The Decemberists: Long Live The King EP [Album Review]
The DecemberistsLong Live The King EPCapitol Records [2011] Long Live The King EP is a nice 26-minute follow-up to The Decemberists’ excellent The King Is … Read more
The Gaslight Anthem: iTunes Session [Album Review]
The Gaslight AnthemiTunes SessionSideOneDummy Records [2011] The new iTunes session from The Gaslight Anthem showcases the band’s influences and provides fans with an excellent studio … Read more
Wild Flag: Wild Flag [Album Review]
Wild FlagWild FlagMerge Records [2011] I don’t think there are that many records that we know about a year in advance, but that is how … Read more
The Decemberists: iTunes Session [Album Review]
The DecemberistsiTunes SessionCapitol Records [2011] This mostly acoustic 8-song EP from The Decemberists was released exclusively for the iTunes Session series. Overall, it is a … Read more
Buffalo Killers: 3 [Album Review]
Buffalo Killers3Alive Natural Sound Records [2011] If you’re craving early ’70s groove rock, Cincinnati’s Buffalo Killers’ third LP, 3, is a must-listen. The trio pulls … Read more
Woods: Sun And Shade [Album Review]
WoodsSun And ShadeWoodsist Records [2011] Sun And Shade is the lo-fi indie folksters Woods sixth full length album and it continues their streak of annual … Read more
The Wombats: This Modern Glitch [Album Review]
The WombatsThis Modern GlitchBright Antenna Records [2011] The Wombats long overdue sophomore record, This Modern Glitch, is another solid entry into the dance rock indie … Read more
Manchester Orchestra: Simple Math [Album Review]
Manchester Orchestra Simple Math Columbia Records [2011] Fire Note Says: Manchester Orchestra shines on the epic rock album Simple Math! Album Review: Concept albums always … Read more
Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit: Here We Rest [Album Review]
Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit Here We RestLightning Rod Records [2011] As a quality contributing past member of the Drive-By Truckers, I have always … Read more
The Feelies: Here Before [Album Review]
The FeeliesHere BeforeBar/None Records [2011] Twenty years can seem like an eternity for anyone, and for a band, it’s an especially long time. However, in … Read more
Swearing At Motorists: Postcards From A Drinking Town (Collected Singles From ’96-’02) [Album Review]
Swearing At MotoristsPostcards From A Drinking Town (Collected Singles From ’96-’02) Secretly Canadian [2011] Emerging from the same lo-fi Dayton scene that produced Guided By … Read more
Leeroy Stagger: Little Victories [Album Review]
Leeroy StaggerLittle VictoriesRebeltone Records [2011] Want to discover a singer/songwriter that absolutely won’t let your Americana ear down? Then look no more and check out … Read more
The Joy Formidable: The Big Roar [Album Review]
The Joy FormidableThe Big RoarAtlantic Records/Canvasback Music [2011] Right from the opening track, “The Everchanging Spectrum Of A Lie”, you get a solid 7:45 complex … Read more
The Decemberists: The King Is Dead [Album Review]
The DecemberistsThe King Is DeadCapitol Records [2011] After The Decemberists’ last two cerebral concept full-lengths, the band takes a leisurely breath of fresh air and … Read more
Motel Beds: Feelings [Album Review]
Motel Beds Feelings Fictionband Mechanics [2010] Fire Note Says: Motel Beds create the right indie mix on stereo debut Feelings. Album Review: Dayton, Ohio band … Read more
The Black Pacific: The Black Pacific [Album Review]
The Black PacificThe Black PacificSideOneDummy Records [2010] I believe that when Pennywise lead vocalist and songwriter Jim Lindberg stepped down last year, not many people … Read more
Richard Thompson: Dream Attic [Album Review]
Richard Thompson Dream Attic Shout! Factory Records [2010] Fire Note Says: Dream Attic highlights why Richard Thompson just recently received the Les Paul Award at … Read more
Sun Kil Moon: Admiral Fell Promises [Album Review]
Sun Kil Moon Admiral Fell Promises Caldo Verde Records [2010] Fire Note Says: Sit down and reflect with Kozelek’s Sun Kil Moon. Album Review: Sun … Read more
Tame Impala: Innerspeaker [Album Review]
Tame Impala Innerspeaker Modular Recordings [2010] Fire Drill Album Review: My first listen to Aussie export trio Tame Impala really didn’t do too much for … Read more
The Gaslight Anthem: American Slang [Album Review]
The Gaslight AnthemAmerican SlangSideOneDummy Records [2010] The critical acclaim showered upon The ’59 Sound (2008) certainly set a high bar for The Gaslight Anthem, putting … Read more
Teenage Fanclub: Shadows [Album Review]
Teenage FanclubShadowsMerge Records [2010] It’s hard to believe that it has been 20 years since Teenage Fanclub launched their debut record, A Catholic Education in … Read more
Woods: At Echo Lake [Album Review]
WoodsAt Echo LakeWoodsist Records [2010] Last year to the day we introduced you to the lo-fi folk tinged songs of Woods and not only did … Read more
The Black Keys: Brothers [Album Review]
The Black KeysBrothersNonesuch Records [2010] On recent releases, The Black Keys edged away from their grinding garage-blues into something sleeker, experimenting with extra instruments and … Read more
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings: I Learned The Hard Way [Album Review]
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings I Learned The Hard Way Daptone Records [2010] Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings never felt like a retro novelty, and … Read more
The Hold Steady: Heaven Is Whenever [Album Review]
The Hold SteadyHeaven Is WheneverVagrant Records [2010] The Hold Steady make albums not singles. Their work takes time to absorb, multiple listens to like and … Read more