Blog: Fire Drills

Hey Fire Drills Fans - We moved to The Fire Note (Click Here) Starting today you can find the Fire Drill reviews at The Fire Note. They will follow the featured release of the day at the Note.

Cotton Jones Paranoid Cocoon Suicide Squeeze Records [2009] Fire Drill Review: Ex Page France frontman Michael Nau has recently released his new musical moniker called Cotton Jones, which has elements of soul, psychedelic, rock, and gospel fastened together in a sort of jingle haze. The description may sound bizarre but the record really is a throwback to 60's inspired pop that sways and moves peacefully like a faint wind is pushing it [...]

The Kokoon We Didn't Go [EP] New Average Records [2009] Fire Drill Review: The Kokoon are a new import euro-pop rock band from Berlin that over the past eight years have released two full length albums before the We Didn't Go EP . This experience comes through on the EP because lead vocalist Danyx Simone seems perfectly confident as she delivers a slight snarl and attitude song [...]

Marked Men Ghosts Dirtnap Records [2009] Fire Drill Review: No one will ever convince me that pop punk rock is dead and Denton, Texas band Marked Men help keep the genre alive and do it proud. Their new record Ghosts is 15 songs in 30 minutes, which simply means that every track averages 2 minutes. Bands that are good at this can pack hooks in this format and that is exactly what [...]

The Love Language The Love Language Bladen County Records [2009] Fire Drill Review: The Love Language is an indie band from North Carolina that you will start hearing about very soon as they recently have been the opening band for The Rosebuds and Cursive. Their debut self-titled record is a catchy lo-fi affair that was written, performed and recorded by band leader Stu McLamb. The basement feeling of the record is what makes it [...]

Clem Snide Hungry Bird 429 Records [2009] Fire Drill Review: Hungry Bird puts away the rumors that Clem Snide were over following a four year spell between records. Leader Eef Barzely has been releasing more folk oriented solo records and that influence is felt on Hungry Bird . It is an album that plucks along with a small dose of vigor, which is not a bad thing because the songwriting [...]

Here We Go Magic Here We Go Magic Western Vinyl Records [2009] Fire Drill Review: You might know the more folk oriented singer/songwriter Luke Temple from his previous solo outings but Here We Go Magic is his new musical adventure that expands way past his normal genre into a spacey electronic 4-track pop recording. It has a multitude of indie moments that include some instrumentals and blips and beats that spring up while being [...]

Fol Chen Part I: John Shade, Your Fortune's Made Asthmatic Kitty Records [2009] Fire Drills Review: Fol Chen is your good old fashioned quirky indie rock band from California, that features appearances by Karin Tatoyan and Rafter, along with members of The Liars, Castanets, and Let's Go Sailing. The group has catchy male/female dueling vocals and dance pop songs that are instantly infectious. The record has many different elements to it, such as samples, electronic beats [...]

Shout Out Out Out Out Reintegration Time Normals Welcome Records [2009] Fire Drills Review: Canadian dance rock outfit Shout Out Out Out are back with their sophomore disc Reintegration Time , which will for sure get you moving. The songs are longer, beat harder and flow better. Their style is not necessarily unique but their skill is and it shows throughout Reintegration Time because even at its most complex you just [...]

Marissa Nadler Little Hells Kemado Records [2009] Fire Drills Review: Voices like Boston's Marissa Nadler are not easy to come by and when you get a chance to hear the warmth in her hush and hazy vocals, you will certainly be entranced. Little Hells is Nadler's fourth solo record and it finds her being accompanied by a full band, which gives each track a more grandiose and vibrant feeling. The songs emotions [...]

Various Artists Dark Was The Night 4AD Records [2009] Fire Drills Review: Very rarely do compilations of any kind stay consistent throughout the record or hold up to repeat listens but the new charity disc for the Red Hot Organization, Dark Was The Night is the real deal! It's comprised of 31 exclusive tracks that will help raise money and awareness for HIV and AIDS through popular [...]

Russenorsk Comforts Self-Released [2009] Fire Drills Review: Comforts is the sophomore record from the very talented trio Russenorsk from Athens Ohio. It finds the band expanding on their sound and offering more sprawling and intricate tracks that now cross the six and seven minute mark. This newer direction gives the band full range and comes off musically tighter and focused then on their debut In A Great Wave Of Horns [...]

The Library The Library [ EP ] Feudal Records [2009] Fire Drills Review: Los Angeles dance rockers, The Library are getting ready to take over your radio with their debut EP of bouncing beats that mix the rock side of The Killers with the pop of Maroon 5 and shake it with the electronica of Sam Sparro . This combo may seem odd but lead singer Court Alexander has [...]

Mansions New Best Friends Doghouse Records [2009] Fire Drills Review: New Best Friends is the debut record from Louisville, KY's Mansions and they fit right in on Doghouse Records rooster with their style of mid tempo rocking emo. The Mansions put forth a good effort here and offer tracks that keep their young energy contained within certain ranges. This plays out in the Mansions favor because it creates their own niche [...]

Zest Of Yore Quality Of Life Self-Released [2008] Fire Drills Review: Here is a Texas band that has completely flown under the radar with their infectious brand of indie power pop. They have a laundry list of bands they cite as influences in the genre but really have their own sound and Quality Of Life consistes of simple song structures with catchy melodies. The record was co-produced by Doug Gillard (GBV, Cobra [...]

The Whip X Marks Destination Razor & Tie Records [2009] Fire Drills Review: This indie electronic group from Manchester launch their US debut next week after success hit last year in the UK. Over here a group like The Whip is under appreciated because across seas they are radio pop friendly and get exposure. Over here it is a bit harder for their New Order meets LCD Soundsystem vibe to break out. This would [...]

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Kinky Barracuda Nettwerk Records [2009] Fire Drills Review: Kinky has always been one of our favorite imports from Mexico with their entertaining mix of electronic dance and alternative rock. From time to time, I still crank out "The Headphonist " featuring Jon McCrea from Cake on vocals, which was on their Atlas [2003] record and it still holds up today. Barracuda finds the band [...]

Living Things Habeas Corpus Jive Records [2009] Fire Drills Review: It has been awhile since we heard from the St. Louis band Living Things after they sprung out in 2005 with a record produced by Steve Albini and quite a bit of hype. On the groups sophomore record Habeas Corpus, their sound has smoothed out somewhat from the rock punch on their debut to a more blended vibe, complete with some styling [...]

The Gary Chub Cedar Fever Records [2009] Fire Drills Review: Calling Austin, TX home may get you noticed quicker but automatically sets the bar higher for your release, which is exactly the expectations for this mini-album from The Gary. They play a very brooding style of rock that has the spirit of some past groups that were housed on the Dischord, Drag City and Touch & Go labels as their style blends these influences [...]

Fake Problems It's Great To Be Alive SideOneDummy Records [2009] Fire Drills Review: It's Great To Be Alive is Fake Problems debut record for SideOneDummy records and based on its quality, it should firmly put them in a position as a top rock indie band to be reckoned with. Their feverish method of playing is pure and entertaining as each track brings fun call-outs, a different musical approach, and a little bit of [...]