Say Sue Me Where We Were Together Damnably/Electric Muse Records [2018] Who: Say Sue Me is a surf-inspired indie rock quartet from Busan, South Korea. Where We Were Together is the bands sophomore album. Sound: Say Sue Me has a surf sway behind their indie jangles and fits right in with artists like La Luz, … Read more
Speedy Ortiz Twerp Verse Carpark Records [2018] Who: Twerp Verse, is Speedy Ortiz’s third album and first full-length in three years. The band has always been politically mindful but after the more recent political climate the band scrapped their early material after Foil Deer and created what they feel is a more relevant and important … Read more
Hot Snakes Jericho Sirens Sub Pop Records [2018] Who: Hot Snakes is John Reis and Rick Froberg which together are responsible for groups Drive Like Jehu, Rocket from the Crypt, Sultans, The Obits and The Night Marchers. Jericho Sirens, is the fourth album (and first in 14 years) from the San Diego-based punk rock n … Read more
Titus Andronicus A Productive Cough Merge Records [2018] Who: A continually evolving band from New Jersey that is on their fifth full length. Sound: Known for their early indie punk rock, Titus Andronicus keep changing their game as A Productive Cough offers a more Bruce Springsteen meets Lucero that time warps back to 70’s Stones … Read more
High Rise High Rise II Black Edition [1986/2018] Who: High Rise entered into Tokyo’s underground music scene in 1984. High Rise II is their sophomore record of psychedelic garage guitar music from 1986 that has now been reissued newly mixed and mastered by High Rise bassist/vocalist Asahito Nanjo. Sound: High Rise are a full on … Read more
Olden Yolk Olden Yolk Trouble In Mind Records [2018] Who: The New York-based group is led by songwriters, vocalists, and multi-instrumentalists Shane Butler (of Quilt) and Caity Shaffer. This is the band’s self-titled debut. Sound: Olden Yolk have the psych folk heart of the late 60’s early 70’s that now feels like a contemporary indie … Read more
Hovvdy Cranberry Double Double Whammy [2018] Who: Based in Austin, Texas, Hovvdy (pronounced “howdy”) is the writing and recording project of Charlie Martin and Will Taylor. The duo, both primarily drummers, first met in the fall of 2014 and quickly bonded over a love for quiet music. Cranberry is their sophomore record. Sound: If you … Read more
Car Seat Headrest Twin Fantasy Matador Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Car Seat Headrest give the original 2011 Twin Fantasy a shot of rock adrenaline. Album Review: Twin Fantasy is a re-recorded, re-imagined new version of Will Toledo’s 2011 self-released Bandcamp record of the same name. Toledo will for sure take some critical hits for … Read more
Sunwatchers II Trouble In Mind Records [2018] Who: Sunwatchers are a New York-based ensemble (featuring current & former members of NYMPH, Dark Meat, Chris Forsyth’s Solar Motel Band & Arthur Doyle’s New Quiet Screamers) that offer a combination of avant-jazz, punk, psychedelia, Ethio-jazz and desert blues. II is their sophomore record and the follow up … Read more
Salad Boys This Is Glue Trouble In Mind Records [2018] Who: Christchurch, New Zealand band Salad Boys return with their sophomore record This Is Glue. The album follows their well received 2015 debut Metalmania. Sound: This Is Glue has plenty of riffs and melodies that are slightly fuzzed up with that New Zealand sound like … Read more
Starcrawler Starcrawler Rough Trade [2018] Who: Starcrawler are a 4-piece band from Los Angeles California and their self-titled debut was produced by Ryan Adams. The members are lead vocalist Arrow de Wilde, guitarist Henri Cash, drummer Austin Smith and bassist Tim Franco. The youngest member is 16 and the oldest is 22. Sound: Starcrawler give … Read more
Jeff Rosenstock POST- Polyvinyl Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Jeff is back! Album Review: Jeff Rosenstock started off this year with a bang as he released his third LP digitally for FREE on New Year’s Day! That is right – free. Now, I am sure we have all had the experience of downloading free music … Read more
