Kurt Vile b’lieve i’m goin’ (deep) down… Matador Records [2015] Fire Note Says: Kurt Vile is back with another great sounding storybook. Album Review: Like bands, the singer/songwriter can be broken down into categories. You have your super voices grouping that I still use Jeff Buckley and Elliott Smith as the bar for comparison, there … Read more
Terry Malts Nobody Realizes This Is Nowhere Slumberland Records [2013] Fire Note Says: San Francisco scuzz-punks return with a short reminder of why punk still matters. Album Review: With the demise of Brit-pop sound-a-likes Magic Bullets (from which all three members of Terry Malts sprang) vocalist Phil Benson, guitarist Corey Cunningham and drummer Nathan Sweatt … Read more
Babyshambles Sequel To The Prequel Parlophone Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Babyshambles are back and better than they have ever been on Sequel to the Prequel! Album Review: I had no idea that there was a new Babyshambles record coming out this year, in fact, it had already been out for well over a month … Read more
Delorean Apar True Panther Sounds [2013] Fire Note Says: This Delorean is a fresh modern sound – no time travel is necessary to enjoy it. Album Review: Delorean is a synth-pop band from Spain. And yes, they admit to being named for the vehicle from Back To The Future. Now that that’s out of the … Read more
Janelle Monáe The Electric Lady Wondaland Arts Society/Bad Boy [2013] Fire Note Says: Is The Electric Lady starting to run out of juice? Album Review: When Janelle Monáe started to garner mainstream attention with 2010’s The ArchAndroid, her style was totally unique. Equal parts James Brown, David Bowie, Lauryn Hill, and Alan Parsons, Monáe combined … Read more
Schooner Neighborhood Veins PotLuck Foundation [2013] Fire Note Says: Schooner goes adrift with their own brand of ramshackle, lucid pop. Album Review: Durhan, NC‘s Schooner’s sound is an interesting proposition: take some simple song structures and float them on a sea of dreams; then pair that with a bit of complexity, chill moods, 50‘s doo-wop, … Read more
Obits Bed & Bugs Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Bed & Bugs is the sound of Rock and Roll lifers kicking out garage rock jams. Album Review: It’s hard to talk about the new Obits album, Bed & Bugs, without first mentioning that Rick Froberg (vocs/gtr) was a member of two all-time great … Read more
The Weeknd Kiss Land Universal Republic [2013] Fire Note Says: The Weeknd’s major label debut continues the emo trend in hip hop with mixed results. Album Review: The Weeknd is Canadian Abel Tesfaye. He of the three mixtapes, condensed last year and released as Trilogy, is making his true major label debut with Kiss Land. … Read more
MiniBoone MiniBoone Ernest Jenning Record Co. [2013] Fire Note Says: MiniBoone splashes onto the scene with a strong eponymous debut. Album Review: MiniBoone is a five-piece band from New York that has been kicking around since 2008. They have just released their first full-length album but have two EP’s and a 7-inch to their name … Read more
Joanna Gruesome Weird Sister Slumberland Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Debut from Joanna Gruesome is packed with high energy and loud guitars. Album Review: Boy/girl vocals, teenage angst, noise pop, loud guitars, high energy, feedback and double time drums are just some of the great rock n roll moments you will hear on the debut … Read more
Man Man On Oni Pond ANTI- Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Man Man‘s fifth full length shows the group using many different sounds. Album Review: I‘m quite the Man Man fan. I‘ve heard at times that this fearsome Philly five-some can be hard to get into, that their unique sound could be mistaken for “insane … Read more
Body/Head Coming Apart Matador Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Kim Gordon and Bill Nace create beauty out of chaos and improvisation. Album Review: Following the breakup of Sonic Youth, one of the most beloved alternative acts of all-time, we are now seeing the band members move on to new projects. Thurston Moore formed Chelsea Light … Read more
J. Roddy Walston & The Business Essential Tremors ATO Records [2013] Fire Note Says: J. Roddy Walston & The Business show why they are one of the best bar bands in the land! Album Review: There is something about the raw sounding J. Roddy Walston that I just enjoy. His relaxed style bar rock has … Read more
Arctic Monkeys AM Domino Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Arctic Monkeys bravely push into a new groove on their engaging AM. Album Review: It does not seem that long ago since everyone was rocking out 2006 with the Arctic Monkeys’ hit “I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor.” It would have been easy … Read more