Tagged: 3flames

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

The Trophy Fire Modern Hearts Greyday Records [2011] Fire Note Says: The Trophy Fire return with another solid batch of soaring indie rock on their sophomore album Modern Hearts . Album Review: It has been three years since The Trophy Fire's excellent debut A Lifetime In The Middle Of The Ocean [2008] , which made our Top 50 that year, so it is nice [...]

The Kooks Junk Of The Heart Astralwerks Records [2011] Fire Note Says: The Kooks return with a bright Brit-pop sound on album number three Junk Of The Heart . Album Review: More than ever before, The Kooks embrace their Brit-pop roots on their third album Junk Of The Heart . This can be a good or bad thing depending which side of the ocean you [...]

Radio Moscow The Great Escape Of Leslie Magnafuzz Alive Naturalsound Records [2011] Fire Note Says: Radio Moscow recreate the 70's with their third monstrous psychedelic riff record The Great Escape Of Leslie Magnafuzz . Album Review: Iowa's Radio Moscow return with another dose of psychedelic blues rock on their third album The Great Escape Of Leslie Magnafuzz . The record picks up right where [...]

Hurricane Bells Tides And Tales Invisible Brigades [2011] Fire Note Review: Another smooth delivery of indie tracks on the sophomore effort from Hurricane Bells. Album Review: Tides And Tales is the sophomore record from longtime singer/guitarist of Longwave, Steve Schiltz, and his current moniker Hurricane Bells. The record continues his indie journey over these 12 tracks that can [...]

The Strange Boys Live Music Rough Trade Records [2011] Fire Note Says: The Strange Boys continue their move to the folk side of things. Album Review: Live Music ("live" rhymes with "give") continues the evolution of Austin band The Strange Boys, as their third record finds the group sinking into a laid back roots driven rock that still shows undertones of British Invasion but [...]

Radiohead TKOL RMX 1234567 XL Recordings [2011] Fire Note Says: If you got time - Radiohead has a remix. Album Review: I will warn you that even if you proclaim yourself as a huge Radiohead fan, TKOL RMX 1234567 may not be for you. The album is a 2 disc set, 19 track compilation, that has a total running time of 1 hour and 45 [...]

Loney Dear Hall Music Polyvinyl Records [2011] Fire Note Says: Loney Dear expands their sound on sixth release Hall Music . Album Review: Emil Svanängen has been tweaking his sound since we last heard him on 2009's Dear John , as he returned to his home country of Sweden and was playing shows with a chamber orchestra. This clearly impacted his sixth album, Hall [...]

Boots Electric Honkey Kong Dangerbird Records [2011] Fire Note Says: A fun ride that only Jesse Hughes could take you on with his Boots Electric debut. Album Review: A couple things you need to know about Boots Electric. 1) This is a Jesse Hughes (Eagles Of Death Metal) solo vehicle, 2) It is as crazy sounding as the cover will have you think it is, 3) There [...]

Blink-182 Neighborhoods DGC/Interscope Records Fire Note Says: It may not come out everywhere here but Blink-182 can still put out the pop punk with style. Album Review : I recommend going back and listening to Blink-182's early records Cheshire Cat [1994] and Dude Ranch [1997] before taking Neighborhoods for a spin. I say this because as Blink-182 return from [...]

The Drums Portamento Frenchkiss Records [2011] Fire Note Says: The Drums return quickly with their sophomore effort Portamento . Album Review: Brooklyn's The Drums are back already with their sophomore effort Portamento and the record employs the theory if it ain't broke don't fix it. The band once again brings The Smiths, Strokes and surf pop blend on Portamento that works on [...]

Ladytron Gravity The Seducer Nettwerk Records [2011] Fire Note Says: Ladytron mellows a bit on fifth long player Gravity The Seducer . Album Review: It has been three years since the last Ladytron record and as the musical landscapes continue to change you either need to adapt or just fade away. The group's fifth long player, Gravity The Seducer attempts to morph Ladytron into [...]

Patti Smith Outside Society Arista/Columbia/Legacy Recordings [2011] Fire Note Says: A perfect education on the career spanning compilation from Patti Smith. Album Review: There is no question that Patti Smith is an icon of the indie rock nation and her music catalog stands alone but trying to encapsulate her work into an 18 track compilation of singles, in chronological order, gets a little more tricky. Not because [...]

Mike Doughty Yes And Also Yes Snack Bar Records [2011] Fire Note Says: Mike Doughty returns free and creative as ever. Album Review: Yes And Also Yes represents Mike Doughty's first solo record on his own Snack Bar label after leaving the Dave Matthews' owned ATO for more control of his music. The record offers what Doughty has always done best, [...]

Lenny Kravitz Black And White America Roadrunner Records [2011] Fire Note Says: Kravitz fans will dig it and critics will dislike it - yep this is the Lenny that everyone knows. Album Review: Lenny Kravitz always seems to accomplish releasing a similar styled record that has catchy singles, some complete throwaways and songs that work but could have been great. Black And White America follows [...]

Red Hot Chili Peppers I'm With You Warner Bros. Records [2011] Fire Note Says: Red Hot Chili Peppers return with another batch of mid-tempo rockers. Album Review: No one ever knows what a new Chili Peppers album will bring and I'm With You is no different. It represents the bands 10th studio album, longest stretch between records, as it has been [...]

Gold Leaves The Ornament Hardly Art Records [2011] Fire Note Says: Gold Leaves is a simple straightforward indie-folk record that will keep you thinking. Album Review: Gold Leaves is the creation of Grant Olsen, which is one half of the Seattle indie folk outfit Arthur & Yu. His collection of tracks were four years in the making, as the record reflects on many [...]

Tim Kasher Bigamy: More Songs From The Monogamy Sessions Saddle Creek Records [2011] Fire Note Says: More from Tim Kasher's Monogamy sessions. Album Review: Cursive frontman Tim Kasher has a new EP out that contains tracks recorded around the same time of his record released last year titled The Game Of Monogamy (2010) . The EP will only be sold on [...]