The Gaslight Anthem: The ’59 Sound [Album Review]
The Gaslight AnthemThe ’59 SoundSideOneDummy Records [2008] The ’59 Sound by The Gaslight Anthem is the type of album you’ve been waiting for all year … Read more
James Jackson Toth: Waiting In Vain [Album Review]
James Jackson Toth Waiting In Vain Rykodisc Records [2008] Fire Note Says: Toth sheds Wooden Wand name and plays it straight up for excellent solo … Read more
Colin Meloy: Colin Meloy Sings Live! [Album Review]
Colin MeloyColin Meloy Sings Live!Kill Rock Stars [2008] Colin Meloy is better known to all as the lead singer of The Decemberists. This solo live … Read more
The Black Keys: Attack & Release [Album Review]
The Black KeysAttack & ReleaseNonesuch Records [2008] From the jump, The Black Keys carved out their own raw, fuzzed-out corner of garage-blues rock. Four albums … Read more
Thao With The Get Down Stay Down: We Brave Bee Stings And All [Album Review]
Thao With The Get Down Stay DownWe Brave Bee Stings And AllKill Rock Stars [2008] Thao Nguyen’s new album We Brave Bee Stings And … Read more
The Wombats: A Guide To Love, Loss & Desperation [Album Review]
The WombatsA Guide To Love, Loss & Desperation14th Floor Records [2007] Sometimes the UK has a current “it” band that launches stellar singles but never … Read more
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings: 100 Days, 100 Nights [Album Review]
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings 100 Days, 100 Nights Daptone Records [2007] On their third LP, 100 Days, 100 Nights, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings … Read more
Fancey: Schmancey [Album Review]
Fancey Schmancey What Are Records? [2007] Fire Note Says: A full scale 70’s pop assault! Album Review: Todd Fancey is best known as a guitarist … Read more
Wussy: Left For Dead [Album Review]
Wussy Left For DeadShake It Records [2007] Wussy is a four-piece indie rock band from Cincinnati that alternates between male and female vocals, enhanced by … Read more
Jason Isbell: Sirens Of The Ditch [Album Review]
Jason Isbell Sirens Of The DitchNew West Records [2007] When guitarist Jason Isbell parted ways with Drive-By Truckers last year, nobody knew when or if … Read more
Spoon: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga [Album Review]
Spoon Ga Ga Ga Ga GaMerge Records [2007] Spoon is back with their highly anticipated 6th full length Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. Everyone’s favorite … Read more
Swearing At Motorists: Exile On Gipsstrasse [Album Review]
Swearing At MotoristsExile On GipsstrasseSecretly Canadian [2006] Recorded in a Berlin U-Bahn station, Exile on Gipsstrasse captures Swearing At Motorists at their most inspired. Frontman … Read more
The Black Keys: Magic Potion [Album Review]
The Black Keys Magic Potion Nonesuch Records [2006] Album Review: There’s a comfort in dropping the needle on a new Black Keys record, and Magic … Read more
Beach House: Beach House [Album Review]
Beach HouseBeach HouseCarpark Records [2006] Baltimore’s Beach House is in a league of their own when it comes to current modern music. There are not … Read more
The Decemberists: The Crane Wife [Album Review]
The DecemberistsThe Crane WifeCapitol Records [2006] Let’s get the obvious out of the way and point out what you probably have already heard about this … Read more
A Shoreline Dream: Avoiding The Consequences [Album Review]
A Shoreline DreamAvoiding The ConsequencesLatenight Weeknight Records [2006] There are certain key items I look for in a quality shoegaze album. 1) Hypnotic ambient sounds … Read more
Psycho And The Birds: Check Your Zoo EP [Album Review]
Psycho And The Birds Check Your Zoo EP Fading Captain Series [2006] Fire Note Says: Quick EP from Pollard’s Psycho and the Birds. Album Review: … Read more
The Cardinal Sin: Hurry Up And Wait [Album Review]
The Cardinal Sin Hurry Up And Wait Grey Flight Records [2006] Nothing beats a well-executed punk rock debut, and The Cardinal Sin deliver just that … Read more
Rainer Maria: Catastrophe Keeps Us Together [Album Review]
Rainer Maria Catastrophe Keeps Us Together Grunion Records [2006] Look Now Look Again was one of the standout emo records of the late ’90s, and … Read more
Tim Easton: Ammunition [Album Review]
Tim Easton Ammunition New West Records [2006] If you’ve been following Tim Easton’s career, you’ll recognize right away that Ammunition marks a shift. It’s more … Read more
Boy Kill Boy: Civilian [Album Review]
Boy Kill Boy Civilian Universal Records [2006] Does it hurt a band to show up late to the party? That’s the question facing Boy Kill … Read more
Slowlands: Never Was There A Town [Album Review]
Slowlands Never Was There A Town Self-Released [2006] Have you ever wandered into your local indie record store, chatted up the clerk, and walked out … Read more
Gnarls Barkley: St. Elsewhere [Album Review]
Gnarls Barkley St. Elsewhere Downtown Records [2006] St. Elsewhere made history with the smash hit “Crazy,” the first UK #1 single driven entirely by digital … Read more
Irving: Death In The Garden, Blood On The Flowers [Album Review]
Irving Death In The Garden, Blood On The Flowers Eenie Meenie Records [2006] Death In The Garden, Blood On The Flowers finds Irving stepping confidently … Read more
The Vibration: Amarilla [Album Review]
The Vibration Amarilla Sink And Stove Records [2006] Amarilla is the debut full-length from New York’s all-female quartet The Vibration, arriving on the heels of … Read more