Blog: The Fire Note

Heartless Bastards Arrow Partisan Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Heartless Bastards once again shine bright with their pulsing rock on Arrow ! Album Review: Erika Wennerstrom and her strong soulful vocals are back with the release of the Heartless Bastards fourth album Arrow . After relocating to Austin back before the release of The Mountain [2009] , I think most thought that the [...]

Of Montreal Paralytic Stalks Polyvinyl Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Of Montreal offers up tons of ideas but misses connecting all of the dots. Album Review: The eclectic musings of Of Montreal continues on the new long player Paralytic Stalks which once again tries to capture the current thoughts and psyche of founder/creator Kevin Barnes. This of course can be a wild ride and over [...]

Sharon Van Etten Tramp Jagjaguwar Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Sharon Van Etten will quickly win you over on her new long player Tramp ! Album Review: If there is ever an artist that is on the verge of breaking out I would say that Brooklyn singer/songwriter Sharon Van Etten is close to the top of the list. Her confident siren vocals are the instant focal [...]

Ben Kweller Go Fly A Kite The Noise Company [2012] Fire Note Says: Ben Kweller returns with his solid and catchy fifth album Go Fly A Kite . Album Review: What I thoroughly enjoy about the new record from Ben Kweller is that right out of the gate on first track "Mean To Me", Kweller basically states that if you don't like him you can go [...]

The Unthanks Diversions Vol. 1: The Songs Of Robert Wyatt And Antony & The Johnsons - Live From The Union Chapel, London Rough Trade Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Unthanks release their excellent live show of Robert Wyatt and Antony & The Johnsons covers. Album Review: Most people in the States are probably not that familiar with the British indie folk outfit comprised of sisters Rachel [...]

Mark Lanegan Band Blues Funeral 4AD Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Mark Lanegan makes a solid addition to his solo catalog with the grooving Blues Funeral ! Album Review: It really doesn't seem like it has been that long since we have heard a record from Mark Lanegan considering he has been very musically active with the Greg Dulli combo of the Gutter Twins and The [...]

A Place To Bury Strangers Onwards To The Wall [EP] Dead Oceans [2012] Fire Note Says: Another stellar listen from Brooklyn's A Place To Bury Strangers! Album Review: Brooklyn's A Place To Bury Strangers roars back onto the music scene with their new EP, Onwards To The Wall . The 5 song set features the louder "industrial" backbone you have come to expect from the group [...]

Jad Fair + Hifiklub + kptmichigan Bird House Joyful Noise Recordings [2012] Fire Note Says: Jad Fair pushes the artistic limits for his most adventurous record in years. Album Review: Jad Fair is best known as the founding member of Half Japanese but his solo era has been just as prolific and cutting edge. The newly released Bird House finds him teamed up with French [...]

The Jealous Sound A Gentle Reminder Music Is Subjective [2012] Fire Note Says: A solid melodic rock return after nine years for The Jealous Sound. Album Review: I am sure that nine years in the music business probably equates around 100 years in the real world but that is how long it has been since The Jealous Sound released their critically praised debut Kill Them With [...]

Imperial Teen Feel The Sound Merge Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Imperial Teen find their youthful essence on Feel The Sound to create an entertaining power pop ride. Album Review: Funny thing is back in 2007 reviewing Imperial Teen's last record, The Hair The TV The Baby & The Band , I commented that I hoped that it would not be another five years [...]

Lana Del Rey Born To Die Interscope Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Don't believe the hype or the backlash - Lana Del Rey is somewhere in the middle. Album Review: Lizzy Grant, aka Lana Del Rey, is a prime example of an artist blowing the roof off the hype machine way too early. The ultra-retro catchy tune "Video Games" has been the focal point for Lana Del [...]

Hospitality Hospitality Merge Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Brooklyn trio Hospitality offer up a stylish indie pop debut. Album Review: Hospitality are a superbly rich sounding trio out of Brooklyn that just released their debut of sophisticated indie pop on Merge Records. The band is led by the likable Amber Papini that delivers her focused lyrics with a wisp of an English accent via Kansas City as [...]

Howler America Give Up Rough Trade Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Looking for some good and fun sounding rock n roll? Look no further as the debut from Minneapolis's Howler will make your feet tap. Album Review: I will fully admit that I love when music comes back around to the rock basics and that is what we get with the Minneapolis group Howler. Their sound will [...]

Sonic Avenues Television Youth Dirtnap Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Sonic Avenues sophomore album represents another quality punk release from Canada. Album Review: Canada seems to be pumping out the punk rock lately and Sonic Avenues's sophomore record, Television Youth , is another strong statement that they have got it right. This go around the band has pushed their songs in [...]

Matt Pryor May Day Nightshoes Syndicate Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Get Up Kid, Matt Pryor, once again ventures out with a solid acoustic driven solo set which shines around every corner! Album Review: The Get Up Kids frontman Matt Pryor returns here with his sophomore solo outing titled May Day that is another exciting success story from a Kickstarter campaign. Having your record [...]

Victor Villarreal Invisible Cinema Joyful Noise Recordings [2012] Fire Note Says: Indie innovator Victor Villarreal steps out on his own with the engaging Invisible Cinema . Album Review: Victor Villarreal has always been considered a groundbreaking guitarist in the modern indie rock world with his captivating previous work in the bands Cap'n Jazz, Owls, Ghosts & Vodka, and more recently, Joan Of Arc. Invisible Cinema [...]

Buxton Nothing Here Seems Strange New West Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Third album from folk-rock group Buxton is a grower that pays off! Album Review: Buxton are a five piece folk-rock outfit out of Houston, Texas that offer up an energetic record full of lush harmonies, mandolin, banjo, piano and good old guitar. Nothing Here Seems Strange is the groups third record overall and [...]

First Aid Kit The Lion's Roar Wichita Recordings [2012] Fire Note Says: Sophomore album from Americana duo First Aid Kit delivers with complete warmth and depth. Album Review: Swedish sisters, Klara and Johanna Söderberg make up First Aid Kit and The Lion's Roar is the young pair's sophomore record which represents their first US-recorded album. If you heard the album first you might be surprised [...]

Graham Repulski My Color Is Red 7" Big School Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Short and lo-fi pop sweet! Album Review: The My Color Is Red 7" represents the 6th release in the past 2 years from Graham Repulski and it is their very first release on wax. The four tracks included on this 7" once again embrace the band's love for lo-fi [...]

Cloud Nothings Attack On Memory Carpark Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Cloud Nothings evolves again and produces stellar results on their spectacular Attack On Memory ! Album Review: Sometimes it is amazing how much can change in a year as the ever evolving Cloud Nothings follows up a really good self-titled debut record released last January with the even better Attack On Memory . The [...]