The ACBs Little Leaves High Dive Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The ACBs shimmer and glimmer with a danceable straightforward indie pop record. Album Review: It’s interesting when a group like The ACBs puts out a sophomore album like Little Leaves as the Missouri’s group consists of Konnor Ervin, Bryan McGuire, Andrew Connor, and Kyle … Read more
Cold Warps S/T | Endless Bummer Noyse Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Cold Warps first cassettes create their solid debut LP. Album Review: What I said above is a perfect description of this album-using song titles might I add. Canadian lo-fi, buzz garage punks Cold Warps come to us all the way Halifax. After being … Read more
The Flaming Lips The Terror Warner Bros. Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Interstellar Oklahomans philosophize about a loveless life on The Terror. Album Review: The Flaming Lips’ The Terror reminds me of the saying “write what you feel.” On their 13th studio album the band most certainly does just that. To quote Steven Drozd, “The … Read more
Charles Bradley Victim Of Love Dunham/Daptone Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Charles Bradley’s Victim Of Love is a love letter to the music, fans, and the golden age soul greats who inspired him. Album Review: This album gives off such a cool retro vibe that the only other element to enhance the experience would be … Read more
The Black Angels Indigo Meadow Blue Horizon [2013] Fire Note Says: The Black Angels play it straight with Indigo Meadow. Album Review: It is quite weird but after accidentally seeing The Black Angels at Bonnaroo in 2007 I was hooked. This is a good thing I found out later because The Black Angels are indeed … Read more
Ok, ok, Brooklyn did have the pleasure of being what could be considered the Breeders tour launch spot but they didn’t have the pleasure of being the warm up audience. March 27th, 2013 was a night that was plucked right out of the 90’s. It was a time where musical beauty, easy going laziness (they’re … Read more
Jack White And The Bricks Live On The Garden Bowl Lanes Third Man Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Jack White and The Bricks might just be another brick in the wall. Album Review: First things first – I love Third Man Records, I love Jack White, and I love vinyl. So when Third Man Records … 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
The Virginmarys King Of Conflict Wind-Up Records [2013] Fire Note Says: The Virginmarys birth some immaculate rock n roll! Album Review: When a new band of British blokes hit’s the scene, they seem to garner a lot of attention and hype. Whether or not that’s warranted or not The Virginmarys show us that the proof … 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
Bears! Bears! Bears! All Dressed Up With Nowhere To Go Twirl Tunez Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Bears! Bears! Bears! version of dance gloom and doom shows promise on debut. Album Review: The debut LP, All Dressed Up With Nowhere To Go by Bears! Bears! Bears! puts me in an interesting predicament. On paper the … Read more
How To Destroy Angels Welcome Oblivion Columbia Records [2013] Fire Note Says: How To Destroy Angles’ full length, Welcome Oblivion, shows a bit more bark and bite. Album Review: Even before going on a hiatus from main project Nine Inch Nails it seems that Reznor was on the road to reinvention. With the unconventional release … Read more
Swamp Dogg Total Destruction To Your Mind Rat On! Alive Natural Sound Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Swamp Dogg’s music finally gets the respect that it deserves. Album Review: Back in the late 60’s/early 70’s there was quite the musical renaissance that was taking place. Miles Davis’ jazz freak opus Bitches Brew took shape, Sly … Read more
Cloud Cult Love The Rebel Group [2013] Fire Note Says: Cloud Cult’s Love is a musical story book packed with themes, lessons, and a bit of reassurance that it’s going to be ok. Album Review: Cloud Cult mastermind Craig Minowa has led an interesting life. His story entails love, loss, acceptance, education, environmentalism, creativity, and … Read more
Holy Wave Evil Hits The Reverberation Appreciation Society [2013] Fire Note Says: Prepare for a bit of an acid wash as Holy Wave rages with a technicolor, psychedelic, surf swirl. Album Review: Holy Wave is a band that could crash along the So Cal shore but here that isn’t the case. These psychedelic 60’s surf … Read more
Atoms For Peace AMOK XL Recordings [2013] Fire Note Says: Atoms for Peace’s AMOK takes us deeper down the electronica rabbit hole. Album Review: After fronting the musical monolith that is Radiohead, what do you do with yourself? Maybe you branch off a bit and indulge deeper into some of your favorite musical tastes that … Read more
Popstrangers Antipodes Carpark Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Popstrangers Antipodes is an unconventional album that gives back if you’re willing to put in the time. Album Review: Who knew that of all places, New Zealand could surprise and give us more talent? They’ve brought us Ruban Nielson, Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s front man, and now they … Read more
STRFKR Miracle Mile Polyvinyl Records [2013] Fire Note Says: STRFKR’s Miracle Mile is an indie pop, dance blasted, mother funker that’s worth running! Album Review: So when you see a name such as STRFKR, you might have to ask yourself a question. What in the hell is a STRFKR? Does the Galactic Empire not care … Read more
Grouper The Man Who Died In His Boat Kranky Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Grouper creates a siren song that’s delicate, deep, and engaging. Album Review: The world of ambient music can always be a mixed bag from the post rock haze ambience of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, to the technocratic textures of Brian Eno, … Read more
Psychic Ills One Track Mind Sacred Bones Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Psychic Ills’ One Track Mind might be too honest for its own good. Album Review: I’ve always had a liking toward the psychedelic music genre and enjoy searching out which artist can create the biggest noise wall, which can have the best acid … Read more
The Casket Lottery Real Fear No Sleep Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Casket Lottery reunite and produce some radio friendly post-hardcore tracks. Album Review: After The Casket Lottery’s last full length, Possiblies & Maybes (2003), the band took a bit of a hiatus. Members took off to focus on other musical projects, singer Nathan … Read more
Pissed Jeans Honeys Sub Pop Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Honeys is a musical middle finger-and that happens to be a good thing. Album Review: Pissed Jeans from Allentown, Pennsylvania has been on a conquest for domination ever since they started with their debut Shallow released in 2005 on label Parts Unknown. Now, some years … Read more
My Bloody Valentine m b v Self-Released [2013] Fire Note Says: 22 Years later, My Bloody Valentine release m b v and it seems like this noise wall is only built on strength. Album Review: It is Ralph Waldo Emerson that said “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is … Read more
Unknown Mortal Orchestra II Jagjaguwar Records [2013] Fire Note Says: No sophomore slump here as Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s II incorporates more and keeps it fresh! Album Review: It’s been about three years since we’ve last been graced with the off kilter wackiness of a UMO (Unknown Mortal Orchestra) record, and that make their return quite … Read more
The GROWLERS Hung At Heart Everloving Records [2013] Fire Note Says: Oozing with a murky swagger, The GROWLERS aim to please with this release. Album Review: With the sonic force of surf, psych, garage, and a good ol’ fashion vintage feel or a sound that they like to call beach goth. The So Cal based … Read more