Blog: The Fire Note

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 [...]

Bhi Bhiman BHIMAN BooCoo Music [2012] Fire Note Says: Bhi Bhiman gives you an honest record that will win you over with his voice alone. Album Review: Bhi Bhiman (pronounced "Bee Bee-men") has already been labeled The Sri Lankan Woody Guthrie which should give you some indication of what his new record BHIMAN sounds like as he moves through different genres such as soul, country [...]

Craig Finn Clear Heart Full Eyes Vagrant Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Solo debut from The Hold Steady frontman has its moments. Album Review: Craig Finn has released a good number of albums with Lifter Puller and The Hold Steady but Clear Heart Full Eyes represents his debut solo record. Like any other frontman spreading his wings, Clear Heart Full Eyes changes up [...]

Ani DiFranco ¿Which Side Are You On? Righteous Babe Records [2012] Fire Note Says: First studio album in more than three years finds Ani DiFranco still as relevant as ever . Album Review: On Ani DiFranco's 17th album, ¿Which Side Are You On? , balance seems to be the lens through which she recorded as DiFranco sings this repeatedly on the the fourth track "Splinter". Amidst [...]

Nada Surf The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy Barsuk Records [2012] Fire Note Says: A big sprawling return of an album from Nada Surf that is full of hooks, guitars and energy! Album Review: As Matthew Caws sings the line "This new peace - I can feel it now," in "Waiting For Something" on Nada Surf's sixth full length The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy , [...]

Cardinal Hymns Fire Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Richard Davies and Eric Matthews reunite 18 years later for Cardinal's sophomore album Hymns . Album Review: 18 years is a long time to wait for a sophomore outing but that is exactly the case from Richard Davies and Eric Matthews early band Cardinal. Since that time both guys have had a nice music career as Matthews has [...]

Wussy Strawberry Shake It Records [2011] Fire Note Says: Do you remember what indie rock sounds like? Wussy do! Album Review: Former Ass Pony Chuck Cleaver and his partner in crime, songwriter/co-vocalist Lisa Walker are back with Wussy's fourth album Strawberry . It is another infectious batch of 11 songs that alternate the lead vocals between Cleaver and Walker while the rest of the band backs [...]

Guided By Voices Chocolate Boy 7" Guided By Voices Inc. Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Add it to your collection now before they are all gone! Album Review: If you have been keeping up on the exciting return of the "classic lineup" Guided By Voices then the Chocolate Boy 7" is a must for your collection. Assuming that you have heard the excellent full length, [...]

The Big Pink Future This 4AD Records [2012] Fire Note Says: Sophomore outing from The Big Pink has its moments but doesn't rival their exciting debut. Album Review: Trying to follow up a stellar debut is something that every successful new band struggles with and more times than not - the group misses the mark. I believe you can add London's The Big Pink to the list [...]

David Newton & Thee Mighty Angels Paint The Town EP Self-Released [2011] Fire Note Says: David Newton returns to the music scene with his solid and melodic bursting Paint The Town EP ! Album Review: If you really know your music than I expect that you might already know David Newton as the guitarist in the Wolverhampton, England band The Mighty Lemon Drops. Their heyday was [...]

Kathleen Edwards Voyageur Zoë/Rounder Records [2012] Fire Note Says: An intense and compelling journey through heartbreak, regrets and maybe even hope! Album Review : On Voyageur , Canadian songwriter Kathleen Edwards chronicles her journey through heartache and sadness of her recent divorce, as well as the possibility of renewal and happiness with new love [...]

TV Casualty TV Casualty 7" Matador Records [2011] Fire Note Says: Never hurts to revisit the Misfits! Album Review: If you have been around Philadelphia you might be familiar with the punk cover group TV Casualty that plays out once in awhile tackling different set lists from classics like Black Flag and Minor Threat. It may surprise you that their lineup includes [...]