After two 7-inch singles and a demo cassette (recently pressed to wax), Melbourne quintet The Shifters finally unveil their first, proper full-length album Have a Cunning Plan. The album showcases ten new tracks by the band at their best; scrappy, self-destructive, stumbling and brilliant pop music that seems tossed off or nonchalant on the surface but is rife with rewards upon further listening.
Check out the video for “Straight Lines” and you can find the album for pre-order at Trouble In Mind Records HERE.
Charles Bradley – “I Feel A Change” [VIDEO]
November 5, 2018 would have been Charles Bradley’s 70th birthday. In celebration of his extraordinary life, Daptone imprint Dunham Records will release his fourth and final album on November 9th. Black Velvet will feature ten studio recordings never before included on any album including lead single “I Feel A Change.” The video for the track, was directed by Living On Soul’s Jeff Broadway & Cory Bailey.
Black Velvet is a celebration of Charles Bradley, lovingly assembled by his friends and family at Dunham/Daptone Records. Though chronologically the material spans Charles’ entire career, this is no anthology, greatest hits or other shallow rehashing of the songs that already made him famous. Rather, this album is a profound exploration through the less-travelled corners of the soulful universe that Charles and his longtime producer, co-writer and friend Tommy “TNT” Brenneck created in the studio together over their decade-long partnership.
The album features new songs recorded during the sessions from each of his three albums, heard here for the very first time in all their scorching glory: “Can’t Fight the Feeling,” “Fly Little Girl” and the heart-wrenching single “I Feel a Change”; hard core rarities like his funk-bomb duet with LaRose Jackson, “Luv Jones,” the psychedelic groover, “(I Hope You Find) The Good Life” and the ever-illusive alternate full band electric version of “Victim of Love”; sought-after covers of Nirvana’s “Stay Away,” Neal Young’s “Heart of Gold” and Rodriguez’s “Slip Away”; and the title track “Black Velvet,” a stirring Menahan Street Band instrumental to which Charles was never able to cut a vocal.
‘BLACK VELVET’ TRACK LISTING
01 – Can’t Fight The Feeling
02 – Luv Jones
03 – I Feel A Change
04 – Slip Away
05 – Black Velvet
06 – Stay Away
07 – Heart Of Gold
08 – (I Hope You Find) The Good Life
09 – Fly Little Girl
10 – Victim Of Love (Electric Version)
Track Premiere: Extra Arms – “Why I Run”
Today’s premiere track, “Why I Run,” is from Detroit, Michigan’s Extra Arms! The group is fronted by Ryan Allen of Thunderbirds Are Now! fame and … Read more
Brian Owens: Soul Of Cash [Album Review]
Brian Owens Soul Of Cash Soul Step Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Brian Owens shares his soul with Johnny Cash! Album Review: I think in … Read more
Face To Face: Hold Fast (Acoustic Sessions) [Album Review]
Face To Face Hold Fast (Acoustic Sessions) Fat Wreck Chords [2018] Who: Southern California-based Face to Face have been pumping out catchy punk pop rock … Read more
Lucero: Among The Ghosts [Album Review]
Lucero Among The Ghosts Liberty & Lament Records [2018] Who: Memphis quintet Lucero is celebrating 20 years together as Among The Ghosts is their ninth … Read more
Video Premiere: Xuan – “We Were Just Talking”
Xuan (pronounced “Swan”) Nguyen is a singer/songwriter from Dallas, Texas. She grew up in the burbs of Big D but being the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants helped influence an exploring life move to Viet Nam where she hosted a TV show. She then traveled around Southeast Asia and Australia before making another move – this time to Ireland!
She started writing songs in Ireland but it was after she moved back home and connected with Salim Nourallah (producer Old 97s, The Damnwells, Rhett Miller) at an open mic that got things rolling. He invited her to record at his studio which turned out to be her debut, Have Some Fun.
Have Some Fun is not out till November 16th via Palo Santo Records but TFN is giving you a premiere look (and listen) with her new video for album track “We Were Just Talking.” The video follows Xuan in the development of a new relationship and shows how it is not always easy. I don’t want to ruin it but it does have a happy ending!
Beyond the fun video, Xuan’s infectious indie pop voice makes this upbeat song stick in your head with her Jay Som meets Juliana Hatfield type of delivery. Everything about this video and track will have you wanting to hear more so make sure you check out Xuan’s social media and pick up the record on November 16th!
Xuan Website
Xuan Facebook
Palo Santo Records
Album Review Flashback – Motel Beds: Dumb Gold (2012)
Sometimes it is fun to go back and check out a past review. Today’s flashback review features the Motel Beds 2012 release Dumb Gold which … Read more
Smug Brothers: Attic Harvest (Black Vinyl | 300 Copies)
If you have followed The Fire Note long enough then you know all about one of our Dayton local favorites in the Smug Brothers. The … Read more
Lung: Butcher [Video]
Lung is a propulsive electric cello and drum duo from Cincinnati, OH. Classically trained cellist and vocalist Kate Wakefield has a voice that works seamlessly with the beats of drummer Daisy Caplan (ex-Foxy Shazam) and you may remember TFN review of their debut HERE.
The band’s sophomore album, All the King’s Horses is due out on SofaBurn Records on September 7, 2018 (CD) and October 26, 2018 (Vinyl). You can pre-order a copy HERE. You can check Lung out on tour at the dates below.
