Jews And Catholics Civilized Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: If you’re looking for something new, Jews and Catholics can catch you by surprise with Civilized. Album Review: I find it fitting here to start this review off with a religious analogy. Jews and Catholics have their many differences as well as certain similarities. The same … Read more
strangewave Pop Noir Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: strangewave offers up an engaging debut with Pop Noir! Album Review: strangewave’s debut, Pop Noir, is the final result after a year of composing, producing and recording. The Dayton, Ohio duo of J. Trenton Crace and Katrina Eresman have labeled themselves as dream-pop which I feel works … Read more
Rare High 3 EPs / Hot Reason Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: If you like your music lo-fi and insanely catchy, check out these releases from Rare High. Album Review: Dean Wells, the man behind Rare High, is a pop genius. Let’s just get that out of the way right now. Whether it be as … Read more
Subways On The Sun The Honeymoon Stagecoach Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Well-produced, melodic debut gives plenty of nods to their Seattle forerunners. Album Review: Catchy hooks: check. Solid guitar riffs: check. Crystal-clear production: check. No, it’s not psych, garage, metal, or progressive, but Seattle-based Subways on the Sun have crafted an immaculately-arranged and satisfying … Read more
Gladiola Off You Go Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Gladiola’s third album Off You Go is a mode. Album Review: Gladiola is an independent band in the truest sense. They self-produced and self-released their latest LP Off You Go. The band is based out of Massachusetts and consists of Bill Madden-Fuoco (vocals and guitar), Chris … Read more
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
Coloured Clocks Nectarine Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Coloured Clocks’ Nectarine sunny psychedelic sound is perfect for a lazy summer day. Album Review: Coloured Clocks is the project of James Wallace, who is from Melbourne. The style of music is described on their bandcamp page as psychedelic, ambient, and chillwave. Given that we have an … Read more
Time Cat Space And Time Cat EP Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Akron’s Time Cat turns up the blues rock on their new EP. Album Review: I hate to scold a band, especially when it’s not all that deserved. After seeing this Akron blues duo perform live I had a lot of hopes for their … Read more
Secret Colours Peach Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Secret Colours check all the boxes when it comes to psychedelia. Album Review: Leave it to a band like Chicago’s Secret Colours to right my wrongs and relieve my muddled mind. Debating review scores, struggling for references, and more times than not writing myself into a corner, … Read more
Belgrade Belgrade Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Belgrade creates a nuanced, easy-to-miss alternative rock album. Album Review: Belgrade is an indie rock band from Philadelphia that specializes in straightforward alternative that harken back to the late 90s and early 2000s. At first I wondered when Ed Roland from Collective Soul became the lead singer for … Read more
Elusive Parallelograms Fragments Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Elusive Parallelograms show solid chops and song schizophrenia on Fragments EP Album Review: If I were a psychologist evaluating Milwaukee’s prolific Elusive Parallelograms, some of these terms might pop up: schizophrenia, bipolar, post-traumatic stress. By no means am I trying to give Elusive Parallelograms new Fragments EP … Read more
With their new Fragments EP out tomorrow, you can now hear the premiere of single “Semantics” from Milwaukee, WI band Elusive Parallelograms. Fragments represents their fifth release and finds the band growing and more confident than ever. “Semantics” is a music handful as Elusive Parallelograms drop shoegaze, prog-rock and power pop in a blender to … Read more
Kingsley Flood Battles Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: With excellent writing, and a mix of indie, folk, and rock sounds, Kingsley Flood’s new album is never boring. Album Review: Although the band is from the states, and plays mostly to the genre of indie folk, Kingsley Flood’s new album, Battles, is at times reminiscent of … Read more
On The Water False Starts Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: False Starts shows promise, but its title is a little close for comfort. Album Review: There’s plenty to be said for bands who just like to have a good time. Whether it’s weekend guitar heroes playing in a seedy bar or a group of friends … Read more
Blackout Beach Blues Trip Soft Abuse Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Carey Mercer’s Blackout Beach goes for the gusto with a sinisterly, theatric aplomb rarely heard today. Album Review: Carey Mercer is a strange animal, the Canadian song craftsman takes many different avenues from being experimental to an almost stripped approach. Whether it’s through rocking … 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
Crazy Joe The Doctor Is In! Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Crazy Joe makes a strong return with his retro roots album The Doctor Is In! Album Review: The Doctor Is In! marks the first album from Crazy Joe in six years and it finds his sound shifting from a rockabilly flavor to a smoother … Read more
The Vains Acoustic EP Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: The Vains release a record of acoustic gold. Album Review: The Vains are bound to take the music scene by storm. On their past releases, they presented a fast-paced, hard-hitting sound that reached beyond the typical indie punk style. With their Acoustic EP, featuring four acoustic … Read more
Detroit Rebellion Fork In The Road EP Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Detroit Rebellion creates murky garage blues that has potential. Album Review: First things first, Detroit Rebellion isn’t from the motor city. This might come as a shock to you but the duo hails for Providence, Rhode Island. That does not mean that they … Read more
Great White Buffalo Great White Buffalo Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Great White Buffalo compose fun and heavy pop hooks. Album Review: A lot of bands put themselves out there with an adrenaline rush of a sound; Great White Buffalo is one of those bands which consist of members Graham Bockmiller, Stephen Johnson, Blake LaGrange, … Read more
Lady Lazarus All My Love In Half Light Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: All My Love in Half Light is a solid sophomore album warranting Lady Lazarus attention on the ambient folk scene. Album Review: Lady Lazarus is an old soul playing to a new genre of ambient folk. Named from the Sylvia Plath poem … Read more
Sunshine Sunshine Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: Vancouver’s Sunshine delivers on their debut lp! Album Review: If you’re a fan of shoegaze, dream pop, or bands with girl group influenced harmonies, then let me introduce you to Sunshine, a new 5 piece from Vancouver. With influences ranging from The Raveonettes (always a favorite of mine), … Read more
The Changes American Master Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: After seven years, The Changes release an excellent sophomore record in American Master! Album Review: The Changes released their debut, Today Is Tonight, back in 2006 and at the time I thought for sure the Chicago band would quickly burst out of the scene. Well not … Read more
Missing Number Contrast EP Self-Released [2012] Fire Note Says: Make your ears happy by listening to Missing Number’s Contrast. Album Review: I’m gonna take just a second to be a hipster and point out that I was a fan of these guys before they even began recording this EP. I want everyone to know that … Read more
The Chaw The Chaw Self-Released [2012] Fire Note Says: The Chaw’s self-titled debut is injected with ample amounts of stylistic grooves and swagger! Album Review: Here we find ourselves presented with the Cali based band The Chaw which offers a heady mix of blues and classic psychedelic styles. Stephen Schreffler (Guitar), Jarrod Taylor (Guitar), Joe … Read more