Hailing … Read more
The Mother Hips Behind Beyond Mother Hips Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Mother Hips return with another solid batch of California country-tinged melodies. Album Review: How old were you in 1993? I only ask because that would be the year The Mother Hips released their debut album, Back To The Grotto, on Rick Rubins … Read more
Jay Z Magna Carta…Holy Grail Universal Music Group [2013] Fire Note Says: Jay Z offers up something for all music lovers with Magna Carta…Holy Grail. Album Review: I’m going to imagine that there is not a huge overlap between readers of The Fire Note and fans of Jay Z. However if you’re like me and … Read more
The White Stripes Nine Miles From The White City Third Man Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Vault Package #16 captures The White Stripes at one of their highest points! Album Review: When we last left our good friend Jack White, he was giving us an interesting-yet flawed-look at the past. Jack White and The Bricks … Read more
Speedy Ortiz Major Arcana Carpark Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Massachusetts band release an album of surprising depth despite their early nineties indie rock obsession. Album Review: Speedy Ortiz lead singer and songwriter Sadie Dupuis hails from Northampton, MA – a stone’s throw from Amherst, hometown of J. Mascis. The geographic proximity is bested, however, … Read more
Bell X1 Chop Chop BellyUp Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Bell X1’s 6th LP is assured while being subdued. Album Review: Ireland’s Bell X1 has changed up their sound with their sixth studio album Chop Chop. The country’s second biggest band after U2 worked with The National producer Peter Katis and with Thomas Bartlett, who … Read more
Gregory Alan Isakov The Weatherman Suitcase Town Music [2013] Fire Note Says: Gregory Alan Isakov’s third full length may just be his best! Album Review: Sometimes there is just nothing better than a softly played indie-folk record like The Weatherman, the third full-length album from Gregory Alan Isakov. The album is full of his confident … Read more
Heavy Times Fix It Alone HoZac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Heavy Times deliver a knockout blow with new album, Fix It Alone. Album Review: HoZac Records has built up quite an impressive stable of artists, releasing albums in the past few years from the likes of Radar Eyes, GAMES and Idle Times to name … Read more
Shocked Minds Shocked Minds HoZac Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The debut album from Shocked Minds is as grimy and sleazy as 1970’s NYC! Album Review: This may be a debut lp from Atlanta’s Shocked Minds, but these guys are anything but rookies. Featuring members of The Carbonas, Gentleman Jesse and His Men, and GAMES, … Read more
Daughn Gibson Me Moan Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Very unique sophomore record from Daughn Gibson will bring love and hate! Album Review: If you are familiar with Daughn Gibson’s debut All Hell from last year then you already know this dude has an interesting deep baritone for a voice. You combine this … Read more
Robert Pollard Honey Locust Honky Tonk Guided By Voices Inc. [2013] Fire Note Says: One of Robert Pollard’s strongest solo outings to date! Album Review: I know that these days a solo record from Robert Pollard is almost expected as he typically releases two albums under his own name a year. This streak actually goes … Read more
Thundercat Apocalypse Brainfeeder [2013] Fire Note Says: Thundercat’s sophomore effort is a psychedelic soul experience. Album Review: Stephen Bruner, playing under the name Thundercat, returns with a solid second outing in Apocalypse. Thundercat collaborated with Flying Lotus on this album and the spacey, trippy sounds reflect the two artists’ sensibilities. On Apocalypse you’ll find a … Read more
Teenage Guitar Force Fields At Home Guided By Voices Inc. [2013] Fire Note Says: Teenage Guitar gives Robert Pollard an entire new canvas for his creativity and art! Album Review: “In Bob We Trust” is a motto that is used quite frequently around TFN headquarters and is especially utilized when a more challenging record from … Read more