(Sandy) Alex G Rocket Domino [2017] Who: The bedroom pop of Alexander Giannascoli aka (Sandy) Alex G has grown substantially since we first stumbled upon his 2014 record DSU on DIY label Orchid Tapes. Rocket is his sophomore record for Domino. Sound: (Sandy) Alex G plays a melodic pop that ranges from lo-fi experimentation to … Read more
King Krule The OOZ True Panther/XL Recordings [2017] Who: London’s Archy Marshall is a well-known and respected artist in the UK and has released work under his own name, Zoo Kid and King Krule as The OOZ is his sophomore release. Sound: King Krule has a unique sound that blends multiple styles of jazz, garage, … Read more
U-Men U-Men Sub Pop Records [2017] Who: From 1983 to 1987, the U-Men were the hype of the Seattle Underground. The band recorded a handful of singles and one full length album in 1988. This new collection features the U-Men’s entire studio-recorded output plus 5 unreleased songs. Sound: You might expect the early days of … Read more
Protomartyr Relatives In Descent Domino Records [2017] Who: Detroit’s Protomartyr are a post punk band that has just released their fourth lp and first for Domino Records. Sound: If Nick Cave fronted a modern era post punk band with a refined edge and a spoken word style that is like The Hold Steady you would … Read more
Flat Worms Flat Worms Castle Face Records [2017] Who: This is the debut album from LA’s Flat Worms which is comprised of Will Ivy (Dream Boys, Wet Illustrated, Bridez), Justin Sullivan (Kevin Morby, the Babies) and Tim Hellman (Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segall, Sic Alps). Sound: Flat Worms are a blast of smart buzzing post … Read more
Julien Baker Turn Out The Lights 6131/Matador Records [2017] Fire Note Says: Julien Baker tells a story that you instantly will want to hear again. Album Review: When we first heard Julien Baker on her 2015 debut, Sprained Ankle, you had a feeling it wouldn’t be the last from the young Memphis artist. Her delicate … Read more
Melkbelly Nothing Valley Wax Nine Records [2017] Who: Chicago quartet Melkbelly, comprised of Miranda Winters (vocals/guitar), brothers Bart (guitar) and Liam Winters (bass), and James Wetzel (drums)’ have just released their debut album, Nothing Valley, on Wax Nine Records, a sister label to Carpark Records headed by Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz. Sound: Melkbelly give … Read more
A. Savage Thawing Dawn Dull Tools [2017] Who: A. Savage is best known as one of the frontman for Parquet Courts. This is his first solo record, that was recorded between December 2016 and June 2017 by a group of Savage’s friends that included members of Woods, Ultimate Painting, PC Worship, EZTV, Sunwatchers, and Psychic … Read more
Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile Lotta Sea Lice Matador Records [2017] Fire Note Says: You are invited to the conversation between Courtney and Kurt. Album Review: In today’s indie music scene I cannot think of that many pairings that have an equal rising momentum of Kurt Vile and Courtney Barnett. Both successful singer/songwriters in their … Read more
L.A. Witch L.A. Witch Suicide Squeeze Records [2017] The surf is up and the reverb is just pouring out of L.A. Witch’s guitars. The band’s self-titled debut is a full on groover that will have you swaying and rolling with the distant echoes as Sade Sanchez’s vocals will hypnotize you. The record bubbles up out … Read more
Kelley Stoltz Que Aura Castle Face Records [2017] Kelley Stoltz continues to fly under the radar with his addicting psych indie rock. His newest long player on Castle Face, Que Aura, has a slickness to it that feels natural and seems easy for Stoltz as he incorporates plenty of keyboard snyth floating songs with his … Read more
Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs Burger/Dine Alone Records [2017] Big guitar and big rock is what the newest offering from Toronto’s Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs self-titled record has to offer and it is a hi fivin’ fun ride. The group pulls power pop hooks and punk … Read more
The Side Eyes So Sick In The Red Records [2017] Southern California punk quartet The Side Eyes deliver a very raw in your face debut that rides on the fire inside of 22-year old lead singer Astrid McDonald. McDonald is the daughter of Go-Go’s guitarist-songwriter Charlotte Caffey and Redd Kross singer-guitarist Jeff McDonald so she … Read more