We always strive to promote self-released music and today’s Fire Track does just that. Seattle’s Blackheart Honeymoon may tell you that they have been influenced by the likes of Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and Gram Parsons, but after one play of “Bodies,” I think you will agree that New Pornographers meets Fleetwood Mac is a … Read more
Anekdoten Until All The Ghosts Are Gone Self-Released [2015] Fire Note Says: Anekdoten remain the champions of dark and brooding Prog. Album Review: There are a handful of bands that, way back in the early nineties, had the cojones to attempt a revival of the most scorned and hated genre of rock music ever: the … Read more
IZZ Everlasting Instant Self-Released [2015] Fire Note Says: IZZ continue making progressive dinner party music. Album Review: I imagine the place settings and flatware laid out just so. Fleshly cut flowers in crystal adorn the dining room table. The guests, carefully selected, have arrived and look splendid. They drove here in BMW’s and Audi’s. The … Read more
Anymore it seems tough to find a unique sound in the indie music scene today but we are hoping to grab your ear with the premiere of Philadelphia trio Busses new track, “Liars.” It is from their latest self-released album, Wizard of the Eye, which is out today. The song represents another example of their … Read more
Grenades!? Interrobang Self-Released [2015] Fire Note Says: Grenades!?’s debut is strong for a group stretching their legs for the first time. Album Review: It feels like the phrase “stretching their legs for the first time” is a bit of an exaggeration. There’s been quite a history between lead-vocalist/keyboardist Daniel Madero and Mike Patak Jr. From … Read more
Austin has been a hotbed for the singer-songwriter all the way back to the times of Willie Nelson, so it is no surprise these days when a voice comes along from that time zone that makes you take notice. Today’s video premiere highlights this as Matthew Squires and the Learning Disorders offer up the heartfelt … Read more
Thom Yorke Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Thom Yorke surprises all with his second, new solo outing. Album Review: The word ‘surprises’ is often a part of the phrase ‘surprises and delights’. Why not here, you may ask? Well, if you consider yourself a fan of Thom Yorke then Tomorrows Modern Boxes … Read more
Twin Library Historical Tumblers Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Historical Tumblers’ grand ambitions flash by with punk-like pacing. Album Review: Twin Library’s bio suggests that you may enjoy them if you also like Guided by Voices, and there are two main reasons I can see for this line of thinking: the band is prolific (having … Read more
David Bazan + Passenger String Quartet Volume 1 Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Bazan intensifies the emotional breadth and tenor of his original songs. Album Review: I’d really be surprised if any fans of Seattle indie band Pedro the Lion or David Bazan’s post-Pedro solo albums ever thought “I really like these songs, but they’d … Read more
Archie Powell & The Exports Back In Black Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Archie Powell & The Exports are here to rock you out! Album Review: If you are familiar with Chicago’s Archie Powell & The Exports then I do not need to waste my time telling you that they are one of the best … Read more
Sun Hoax Biome Digs EP / Full Joy EP Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Sun Hoax is the latest offering from lo-fi auteur Dean Wells. Album Review: Dean Wells is the lo-fi wizard behind The Capstan Shafts, and if you haven’t heard any of their recordings, I’m going to need you to rectify that as … Read more
Faces On Film Elite Lines Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Faces On Film are ready for their close-up with Elite Lines. Album Review: Faces On Film, based out of Boston, has self-released their third LP Elite Lines. With a very exhaustive 10-minute google search it was impossible to discern if Faces On Film is a … Read more
Secret Colours Positive Distractions Part I & II Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Secret Colours remain consistent on their two EP split. Album Review: Secret Colours revel in being the bastard seed of the ’60s psychedelia and ’90s Britpop bloodlines. That’s the description given by their Facebook page, and almost a year ago I described … Read more
Dirty/Clean Welt Am Draht Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Fans of vintage synth rock will love the debut album from Dayton, Ohio’s new darlings Dirty/Clean. Album Review: Ohio is no stranger to bands incorporating cool synthesizers into their sounds. Devo and Brainiac perfected the art in fact. On their debut album Welt Am Draht we … Read more
Wolfmother New Crown Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: It’s hard to teach an old Wolfmother new tricks. Album Review: Way back in 2006, when I first heard “Woman,” Wolfmother’s self-titled debut took me by storm. I was really into playing guitar at the time, so of course I surrounded myself with heroes such as Cream, … Read more
Lakefield Swan Songs EP Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Lakefield makes a triumphant exit on their final release. Album Review: A full-length album and some touring under their belt, Lakefield has decided to call it quits six years after they formed. As a thank you to fans the Vancouver band has recorded Swan Songs, a … Read more
Farewell Flight I Was A Ghost Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Farewell Flight’s third album has plenty of bite. Album Review: Farewell Flight is a Nashville-based indie trio that has recently self-released their third album, I Was A Ghost. Band members Luke Foley (lead vocals/guitar/piano/synths), Caleb Allensworth (drums/samples) and Brian “Rabbit” Campbell (lead guitar) have … Read more
Jupe Jupe Crooked Kisses Self-Released [2014] Fire Note Says: Jupe Jupe’s third album Crooked Kisses has a lot to offer. Album Review: Jupe Jupe has released their third album since 2010 with Crooked Kisses. The band is as indie as it can get, self-publishing this record. They hail from Seattle, WA; members include My Young … Read more
Black Books Black Books Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: This may be Black Books’ first album, but they’ve clearly done their homework. Album Review: The biographical blurb on Black Books’ BandCamp page notes that the band has been “playing music together since forever.” It shows. Their debut album is by no means a classic, but … Read more
Bill Mallonee & Muriah Rose Town Hall Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Bill Mallonee is a singer/songwriter to discover – again. Album Review: Bill Mallonee is probably one of the more talented singer/songwriters out there that most people have simply forgot about. He is still better known as the lead singer of Athens, Georgia group … Read more
The Slims Slowpoke Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Morningbell-affiliated The Slims put together an album of eclectic late-night soul with Slowpoke. Album Review: Gainesville, Florida’s Morningbell just released their Fire Note “Headphone Approved” LP Bôa Noite earlier this year [TFN Review], but that hasn’t stopped frontman Travis Atria from immediately jumping into another musical project. … Read more
Jus Post Bellum Oh July Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Jus Post Bellum tell a historical story of war that is hard to turn away from! Album Review: I know that the indie neo-folk sound has been in the spotlight this past year with bands like The Lumineers, The Civil Wars, the Avetts and those … Read more
Frog Eyes Carey’s Cold Spring Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Carey Mercer confronts riots, protests, storms and floods – and his own mortality – on his sixth album as Frog Eyes. Album Review: The Bandcamp page which is being used to sell Carey’s Cold Spring also details the vision Mercer had going into the writing … Read more
The Fire Note is proud to present a premiere track from singer/songwriter Chris Zurich. “The Sounds” is off his new self-released debut Black Ink that is due out tomorrow October 15th. This song showcases Zurich’s voice and guitar work which fused together creates an intesity that he controls with each emotional line. “The Sounds” is … Read more
The Big Sweet Bicycle Nights Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: The Big Sweet grow up on their engaging third record Bicycle Nights. Album Review: I encourage any young lads out there thinking of starting a band to check out the third LP, Bicycle Nights, from The Big Sweet. The Northeast Ohio band’s members are the … Read more