BM Linx Black Entertainment Craze Factory [2009] Fire Drills Review: BM Linx are a powerful electronic rock n roll band from New York, New York and their sophomore record Black Entertainment is a real mix of Muse meets The Killers with Orgy joining the party. Everything found here is amped up and sound great with headphones. There are the pulsating bass lines, heavy beats, the in front vocals, precision drums make Black [...]
Mavis Staples Live: Hope At The Hideout ANTI- Records [2008] Fire Drills Review: Mavis Staples marched, sang and protested alongside Dr. Martin Luther King during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960 so it is refreshing to hear her still bring the noise at age 69. Staples states that she was at Chicago's Hideout to "bring joy, happiness, inspiration and some positive vibrations" which are all tasks she completes on this live record. Regardless [...]
Maybe It's Reno Maybe It's Reno Teenbeat Records [2008] Fire Drills Review: Maybe It's Reno is the debut album from Bridget Cross of Unrest, Velocity Girl and Air Miami fame. For the self-titled record she brought in her old Unrest bandmates Mark Robinson and Phil Krauth to create a talented group which leaves its stamp on a musically tight sounding record. Cross has always had an endearing voice and has made every project she [...]
Or, The Whale Light Poles And Pines Seany Records [2009] Fire Drills Review: Sometimes more is better and San Francisco's Or, The Whale utilizes every piece of energy supplied from the seven members in their band. This allows the band the freedom to create many different sounds on their debut Light Poles And Pines, be it on country rockers, folk styled ballads or just straight forward indie rock. Their male/female vocals [...]
Pit Er Pat High Times Thrill Jockey Records [2008] Fire Drills Review: On Pit Er Pat's third album High Times I can tell you that they have pulled out all the stops to use instruments that you didn't know even existed like the electric kalimba, a bobo balaphone, the vibraslap and let's not forget the Burmese temple gongs. All kidding aside because Pit Er Pat really do incorporate those plus an even [...]
Rahim Laughter Pretty Activity Records [2008] Fire Drills Review: It sort of surprises me that Rahim are not bigger on the indie scene because their style of jangular indie pop is not only catchy it is pretty good. Now on their sophomore record, Laughter finds the group evolving from the harder edged and J. Robbins influenced debut into more of a subtle indie group that represents more like a Death Cab. This [...]
![Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears: Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears [EP]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1489494_lg.jpg)
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears [EP] Lost Highway Records [2009] Fire Drills Review: You might not expect this combo of soul, blues and attitude to smoke up out of Austin, Texas but Black Joe Lewis and his Honeybears bring it right at you with their 12 minute 4 song preview EP. With songs like "Bitch, I Love You" and "Master Sold My Baby" it is definitely new school but Lewis reincarnates [...]
J. Tillman Vacilando Territory Blues Western Vinyl Records [2009] Fire Drills Review: Tillman joined up with Fleet Foxes after the Sun Giant EP , which we know turned out pretty good for him but he was originally a solo artist and Vacilando Territory Blues is his fifth record. Besides not having the constant lush harmonic choruses of the Fleets, his record follows the same kind of format and Tillman's voice shines [...]
MarvelAnn Bad Advice Self-Released [2008] Fire Drills Review: Simon Honisett and Jonathan Jubera make up the Portland duo MarvelAnn, which have been around for about ten years. They don't have much output since Bad Advice is the groups sophomore outing but their soft style of indie pop grows with you on every repeat listen. The pair recruited a gob of other artists for a contribution to Bad Advice, which is [...]
![Neko Case: People Got A Lot Of Nerve [Single]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1486891_lg.jpg)
Neko Case People Got A Lot Of Nerve [Single] ANTI- Records [2009] Fire Drills Review: “People Got A Lotta Nerve,” is the first single from Neko Case’s forthcoming album Middle Cyclone which is do out on ANTI- Records March 3. The song is a short and sweet 2:31 and soars with Neko's voice that is a bit more poppy like her work with The New Pornographers. The other cool thing about the single is [...]
Said The Whale Howe Sounds/Taking Abalonia Upper Management [2008] Fire Drills Review: This Vancouver five-piece play a very dramatic indie pop that is instantly appealing to the ear. The group has been gaining popularity through their created videos on YouTube and this album re-releases the bands 2007 debut Taking Abalonia and adds seven new tracks to create the 15 you get here. Said The Whale have a very rhythmic clear vocal and [...]