7/31 Bremerton, WA The Charleston
8/1 Bellingham, WA The Shakedown
8/2 Olympia, WA Home Throne Studio
8/3 Tacoma, WA The Safe House
8/4 Seattle, WA Kame House
8/6 Moscow, ID The Bayou
8/7 Spokane, WA The Pin
8/8 Missoula, MT Roxy Theater
8/9 Bozeman, MT Taco Monte
8/10 Billings, MT Julia Louis Drey-fest
8/11 Great Falls, MT The Back Alley Pub
8/12 Calgary, AB Ironwood Stage & Grill
8/14 Edmonton, AB Bohemia
8/15 Saskatoon, SK Witch Mansion
8/16 Regina, SK T+A Vinyl and Fashion
8/17 Minot, ND Why Not Fest
8/18 Pierre, SD The Exchange Coffee Shop
8/19 Rapid City, SD The Cave
8/20 Vermillion, SD R-Pizza
8/21 Sioux Falls, SD Cat Island
8/22 Grand Rapids, ND Ojata Records
8/23 Fargo, ND The Aquarium
8/24 Duluth, MN Blush
8/25 Minneapolis, MN Dead Media 6 PM
8/25 Minneapolis, MN 331 10PM
The Friday Fire Track: Fascinating – “Communist Power”
Gutter pop from Cleveland, Ohio, returns with Fascinating’s new track “Communist Power.” Today’s Friday Fire Track does not mess around with its fuzzed-up guitar assault. … Read more
Tony Molina: Kill The Lights [Album Review]
Tony Molina Kill The Lights Slumberland Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Concise perfection. Album Review: Tony Molina does not mess around with tracks. His ripping … Read more
Ty Segall & White Fence: Joy [Album Review]
Ty Segall & White Fence Joy Drag City Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Joy shows a mature growth and spotlights that Ty Segall and White … Read more
Robert Pollard: Waved Out (Blue Vinyl | Limited)
GBV fans will rejoice as another reissue of Pollard’s catalog has been launched. The remastered reissue of Robert Pollard’s second solo album Waved Out from … Read more
Track Premiere: The 1984 Draft – “Jan Kawolski”
Dayton, Ohio based indie quartet The 1984 Draft are set to release their new album, Makes Good Choices, via Poptek Records in August. Today, The … Read more
Moby – “The Sorrow Tree (The EastWest Sessions)” [Video]
Moby has released Everything Was Beautiful, And Nothing Hurt (The EastWest Sessions), a live re-recording of tracks from his critically praised studio album by the same name which was released earlier this year.
In conjunction with the album release, Moby has also shared a new video for “The Sorrow Tree” which features the live version of the Everything Was Beautiful… track. The video was directed by Rob Bralver, the same director who helmed videos for “This Wild Darkness,” “Mere Anarchy” and “Like A Motherless Child.”
Ari Roar: Calm Down [Album Review]
Ari Roar Calm Down Bella Union [2018] Who: Ari Roar is the moniker of singer-songwriter Caleb Campbell and Calm Down is his debut album via … Read more
The Jack Cades: Music For Children [Album Review]
The Jack Cades Music For Children Dirty Water Records [2018] Who: Warwickshire, England’s The Jack Cades were born in late 2017 when Mike (Lead Guitar, … Read more
The Friday Fire Track: Active Bird Community – “Unwind With Me”
Brooklyn, NY’s Active Bird Community instantly will get you excited to bring out the rock. The band have a new album coming out on September 14th via Barsuk Records and today’s Friday Fire Track is the perfect introduction.
“Unwind With Me” starts off innocent enough with the slow burning guitar strum and the band’s woo hoo harmony vocals. Singer Tom D’Agustino then calmly sings “and now you’re really over there, and I am thousand pounds of scared – I’ll fuck this up.” That is when the band’s muscular guitar comes out and injects this song a solid backbone that is unforgettable. Enjoy your Friday!
Active Bird Community Website
Active Bird Community Facebook
Barsuk Records
Paul Orwell – “Speak Of The Devil” [Video]
UK’s rock n roll revivalist Paul Orwell has returned and this video is the reason you should be excited. It has attitude, leather and chains. Enough said! “Speak Of The Devil” is the new single off Orwell’s upcoming full length SMUT that is due for release later this year.
Currently you can find the single available on 7″ at the link provided HERE.
The Friday Fire Track: Oh Sees – “Overthrown”
The always changing John Dwyer and his Oh Sees consistently give TFN something to look forward to! The Friday Fire Track today does just that … Read more
La Luz: Floating Features [Album Review]
La Luz Floating Features Hardly Art Records [2018] Fire Note Says: The surf is just right with La Luz’s third LP, Floating Features. Album Review: … Read more
Connections: Foreign Affairs [Album Review]
Connections Foreign Affairs Trouble In Mind Records [2018] Who: Foreign Affairs is the fifth album, and first for Trouble In Mind, from the Columbus Ohio … Read more
Company Man – “No Good For Me” [Video]
This song/video is from Dayton, Ohio’s Company Man and their latest EP Corporate Rock which you can pick up HERE. Company Man features Ian Kaplan on drums who is currently recovering from a liver transplant.
Please consider donating to his GoFundMe page HERE and/or picking up a copy of Motel Beds Dumb Gold to help with his medical bills. TFN thanks you!
Motel Beds: Dumb Gold (Black Vinyl | 300 Copies) [Benefit for Ian Kaplan]
Drummer Ian Kaplan is a staple to the Dayton, Ohio music scene and he has a resume that includes Motel Beds, Lab Partners, Goodbye/Crusher, Lioness, … Read more