Reel Big Fish Fame, Fortune And Fornication Rock Ridge Music [2009] Fire Drills Review: Reel Big Fish were one of those bands that had the right song ("Sell Out") at the the right time (Ska Launch) but if you knew anything about them you would know that they were just as much about the fun as they were about the music. Fame, Fortune And Fornication finds the band 13 years after their [...]
![The Wrens: Pulled Fences (Live) [Single]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1484388_lg.jpg)
The Wrens Pulled Fences (Live) [Single] Self-Released [2009] Fire Drills Review: It is official - this is new Wrens material and we are all giddy with excitement. "Pulled Fences" comes to us via The Wrens website and the song was recorded last year live on WorldSpace Sessions at Abbey Road. It is a five minute pop nugget that slow builds itself, peaks in the middle and then just gracefully fades away as smoothly as [...]
![Slumdog Millionaire [OST]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1484389_lg.jpg)
A.R. Rahman Slumdog Millionaire [OST] Interscope Records [2008] Fire Drills Review: I can't say that I am a person that ever really cares to relive a movie through its soundtrack but on occasion a film comes along that the music integrates so marvelously that listening again is a must. The charming Slumdog Millionaire is just one of those movies as composer A.R. Rahman and director Danny Boyle make you feel emotion through [...]
LeATHERMOUTH X0 Epitaph Records [2009] Fire Drills Review: You may be unfamiliar with the band but probably not the guitarist because LeATHERMOUTH is the hardcore-punk side project from Frank Iero of My Chemical Romance. Now before MCR fans run out to make a purchase I got to warn you... X0 is punishing, bashing, pounding, harsh and crack your head brutal. If I still have your attention then LeATHERMOUTH is for you and compared [...]
![My Morning Jacket: Live At The Palms [EP]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1479148_lg.jpg)
My Morning Jacket Live At The Palms [EP] iTunes [2009] Fire Drills Review: This iTunes exclusive digital EP may have a live title but you would never know by listening because the crowd noise has been removed. This may be a quick letdown for My Morning Jacket's huge touring following but for many this might pull you in to to check it out. The EP contains six tracks with "Dear Wife" being the only [...]
The 88 Not Only... But Also Island Records [2008] Fire Drills Review: The 88 are power pop band from sunny California that has a total British invasion sound to them. Not Only...But Also possesses a confidence that comes through song after song and The 88 have that big sprawling sound which is made for radio. The album was produced by Babyface and Matt Wallace (Faith No More) which is an interesting combo [...]
![Octomutt: Please Betty [EP]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1479150_lg.jpg)
Octomutt Please Betty [EP] Drizzoletto Music [2009] Fire Drills Review: You may be surprised to learn that Octomutt call San Francisco home after hearing their more traditional country sound on the groups new Please Betty EP . The record has a very mild flow with Ted Savarese's vocal draw that is balanced with simple country songs that are delivered with simple instrumentation and have a distinct twang. It is this simplicity that with [...]
Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavilion Domino Records [2009] Fire Drills Review: Not only is this one of Animal Collective's most accessible albums to date it is also one of their best. Merriweather Post Pavilion finds duel vocalists Dave Portner and Noah Lennox sounding completely comfortable in their roles and displays a sixth sense that each one knows what the other is thinking because their vocals completely gel, which increases the catchiness on [...]
![Bon Iver: Blood Bank [EP]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1476935_lg.jpg)
Bon Iver Blood Bank [EP] Jagjaguwar Records [2009] Fire Drills Review: Bon Iver's debut For Emma, Forever Ago was technically self-released in 2007 and then of course the critical praise came upon its re-release in 2008. It would seem now that Bon Iver is golden and this four track Blood Bank EP is exciting because it is his first new material in awhile and it shows that his debut was [...]
Fire Drills
Daft Punk Random Access Memories (Alternate Version)
Young Wonder - Electrified [ Video ]
Fauve ≠ - Blizzard [EP en écoute]
Pro-Shot Videos: Hangout Music Fest – Trey Anastasio Band, moe., Galactic, The Roots, Gov’t Mule, Nicki Bluhm & Gramblers
